Is Modafinil the Next Cocaine? Probably Not

So first off, what IS modafinil? Right now, modafinil is marketed as Provigil, a drug used primarily within the treatment of narcolepsy. Up until recently, it was thought that modafinil was a non-dopamine stimulant. Most stimulants, like cocaine and amphetamine, have their mechanism of action by increasing the amounts of dopamine present in the synapses between neurons. Recent studies, but, have shown that modafinil most likely has some dopaminergic properties, simply like alternative stimulants, by interacting with the dopamine transporter.

Studies in rodents have shown that modafinil will increase dopamine within the brain, specifically in an area known as the nucleus accumbens. Modafinil is not solely prescribed to massive numbers of individuals, it is also being employed illicitly for cognitive enhancement, and there are some folks out there who need to promote it as a safe, cognitive enhancing various to stimulants such as Ritalin and Adderall, which have higher abuse potential. But, if modafinil will increase dopamine in the nucleus accumbens, it’s potential that IT might have abuse potential as well.

Thus during this study, the authors looks at the consequences of modafinil on dopamine levels within the brains of humans. They ran 10 men through a PET study with two completely different levels of modafinil. Not solely that, it will increase dopamine concerning the identical quantity as methylphenidate would. If modafinil can increase dopamine in the nucleus accumbens, it may have addictive potential.

• “Modafinil has potential for abuse, study says” – The LA Times
• “Study: Modafinil increases dopamine, might be addictive” – Sensible Temporary
• “Study: ‘Sensible drug’ Provigil may be habit-forming” – The Associated Press

Everybody appears to be fixating on one thing in the paper, that modafinil increased dopamine within the nucleus accumbens. Modafinil might increase dopamine levels in the nucleus accumbens, and so may have abuse potential, however this is not taking into account that, at the doses used, individuals did NOT find it rewarding. It did not get them high.

The most important means that pharmacologists decide whether or not or not a drug is addictive is NOT whether it will increase dopamine in the nucleus accumbens. Results with modafinil are mixed. Some reports with rats show no administration of modafinil, whereas different reports in monkeys show administration taking place in animals previously trained with cocaine. This, including increases in dopamine in the nucleus accumbens, may create modafinil a downside to those that do it often. On the other OTHER hand, alternative drugs, like Ritalin, ALSO increase dopamine in the nucleus accumbens, while not providing effects of “drug liking” (at least not when taken orally in pill form), and we tend to definitely hand them out like candy. A few contradictory self-administration studies and a few studies on dopamine effects within the brain, during this case, just is not enough to prove the drug “addictive”. And is modafinil the next cocaine? It just does not have the powerful reinforcing and rewarding effects.