Eugeroic | |
---|---|
Drug class | |
Class identifiers | |
Synonyms | Wakefulness-promoting agent Wakefulness-promoting drug |
Use | Promote wakefulness and alertness |
ATC code | N06B |
Legal status | |
In Wikidata |
Eugeroics (originally "eugrégorique" or "eugregoric"), [1] also known as wakefulness-promoting agents and wakefulness-promoting drugs, are a class of drugs that promote wakefulness and alertness. [2] [3] They are medically indicated for the treatment of certain sleep disorders including excessive daytime sleepiness (EDS) in narcolepsy or obstructive sleep apnea (OSA). [2] [3] Eugeroics are also often prescribed off-label for the treatment of EDS in idiopathic hypersomnia. [4] In contrast to classical psychostimulants, such as methylphenidate and amphetamine, which are also used in the treatment of these disorders, eugeroics typically do not produce marked euphoria, and, consequently, have a lower addictive potential. [2] [3] [5]
Modafinil and armodafinil are each thought to act as selective, weak, atypical dopamine reuptake inhibitors (DRI), [2] [3] whereas adrafinil acts as a prodrug for modafinil. Other eugeroics include solriamfetol, which acts as a norepinephrine–dopamine reuptake inhibitor (NDRI), [6] [7] and pitolisant, which acts as a histamine 3 (H3) receptor antagonist/ inverse agonist. [8] [9] [10]
Cephalon, the original U.S. market rights holder of modafinil, has demonstrated initiative in the development of a successor to the prototypical eugeroic. [11] Of the more than twenty compounds preclinically tested in Cephalon's three-part drug discovery series, the compound fluorenol was selected as a lead. Fluorenol was found to induce wakefulness to a greater degree than modafinil, despite possessing a lower affinity for the dopamine transporter. [12]
All currently marketed eugeroics are classified as central nervous system stimulants and possess some (attenuated) stimulant-like properties. [13] [14] It is expected that future developments will further distinguish eugeroics from classical CNS stimulants. [15] [11]
Eugeroic | |
---|---|
Drug class | |
Class identifiers | |
Synonyms | Wakefulness-promoting agent Wakefulness-promoting drug |
Use | Promote wakefulness and alertness |
ATC code | N06B |
Legal status | |
In Wikidata |
Eugeroics (originally "eugrégorique" or "eugregoric"), [1] also known as wakefulness-promoting agents and wakefulness-promoting drugs, are a class of drugs that promote wakefulness and alertness. [2] [3] They are medically indicated for the treatment of certain sleep disorders including excessive daytime sleepiness (EDS) in narcolepsy or obstructive sleep apnea (OSA). [2] [3] Eugeroics are also often prescribed off-label for the treatment of EDS in idiopathic hypersomnia. [4] In contrast to classical psychostimulants, such as methylphenidate and amphetamine, which are also used in the treatment of these disorders, eugeroics typically do not produce marked euphoria, and, consequently, have a lower addictive potential. [2] [3] [5]
Modafinil and armodafinil are each thought to act as selective, weak, atypical dopamine reuptake inhibitors (DRI), [2] [3] whereas adrafinil acts as a prodrug for modafinil. Other eugeroics include solriamfetol, which acts as a norepinephrine–dopamine reuptake inhibitor (NDRI), [6] [7] and pitolisant, which acts as a histamine 3 (H3) receptor antagonist/ inverse agonist. [8] [9] [10]
Cephalon, the original U.S. market rights holder of modafinil, has demonstrated initiative in the development of a successor to the prototypical eugeroic. [11] Of the more than twenty compounds preclinically tested in Cephalon's three-part drug discovery series, the compound fluorenol was selected as a lead. Fluorenol was found to induce wakefulness to a greater degree than modafinil, despite possessing a lower affinity for the dopamine transporter. [12]
All currently marketed eugeroics are classified as central nervous system stimulants and possess some (attenuated) stimulant-like properties. [13] [14] It is expected that future developments will further distinguish eugeroics from classical CNS stimulants. [15] [11]