Excessive sleepiness is one of the great plagues of the modern world with its round-the-clock activity. While sleepiness can be caused by disease, it is often simply a result of trying to do too much on too little rest. Caffeine and, in severe cases, the drug Provigil promote alertness and help people overcome sleepiness, but neither eliminates the need for sleep. Talk to your physician if you have sleepiness or fatigue that is persistent or severe.
Provigil
Provigil, whose generic name is modafinil, is a prescription medicine indicated for the treatment of excessive sleepiness that results from narcolepsy, a neurological disorder, or from shift work sleep disorder, a disregulation of sleep and waking often experienced by people who work nighttime hours. According to the National Center for Biotechnology Information's PubMed Health website, it is also used as an adjunct treatment for obstructive sleep apnea/hypopnea syndrome, a disorder characterized by cessations in breathing during sleep. Some physicians prescribe Provigil off-label for sleepiness unrelated to these conditions.
Caffeine
Popularly used to promote wakefulness, caffeine is probably harmless in moderate amounts and may even have health benefits. Its name is derived from the word "café," which is French for coffee. A review in the journal "Nutrition" states that caffeine boosts energy availability, burns calories, enhances cognitive and physical performance, promotes good decision-making and increases neuromuscular coordination.
Comparison of Provigil and Caffeine
Provigil is a drug that must be prescribed by a physician, and caffeine is readily available in coffee and other consumables. Still, their effects are remarkably similar. A 2005 study published in the "Journal of Sleep Research" found that the substances were equally effective at boosting psychomotor performance and the perception of alertness in healthy volunteers. In fact, a 2008 evidence-based review by R. Kumar of the Department of Family Medicine at the University of Chicago concluded that although its effects are of shorter duration, caffeine improves sleepiness, mood, cognition and fatigue as well as modafinil.
Warnings
The American Academy of Family Physicians says that neither caffeine nor Provigil should be used as a substitute for adequate rest, and warns that overuse of Provigil may lead to depression. Back pain, diarrhea, nausea, dizziness and stuffy nose are also among Provigil's reported side effects. Moderate amounts of caffeine are generally harmless, but insomnia, irritability, nervousness, restlessness and gastrointestinal upset can occur if your caffeine intake exceeds 500 to 600 mg daily, according to MayoClinic.com.
References
- "Drugs"; Approved and Investigational Uses of Modafinil: An Evidence-Based Review; R. Kumar; 2008
- "Journal of Sleep Research"; Performance and Alertness Effects of Caffeine, Dextroamphetamine, and Modafinil During Sleep Deprivation; N.J. Wesensten et al.; September 2005
- American Family Physician: Fatigue: An Overview
- PubMed Health: Modafinil
- "Nutrition"; Caffeine -- Not Just a Stimulant; M.J. Glade; October 2010
Member Comments