Modafinil (brand name “Provigil”) is a blockbuster eugeroic drug synthesized by Cephalon Pharmaceuticals (now Teva) and approved in 1998 for the treatment of excessive daytime sleepiness (EDS) associated with narcolepsy. It was since approved for the treatment of excessive daytime sleepiness associated with obstructive sleep apnea, as well as to normalize circadian rhythms in diagnoses …
Adrafinil (Olmifon) is a eugeroic agent originally synthesized in the 1970s by chemists at Group Lafon, a pharmaceutical company based in France. Following its synthesis, researchers discovered that adrafinil induced wakefulness in humans, and by the mid-1980s, it was being marketed as an experimental treatment for narcolepsy. Though its exact pharmacodynamics aren’t fully elucidated, adrafinil …
Vyvanse (Lisdexamfetamine) is a psychostimulant medication manufactured by Shire Pharmaceuticals for the treatment of ADHD (attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder). Many consider Vyvanse to be a “new and improved” successor of the drug Adderall. Vyvanse contains the ingredient Lisdexamfetamine which is pharmacologically inactive until metabolized; hence being classified as a “prodrug.” The fact that Vyvanse is a prodrug …
Caffeine is considered a naturally occurring CNS stimulant and is classified as a methylxanthine drug. Over 60 species of plants contain caffeine, most notably: coffee seeds (i.e. “beans”) and tea leaves. It is estimated that 80% (4/5) adults in the United States consume caffeine on a daily basis, and 90% of people throughout the world …
ADHD (attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder) is a condition characterized by inability to concentrate and often comorbid hyperactive behaviors. It is considered the most common psychiatric disorder among children and adolescents (affecting approximately 5%) and is fairly common among adults (affecting approximately 4%). Individuals with ADHD may face serious difficulties completing projects, studying at school, holding a steady …
Adderall is a well-known medication used to treat ADHD that has been on the market since 1996. Years after its initial approval, Shire Pharmaceuticals developed an “extended-release” format of the drug called “Adderall XR.” This format of the drug was launched in 2001 as a means to provide extended relief from attentional-deficits spanning up to …
Vyvanse (Lisdexamfetamine) is a drug developed by Shire Pharmaceuticals as a successor to Adderall. Vyvanse was first approved for the treatment of attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) in 2007. In 2015, Vyvanse was approved for binge eating disorder and was found to successfully minimize appetite and number of binge eating episodes per week compared to a placebo. …