Modafinil as an aid to reduce tobacco use and abuse

Research Paper from the year 2016 in the subject Medicine - Pharmacology, , language: English, abstract: Modafinil, first developed in France at Lafo Laboratories by Michael Jouvet, has become a respected treatement for narcolepsy and sleep disorders ranging from sleep apnea to shift work sleep disorder. It has been touted for its strength in promoting wakefulness through suppressing the desire to, or reducing the perception of need for, sleep.§§Though the precise mechanisms of action by which Modafinil elicits its effects remain unclear, we are most interested by its promise in acting to increase the presence of monoamine nuerotransmitters, such as dopamine, at synapses by binding to the reuptake site and blocking these neurotransmitter transporters while simultaneously inhibiting many of the transporters' subsequent actions, as this has been pointed to as a possible reasoning behind its ability to induce wakefulness as well as maintain low abuse potential (though it is worth mentioning that some users have reported slight euphoria on the first use, with varying results in achieving this feeling again).§§Though nicotine alone has been shown to have "relatively weak" addictive potential, it has been shown that properties of tobacco smoke act to inhibit monoamine oxidases (MAO) in such a way as to potentiate the addictive potential of nicotine dramatically.§§Further, nicotine, having effects on wakefulness, sleep, and appetite, all factors moderated by modafinil use, may have some overlapping or related physiology. We are seeking to explore the possibility that modafinil may be useful as a novel treatment for nicotine dependence in smokers who are attempting to quit or reduce their smoking levels.