Popular ‘Smart Pill’ May Be More Addictive Than Thought

A pill widely used by high school and college students trying to stay awake and alert for all-night study sessions may carry more risk of addiction than previously thought, according to a new government study.

The prescription drug Provigil, also sold as the generic modafinil, has been approved since 1999 to treat daytime sleepiness caused by narcolepsy. The stimulant drug, made by Cephalon Inc., is commonly used illegally by people who say it makes them feel more alert, sharp, and attentive.

However, U.S. researchers now say the drug may be just as habit-forming as other types of stimulants and claims that the drug makes people smarter or more energetic are “fairy tales.”

Study Finds Addictive Risk

In a study to be published this week in the Journal of the American Medical Association, scientists found that use of Provigil is linked to changes in the brain’s pleasure center in the same way as potentially habit-forming stimulants. Many students also illegally use those types of drugs, such as Ritalin and Adderall, to stay alert while studying.

Modafinil apparently gained the reputation as an effective brain-power enhancer after an Air Force study found it improved the performance of sleep-deprived fighter pilots. But scientists are now urging greater caution in using the drug to modify brain chemistry.

The small government study focused on men between the ages of 23 and 46. Some men were given modafinil while others were given placebos. The effects on the brain were measured by PET scans, which showed that the drug increased dopamine, neurotransmitters in the brain’s “feel good” zone.

The government study was the first to focus on finding human evidence that modafinil affects dopamine in the brain just like highly-addictive drugs such as Ritalin. Provigil has not been subjected to abuse like Ritalin in part because of its higher cost. Pills of Provigil cost about $10, compared to $2 for Ritalin. However, cheaper, generic forms of the drug will become available in 2012.

Side effects of modafinil include rashes, headache, nausea, and anxiety.

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