Wake-promoting agents with different mechanisms of action: comparison of effects of modafinil and amphetamine on food intake and cardiovascular activity

• Published in: Appetite Vol. 42; no. 2; pp. 185 - 195
• Main Authors: Makris, Angela P, Rush, Craig R, Frederich, Robert C, Kelly, Thomas H
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Amsterdam Elsevier Ltd 01.04.2004; Elsevier
• Subjects: Adult; Advertising. Marketing. Consume behavior; Amphetamine; Amphetamine - adverse effects; Amphetamine - pharmacology; Appetite; Applied psychology; Benzhydryl Compounds - adverse effects; Benzhydryl Compounds - pharmacology; Biological and medical sciences; Blood Pressure - drug effects; Cardiovascular; Cardiovascular Physiological Phenomena - drug effects; Central Nervous System Stimulants - adverse effects; Central Nervous System Stimulants - pharmacology; Cross-Over Studies; Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; Drinking - drug effects; Eating; Energy Intake - drug effects; Feeding Behavior - drug effects; Female; Food intake; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; Heart Rate - drug effects; Humans; Male; Modafinil; Obesity - drug therapy; Psychology. Psychoanalysis. Psychiatry; Psychology. Psychophysiology; Stimulants; Treatment Outcome; Appetite; Eating; Amphetamine; Stimulants; Modafinil; Food intake; Cardiovascular; Amphetamine derivatives; Feeding behavior; CNS stimulant; Activity; Amfetamine; Mechanism of action; Comparative study
• ISSN: 0195-6663; 1095-8304
• DOI: 10.1016/j.appet.2003.11.003

Despite efforts to achieve a desirable weight, two-thirds of the population has an elevated body weight. Medications are useful in supporting weight loss, but produce adverse effects. This study compared the effects of amphetamine and modafinil on food intake and cardiovascular activity in healthy men and women. Participants ( n=11) completed 11 sessions. In random order, participants received placebo on five separate sessions and single oral doses of modafinil (1.75, 3.5, or 7.0 mg/kg) and amphetamine (0.035, 0.07, 0.14 mg/kg). Free time between hourly performance testing intervals gave participants the opportunity to eat. Like amphetamine, modafinil reduced the amount of food consumed and decreased energy intake, without altering the proportion of macronutrients consumed. Although both medications significantly increase heart rate and blood pressure at higher doses, the dose of modafinil that was efficacious in decreasing food intake did not significantly increase heart rate. Modafinil may be well suited for the treatment of obesity, although further studies with repeated dosing in overweight populations are warranted. Modafinil may have less adverse health consequences than some anorectic agents and greater treatment efficacy.