Drug promotes better sleep

Drug promotes better sleep

Provigil Tablets (modafinil), manufactured by Cephalon in West Chester, PA, increased daytime wakefulness in patients treated with continuous positive airway pressure for sleep apnea.

Results of a multicenter, double-blind, placebo-controlled study of 157 sleep apnea patients indicate that patients who were treated with modafinil performed better on validated tests of excessive daytime sleepiness as measured by standardized scales. The most common side effects were headaches, nervousness, nausea, anxiety, and dizziness.

Cephalon recently initiated additional clinical trials with modafinil in sleep apnea patients with the intention of pursuing a label extension to include this additional indication. The drug is currently marketed in the United States for the treatment of excessive daytime sleepiness associated with narcolepsy.