Prescription Drug Addiction and Provigil
Provigil is a prescription drug that does exactly what it sounds like; it’s pro-vigilance. It helps you stay awake. The marketing spouts off on Provigil’s ability to keep you awake without getting you hooked, but some are saying that that may not be true. The concern is that Provigil is yet another route to prescription drug addiction.
What is Provigil?
The generic name is modafinil, but it’s sold on the shelves as Provigil. It’s FDA approval is for helping those who struggle with sleep apnea, narcolepsy, and sleep disorders associated with working the graveyard shift. But many who get a prescription for it don’t suffer these disorders. Because of its reputation as being non-addictive, it is often prescribed for those who are just tired and need a pick-me-up… with the result that they’re now awake, but unable to wake up without the drug.
Who Thinks Provigil is Addictive?
According to Daniel J. DeNoon at WebMD Health News, there may be a big prescription drug addiction risk with Provigil. Some researchers agree.
Nora D. Volkow is the director of the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA). She is one of the lead researchers who think that Provigil may be more addictive than previously thought. She says:
“There is an increasing use of this medication, and people have promoted the off-label use of stimulants and Provigil as cognitive enhancers with the belief that these drugs are safe. But these drugs have side effects, and their use without proper medical oversight could lead to abuse and addiction.”
Provigil, Cocaine and Crystal Meth?
The side effects to which she is referring and the chemicals released as a result of the drug resemble the effects of cocaine and crystal meth, though on a much smaller scale.
Volkow says: “The changes we are observing in dopamine concentrations with modafinil are equivalent to those we have reported for [Ritalin] in the human brain. So not only does [Provigil] increase dopamine in the human brain, but does it by similar mechanisms to Ritalin and cocaine, by directly blocking the dopamine transporter. It is not working by some distinct, different mechanism.”
Who Thinks Provigil is Not Addictive?
There are many researchers who disagree with Volkow, only because they feel that ‘addiction’ is too strong a word. David Weinshenker, PhD, is an associate professor of human genetics at Emory University, Atlanta.
He says: “What is Provigil’s street value? It is zero. There are not addicts walking around buying and selling modafinil. Most people who take Provigil don’t report euphoria or being high. They don’t even report feeling particularly stimulated, like caffeine. In terms of addiction and withdrawal, it just doesn’t do that.”
Provigil as a Cure for Cocaine Addiction and Crystal Meth Addiction?
Daniel J. DeNoon at WebMD Health News says: “Weinshenker and Vogel both note that because it blocks the brain receptors needed by cocaine and methamphetamine, researchers are exploring whether Provigil might help wean addicts from these life-threatening addictions.”
Just like methadone, which is an addictive opiate in its own right, is used to treat those addicted to opiates, Provigil may be a good medication to treat those addicted to stronger stimulants. What do you think?
Tags: Prescription Drug Addiction, prescription drug addiction treatment, prescription drug rehab, Provigil addiction
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