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Published on: January 6, 2011
Modafinil effects on reinstatement of methamphetamine seeking in a rat model of relapse
Carmela M Reichel1, Ronald E See
1Department of Neurosciences, Medical University of South Carolina, 173 Ashley Avenue, Charleston, SC 29425, USA.
Rationale:
Modafinil (Provigil) is a wake-promoting drug characterized by cognitive enhancing abilities. Recent clinical data have supported the use of modafinil for treatment of chronic psychostimulant addiction and relapse prevention.
Materials And Methods:
We used an intravenous methamphetamine (meth) self-administration procedure to assess the dose-dependent effects of modafinil on reinstatement following abstinence and after extinction on conditioned-cue and meth-primed reinstatement of meth seeking.
Results:
Modafinil attenuated active lever responding in multiple reinstatement conditions-context-induced, conditioned cue, and meth prime. The most pronounced and consistent effect was on meth-primed reinstatement, and modafinil did not reinstate meth seeking when tested alone.
Discussion:
These findings support clinical findings in humans that modafinil may be an effective therapeutic agent for the prevention of relapse in abstinent meth users.
Insights
Modafinil effectively reduced methamphetamine seeking behaviors in animal models. This study supports modafinil as a potential therapeutic for preventing relapse in abstinent methamphetamine users.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Pharmacology
- Addiction Research
Background:
- Modafinil is a wake-promoting agent with cognitive-enhancing properties.
- Clinical data suggest modafinil's efficacy in treating psychostimulant addiction and preventing relapse.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the dose-dependent effects of modafinil on methamphetamine seeking behavior.
- To assess modafinil's impact on reinstatement of drug-seeking behavior after abstinence.
Main Methods:
- Intravenous methamphetamine self-administration model in animals.
- Evaluation of modafinil's effects on cue-induced and drug-primed reinstatement of methamphetamine seeking.
Main Results:
- Modafinil significantly attenuated lever responding across various reinstatement conditions.
- The most substantial effect was observed in suppressing methamphetamine-primed reinstatement.
- Modafinil did not induce methamphetamine seeking behavior when administered alone.
Conclusions:
- Findings align with human clinical data supporting modafinil for relapse prevention in abstinent methamphetamine users.
- Modafinil demonstrates therapeutic potential for managing methamphetamine addiction.
