Posted by Lycaste on December 30, 2000, at 18:54:36
In reply to Re: Modafinil is a controlled substance !!!, posted by Rick on December 13, 2000, at 4:53:23
I read somewhere that rats that are trained to self-administer cocaine will also self-administer Modafinil. Unfortunately, I can no longer remember where I read this, but the context in which it appeared led me to the impression that 1) the "rat" test was used to test addiction potential of a drug and that 2) if a drug "failed" the test, it was put under control. In other words, the fact that rats will self-administer Modafinil may be at least part of the reason FDA made it a controlled substance.
I could, of course, be putting 2 and 2 together and coming up with 5, but I thought I would pass it along. By the way, I am NOT suggesting that Modafinil is addicting or that it resembles cocaine in any way. I imagine there are a number of substances that rats will self-administer, given a choice.
Lycaste
> > it is a schedule 4 controlled substance, I dont think that makes it illegal though, the main problem is price, from the IAS site it would cost $1800 to $3600 a year! thats crazy!
>
>
> > it is a schedule 4 controlled substance, I dont think that makes it illegal though, the main problem is price, from the IAS site it would cost $1800 to $3600 a year! thats crazy!.
>
> ----
> For perspective on the controlled substance count, the old pain standby Tylenol w/Codeine is in a more tightly controlled class (3), and Ritalin is in a *much* more tightly controlled class (2). It's hard to understand why the FDA designated Provigil a controlled substance at all. Although I'm not positive, I believe neither France nor England place Provigil in a controlled class. I think the reasons for control in the U.S. are:
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> -- Concern that some people will abuse it by taking it late to stay awake when they should be getting sleep.
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> -- Lingering thought that Provigil must have some abuse potential simply because the traditional, amphetamine-based stimulants do.
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> -- So that importer Cephalon could get quicker approval for the drug.
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> -- Because Cephalon is relatively small and doesn't have the resources and clout to fight any unfounded FDA concerns. I always think it's interesting that a med like Provigil, which research shows rarely causes withdrawal problems is controlled, when a non-controlled AD like Paxil causes many people to experience major withdrawal difficulties. If Provigil were imported by giant Smith Kline Beecham instead of little Cephalon, I think it's very likely it would not have ended up with a controlled designation. (Fyi, I stopped Provigil cold turkey for one week with no physical effects except a little more fatigue, and some mild loss of the therapeutic benefits of my Klonopin/Serzone/Provigil combo. Again, maybe it's the fear that some people will use Provigil as a way to purposely avoid sleeping. (By the way, it does not usually cause insomnia if taken as intended. Provigil helps me stay awake and alert when I want to be, but doesn't interfere with my sleep in the least -- even the occasional daytime nap.)
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> Regarding the expense, Cephalon is (or at least was) offering some kind of financial assistance.
> But I never read the details...maybe you have to be diagnosed with narcolepsy, which is the only official FDA-approved use thus far (even though it is used for other disorders half the time). Check out www.provigil.com. for info on the financial assistance, it it's stil being offered.
>
> Also, regarding cost, most of the time I use only 100 mg/day -- half of the typical recommended dose of 200mg. I get 200 mg tablets which are easy to snap in half with your hands. Depending on the curent prices and/or insurance considerations, this might help ease the cost burden.
>
> Rick
poster:Lycaste
thread:50297
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20001130/msgs/50598.html