Modafinil ameliorates excessive daytime sleepiness after traumatic brain injury.
Summary of "Modafinil ameliorates excessive daytime sleepiness after traumatic brain injury."
BACKGROUND:
Excessive daytime sleepiness (EDS) and fatigue are common symptoms after traumatic brain injury (TBI), but there is no specific treatment for affected patients. With this pilot study, we aimed at studying the effect of daily modafinil on posttraumatic EDS and fatigue.
METHODS:
We conducted a prospective, double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled pilot study in 20 patients with TBI who had fatigue or EDS or both. After baseline examinations (questionnaires including the Epworth Sleepiness Scale to assess EDS and the Fatigue Severity Scale to assess fatigue, actigraphy, polysomnography, maintenance of wakefulness test, and psychomotor vigilance test), 10 patients received 100 to 200 mg modafinil every morning, and 10 patients were treated with placebo. After a 6-week treatment period, all examinations were repeated.
RESULTS:
EDS improved significantly in patients with TBI who were treated with modafinil, compared with the placebo group. Similarly, the ability to stay awake on the maintenance of wakefulness test improved only in the modafinil group. Modafinil, however, had no impact on posttraumatic fatigue. Clinically relevant side effects were not observed.
CONCLUSION:
This study indicates that modafinil is effective and well tolerated in the treatment of posttraumatic EDS but not of fatigue. Classification of evidence: This study provides Class I evidence that modafinil (100-200 mg daily) improves posttraumatic EDS compared with placebo. This study provides Class I evidence that modafinil (100-200 mg daily) does not improve posttraumatic fatigue compared with placebo.
Affiliation
Department of Neurology, University Hospital Zurich, Frauenklinikstrasse 26, 8091 Zurich, Switzerland christian.baumann@usz.ch.
Journal Details
This article was published in the following journal.
Name: Neurology
ISSN: 1526-632X
Pages: 1780-1785
Links
- PubMed Source: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/21079179
- DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.1212/WNL.0b013e3181fd62a2
Medical and Biotech [MESH] Definitions
Brain Hemorrhage, Traumatic
Bleeding within the brain as a result of penetrating and nonpenetrating CRANIOCEREBRAL TRAUMA. Traumatically induced hemorrhages may occur in any area of the brain, including the CEREBRUM; BRAIN STEM (see BRAIN STEM HEMORRHAGE, TRAUMATIC); and CEREBELLUM.
Nocturnal Myoclonus Syndrome
Excessive periodic leg movements during sleep that cause micro-arousals and interfere with the maintenance of sleep. This condition induces a state of relative sleep deprivation which manifests as excessive daytime hypersomnolence. The movements are characterized by repetitive contractions of the tibialis anterior muscle, extension of the toe, and intermittent flexion of the hip, knee and ankle. (Adams et al., Principles of Neurology, 6th ed, p387)
Epilepsy
A disorder characterized by recurrent episodes of paroxysmal brain dysfunction due to a sudden, disorderly, and excessive neuronal discharge. Epilepsy classification systems are generally based upon: (1) clinical features of the seizure episodes (e.g., motor seizure), (2) etiology (e.g., post-traumatic), (3) anatomic site of seizure origin (e.g., frontal lobe seizure), (4) tendency to spread to other structures in the brain, and (5) temporal patterns (e.g., nocturnal epilepsy). (From Adams et al., Principles of Neurology, 6th ed, p313)
Intracranial Hemorrhage, Traumatic
Bleeding within the SKULL induced by penetrating and nonpenetrating traumatic injuries, including hemorrhages into the tissues of CEREBRUM; BRAIN STEM; and CEREBELLUM; as well as into the epidural, subdural and subarachnoid spaces of the MENINGES.
Brain Injuries
Acute and chronic (see also BRAIN INJURIES, CHRONIC) injuries to the brain, including the cerebral hemispheres, CEREBELLUM, and BRAIN STEM. Clinical manifestations depend on the nature of injury. Diffuse trauma to the brain is frequently associated with DIFFUSE AXONAL INJURY or COMA, POST-TRAUMATIC. Localized injuries may be associated with NEUROBEHAVIORAL MANIFESTATIONS; HEMIPARESIS, or other focal neurologic deficits.
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