Modafinil, a non-amphetamine central nervous system (CNS) stimulant and cognition-enhancing drug, has been shown to improve fatigue, cognitive functioning, and mood in patients with narcolepsy and other sleep disorders.
This pilot study evaluated the efficacy of modafinil in symptom management of tumor/therapy sequelae in a medically fragile patient population with brain cancer. This randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial resulted in significant improvement in fatigue, cognitive function, and mood.
Causes
The psychostimulant Modvigil 200 Australia is commonly used to treat narcolepsy; sleep disorders related to shift work, obstructive sleep apnea; and as an adjunct to anti-depressant treatment. It is also used to relieve fatigue associated with multiple sclerosis, Parkinson’s disease, stroke, and HIV infection.
In a small pilot study, modafinil improved cognitive function and mood in patients with brain tumors. However, the researchers warn that more long-term studies are needed to evaluate the drug’s effectiveness and safety.
The Dutch researchers, led by Florien Boele of the VU University Medical Center in Amsterdam, compared the effects of modafinil and placebo on symptom control and health-related quality of life in 37 patients with glioma or meningioma. The trial was conducted in a double-blind design.
Fatigue, cognitive deficits, and depression are frequently reported but frequently untreated symptoms in patients with primary brain tumors, and they can have a significant impact on daily life (PBTs). A multicenter, double-blind placebo-controlled crossover trial was conducted to assess the effects of the psychostimulant modafinil on fatigue, depression, health-related quality of life (HRQOL), and cognitive functioning in PBT patients.
Symptoms
When a brain tumor grows, it can cause problems in parts of the brain, such as the frontal lobes. These symptoms can include changes in memory, balance, and thinking skills.
You may need a CT or MRI scan to see the tumor and other areas of your brain. You might also get a biopsy if it’s safe.
The type of tumor you have can affect the symptoms you have. Some tumors grow in the center of your brain, while others grow in the outer part.
Some people with brain tumors don’t have any symptoms. This is called a “hidden” tumor.
Fatigue, depression, and other symptoms can make life difficult for people with brain tumors. Doctors are investigating new ways to treat these symptoms. A study shows that modafinil, a drug that is used to treat sleep disorders, can help improve fatigue and mood in patients with brain tumors. This is a promising approach for treating these common but undertreated symptoms.
Patients with brain tumors may experience cognitive deficits as a result of the disease and/or treatment. In this paper, we look at recent efforts in research on the prevention or treatment of cognitive deficits in these patients. We conclude that interest in this area is growing, but methodological challenges remain. Furthermore, we describe the recently completed first randomized controlled trial on the efficacy of cognitive rehabilitation in patients with brain cancer.
We hope that by reflecting on the methodological challenges encountered in our trial, we can help others plan and carry out future studies on pharmacological treatments and cognitive rehabilitation programs for cognitive deficits in this patient population. We conclude by making recommendations for future research directions.
Treatment
Modafinil is a type of psychostimulant medicine that has been shown to improve cognitive function, mood, and fatigue in people with narcolepsy and attention-deficit disorder. It can also be used to treat fatigue in cancer patients who are receiving chemotherapy.
Researchers tested the effects of modafinil on 30 patients with brain tumors who were suffering from severe memory and attention problems that were resulting in lowered quality of life. These patients had been treated with neurosurgical resection, radiation therapy, and chemotherapy for their cancers.
There is a greater understanding of the importance of treating CD symptoms in depression than ever before. There are currently a few options for treating this symptom, but as researchers learn more about CD and depression, more may be developed.
They were randomized to receive either modafinil or a placebo (sugar pill) for six weeks. Neither they nor their medical team knew who was taking which drug. They were surveyed at baseline, 8 weeks, and 12 weeks to see if the drug was helping them with their symptoms. The results showed that modafinil improved memory, attention, fatigue, and processing speed.
Prevention
The drug modafinil has been shown to reduce fatigue, drowsiness, depression, and other symptoms in patients with brain tumors. It is also used to treat fatigue in multiple sclerosis, Parkinson’s disease, and stroke.
The medication has a low abuse potential and less rapid development of tolerance than amphetamine-based stimulants. It has a peak absorption time of 2 to 4 hours, and a half-life of 15 hours, and is primarily metabolized by the liver with elimination via the kidney.
In a pilot study, patients with brain tumors that underwent surgery, radiation, and/or chemotherapy were randomized to either a placebo or modafinil for 3 weeks. At the end of the trial, they were evaluated for cognitive improvement and mood changes.
