Researchers urge caution for cardiovascular disease patients taking new alertness medication

Main Category: Cardiovascular / Cardiology
Article Date: 10 Oct 2004 - 0:00 PDT

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Researchers evaluated the cardiovascular changes that occur when people take modafinil (Provigil), a wakefulness-promoting drug that treats daytime sleepiness associated with sleep apnea (brief periods of recurrent cessation of breathing during sleep), sleep disorders associated with working a night or rotating shift, and narcolepsy (a condition that induces excessive drowsiness and unintended sleep episodes during the day).

Modafinil, which reduces fatigue and enhances wakefulness and concentration, has gained favor because it has fewer side effects than other stimulants.

In this randomized, double-blind crossover study, researchers studied 11 normal hospitalized volunteers (average age 31) given a placebo or 400 mg of modafinil. When taking modafinil, subjects had significant increases in resting heart rate (6.3 beats per minute), diastolic blood pressure (4 mmHg) and systolic blood pressure (5.5 mmHg).

After finding these and other modafinil-induced changes in the autonomic nervous system (which adjusts heart rate, the heart's ability to contract, blood vessel size and blood pressure in response to stress), researchers encourage caution in using modafinil in patients with cardiovascular disease.

3 p.m., Saturday, Oct. 9
(Presentation time: 6 p.m., Saturday, Oct. 9).
Abstract P37

From the American Heart Association 58th Annual High Blood Pressure Research Conference

Contact: Maggie Francis
maggie.francis@heart.org
214-706-1397
American Heart Association

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