How a Modalert Promotes Wakefulness Can Help Treat Sleep Disorders

How a Modalert Promotes Wakefulness Can Help Treat Sleep Disorders

Blog Article

Modafinil (Provigil Australia) is a wakefulness-promoting agent used to treat sleep disorders such as narcolepsy and obstructive sleep apnea. It is also sometimes used off-label as a cognitive enhancer by individuals seeking better focus and alertness.

Modafinil works by altering the concentrations of certain brain neurotransmitters, primarily dopamine and norepinephrine. By blocking their reuptake, it increases levels of these chemicals, thereby promoting wakefulness.

Narcolepsy

Narcolepsy is a long-term sleep disorder that affects how your brain regulates the normal sleep-wake cycle. Symptoms include excessive daytime sleepiness (EDS), which causes an irresistible urge to fall asleep, especially in monotonous situations. It can also cause lapses of attention and "sleep attacks" where the person suddenly feels an overwhelming need to sleep, even though they might be sitting up or having a conversation.

Other symptoms can include cataplexy, hypnagogic hallucinations and sleep paralysis. These episodes can make it impossible to speak or move and may involve visions, sounds or feelings. They happen during the REM sleep phase, when dreaming occurs. They can last a few seconds to a few minutes.

Researchers think that narcolepsy is caused by a lack of hypocretin, which is produced in the brain and helps promote wakefulness. They also think that the immune system mistakenly attacks the cells that produce it and the receptors that allow it to work.

Obstructive Sleep Apnea

Obstructive sleep apnea is the most common type of sleep disorder. It's characterized by gaps in breathing that last for seconds or more, caused by blockage of the airway. During these events, oxygen levels in the blood decrease until the brain sends a reflex to breathe normally again.

It can happen hundreds of times per night, and most people don't remember the episodes. But they're often noticed by a bed partner, who may report snoring or gasping during sleep.

Symptoms include:

Shift Work Sleep Disorder

Those who work non-traditional shifts may be at risk for developing shift work sleep disorder (SWSD). This circadian rhythm sleep-wake disorder can cause symptoms like trouble falling asleep and staying awake during night hours, excessive fatigue and malaise in the morning. It can lead to poor performance at work, digestive problems and irritability.

Everyone has an internal clock that regulates when they feel sleepy and alert. The clock is set by the exposure to sunlight during a day, so shifting schedules can confuse the body’s natural circadian rhythm.

Treatment for SWSD often involves behavioral changes such as using blackout curtains in the bedroom, limiting caffeine intake and sticking to a regular sleeping schedule. If these don’t help, the Food and Drug Administration has approved wakefulness-promoting medications like modafinil online and armodafinil for SWSD. Taken one hour before work, these medications can boost alertness. However, they don’t cure the condition and should be used in conjunction with other non-pharmacologic strategies.

Hypersomnia

Feeling sluggish or sleepy sometimes is normal, but if these feelings are frequent and interfere with work, school, family, activities, and relationships it may be a sign of excessive daytime sleepiness, also known as hypersomnia.

This symptom can be caused by a variety of conditions and situations including insufficient sleep, shift work, circadian rhythm sleep disorders, narcolepsy, insomnia, obstructive sleep apnea, depression, anxiety, or medications such as antidepressants.

Treatment for hypersomnia depends on the cause and usually includes adjusting other health conditions or medications and practicing good sleep habits such as maintaining a regular bedtime routine, having a comfortable sleeping environment, avoiding caffeine, exercising during the day but not close to bedtime, and getting counseling and cognitive-behavioral therapy. Unlike with other sleep disorders, there is no way to prevent idiopathic hypersomnia.

However, taking a Modalert that promotes wakefulness has been shown to improve neurocognitive functioning and reduce symptoms of BD in a study published in the journal Biological Psychiatry.