New Drug May Be Effective for Jet Lag

As presented at the Associated Professional Sleep Societies annual meeting in Seattle, a new trial of Nuvigil (generic name of armodafinil) was found to significantly improve wakefulness in individuals with excessive sleepiness associated with jet lag disorder.

Nuvigil is currently indicated to improve wakefulness among those who suffer from excessive daytime sleepiness associated with obstructive sleep apnea, shift work disorder, and narcolepsy. Individuals who experience jet lag may likewise experience excessive daytime sleepiness.

In a trial of 427 people who traveled eastbound from the United States to France, tests were performed to assess wakefulness in multiple sleep latency testing (MSLT). The use of Nuvigil increased the time it took subjects to fall asleep to 11.7 minutes, compared to 4.8 minutes for subjects taking a placebo.

Jet lag affects approximately 70 million American travelers annually. After additional study and approval by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), Nuvigil may prove to be an effective treatment option.

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