Study of the addictive potential of modafinil in naive and cocaine-experienced rats.
Deroche-Gamonet V, Darnaudery M,
Bruins-Slot L, Piat F, Le Moal M, Piazza PV.
Laboratoire de Psychobiologie des Comportements Adaptatifs, Domaine de Carreire, Rue Camille Saint-Saens,
33077 Bordeaux, France.
Psychopharmacology (Berl) 2002 Jun;161(4):387-95
Abstract
RATIONALE: Modafinil
is a drug that promotes wakefulness and, as such, is used to treat hypersomnia and narcolepsy. Preclinical and clinical studies suggest that
modafinil could possess weak reinforcing effects in drug-experienced subjects. However, its abuse potential in drug-naive healthy individuals is still totally uninvestigated, despite the fact that availability of
modafinil has recently
increased.
OBJECTIVES: The purpose of our study was to investigate the potential addictive properties of
modafinil by testing its reinforcing effects in naive rats. The interactions of
modafinil with the reinforcing effects of cocaine were also
tested.
METHODS: First, using i.v. self-administration and place conditioning tests, we studied the reinforcing and rewarding effects of a large range of doses of
modafinil in naive rats. Second, we tested the influence of
modafinil on reinforcing and incentive effects of cocaine in rats trained for cocaine self-administration. The effects of
modafinil were compared with those of amphetamine and
haloperidol.
RESULTS: Modafinil
did not produce reinforcing or rewarding effects and did not modify the effects of cocaine.
CONCLUSIONS: Our results suggest that modafinil does not possess an addictive potential in naive individuals. Furthermore, it would be behaviorally distinct from classical central nervous system stimulants which are known to alter cocaine-induced effects. However, as shown previously in nonhuman primates and in humans,
modafinil could possibly have reinforcing effects in cocaine-experienced individuals.
1. Modafinil for
sustaining the alertness of helicopter pilots
2. Modafinil augmentation
of antidepressant treatment
3. Modafinil the
unique properties of a new stimulant
4. Modafinil children
with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder
5. Modafinil dosage
and safety
6. Modafinil successful
treatment of hypersomnia & narcolepsy
7. Modafinil narcolepsy:
symptoms and management
8. Modafinil
amplification of cortical serotonin release
9. Modafinil
treatment of alcoholic organic brain syndrome
10. Modafinil
effect on melatonin, cortisol, and growth hormone
11. Modafinil
in obstructive sleep apnea-hypopnea syndrome
12. Modafinil
vs dextroamphetamine in treatment of adult ADHD
13. Modafinil
efficacy in narcolepsy
14. Modafinil
switching from narcolepsy drugs to modafinil
15. Modafinil
dopaminergic transmission mediates CNS stimulants
