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Drug used for sleep disorders could have role in food addiction
A study conducted in England suggests that modafinil, a drug used to treat various sleep disorders, can reduce impulsivity and therefore could be useful in addressing food addictions.
Published in the journal Personality and Individual Differences, the study involved 60 men ages 19 to 32, with participants randomized to modafinil, atomoxetine or placebo. The study found that modafinil users exhibited a significantly reduced level of impulsivity compared with placebo users, but there were no differences from placebo in the atomoxetine group.
Referring to modafinil, researcher Ivo Vlaev of Warwick Business School said, “The drug improves self-control, which is a key factor in determining obesity, so our hypothesis is that this drug should help in treating the disease.”
