How to use modafinil for depression

Modafinil for depression how does it work?

The most intriguing finding in our modafinil investigation was its involvement to recover from depression.

Modafinil is a potent smart drug for memory alertness, and its efficacy in cognitive functions such as increasing attention, increasing productivity, increasing concentration, and improving overall cognition has been repeatedly demonstrated.

But Modafinil for depression is a comparatively recent finding.

Today psychotherapists are recommending modafinil to their patients as an alternative therapy to their standard treatment.

Before knowing how this smart drug helps to recover from depression let’s check about Modafinil and its uses.

What is Modafinil?

Modafinil is a nootropic medication that improves alertness and energy in those who don’t get enough sleep.  Modafinil is a eugeroic drug. Eugeroics are substances that boost alertness and wakefulness.

Modafinil is not a classical psychostimulant and was primarily prescribed for the treatment of:

-narcolepsy

-obstructive sleep apnea

-shift work sleep order

It has also been proved to be effective in reducing fatigue, drowsiness, and tiredness in conditions such as cancer, depression, and multiple sclerosis.

Modafinil For Depression

Depression can be caused by a variety of factors. The most common theory of depression is that it is caused by a lack of dopamine or serotonin. The most commonly used class of antidepressants today targets serotonin levels (SSRIs and SNRIs). This is considered the first line of treatment for those suffering from serious depression.

If traditional antidepressants that focus on raising serotonin levels aren’t working, dopamine is the next suspect in line. Because of its dopamine reuptake inhibitory properties, modafinil presents an intriguing solution to the problem.

Modafinil is commonly used to boost dopamine concentrations in ADHD patients (this condition is highly associated with insufficient dopamine concentrations).

In recent years, comprehensive trials on modafinil have been undertaken, and researchers have determined that modafinil does relieve symptoms of depression.

In one study, Cambridge researchers noticed that when individuals were given modafinil together with antidepressants, they saw considerable improvements. Barbara Sahakian, a Cambridge researcher, cites“Modafinil has actions on a number of neurotransmitter systems. This may explain why adding it to traditional antidepressants, such as selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors, has beneficial effects on the symptoms experienced by depressed patients.” 

The study demonstrated how the symptomatic benefits of modafinil use can help with depression-related concerns. Depression can result in a loss of focus, weariness, and thus decreased productivity as a result of absenteeism from work. Click here to view more information.

Modafinil is recommended by mental health therapists to treat mood disorders such as bipolar disorder and seasonal affective disorder. According to research, the smart drug modafinil can help with depressive symptoms associated with certain diseases and help to recover from depression. (8) (9)

If you want to use modafinil for depression, you should first visit a doctor, especially if you have severe depression or are taking other drugs.

Works Cited

1. Modafinil Improves Episodic Memory and Working Memory Cognition in Patients With Remitted Depression: A Double-Blind, Randomized, Placebo-Controlled Study. Muzaffer Kaser, Julia B Deakin , Albert Michael , Camilo Zapata , Rachna Bansal , Dragana Ryan , Francesca Cormack , James B Rowe , Barbara J Sahakian.

2. Cognitive enhancing effects of modafinil in healthy volunteers. Danielle C. Turner, Trevor W. Robbins, Luke Clark, Adam R. Aron, Jonathan Dowson & Barbara J. Sahakian.

3. Modafinil improves attentional performance in healthy, non-sleep deprived humans at doses not inducing hyperarousal across species. Zackary A.Cope, Arpi Minassian, DustinKreitner, David A. MacQueen, MorganeMilienne-Petiot, Mark A.Geyer, WilliamPerry, Jared W.Young.

4. Effects of modafinil on cognitive performance and alertness during sleep deprivation. Wesensten, Nancy J.

5. A phase 3 randomized, placebo-controlled, double-blind, clinical trial of the effect of modafinil on cancer-related fatigue among 631 patients receiving chemotherapy: a University of Rochester Cancer Center Community Clinical Oncology Program Research bas. Pascal Jean-Pierre 1, Gary R Morrow, Joseph A Roscoe, Charles Heckler, Supriya Mohile, Michelle Janelsins, Luke Peppone, Amy Hemstad, Benjamin T Esparaz, Judith O Hopkins.

6. Modafinil. Karl Greenblatt, Ninos Adams.

7. Modafinil reduces depression’s severity when taken with antidepressants. Barbara Sahakian, Dr Muzaffer Kaser.

8. Long-term safety and efficacy of armodafinil in bipolar depression: A 6-month open-label extension study. Terence A.Ketter, JessAmchin, Mark A.Frye, NicholasGross.

9. Modafinil treatment in patients with seasonal affective disorder/winter depression: an open-label pilot study. LeslieLundt.

10. Modafinil and Memory: Effects of Modafinil on Morris Water Maze Learning and Pavlovian Fear Conditioning. Tristan Shuman, Suzanne C. Wood, and Stephan G. Anagnostaras.

11. wikipedia.

12. School of Health Sciences. Wharrad, Heather.

13. FDA basics.

14. United States Drug Enforcement Administration.

15. Drug Scheduling. DEA.

16. Is modafinil safe in the long term? Cox, David.

17. Modafinil treatment for fatigue in HIV+ patients: a pilot study. Judith G Rabkin 1, Martin C McElhiney, Richard Rabkin, Stephen J Ferrando.

18. Modafinil in children and adolescents with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder: a preliminary 8-week, open-label study. Samuel W Boellner, Craig Q Earl, Sanjay Arora.

19. Modafinil improves symptoms of attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder across subtypes in children and adolescents. Joseph Biederman, Steven R Pliszka.

20. Modafinil in the treatment of excessive daytime sleepiness in children. Gozal, Anna Ivanenko Riva Tauman David.

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