Eugeroic | |
---|---|
Drug class | |
The chemical structure of modafinil, the prototypical drug of this class. | |
Class identifiers | |
Synonyms | wakefulness-promoting agent wakefulness-promoting drug |
Use | Promote wakefulness and alertness |
ATC code | N06B |
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 euphoria, and, consequently, have a lower addictive potential.[2][3]
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),[5][6] and pitolisant, which acts as a histamine 3 (H3) receptor antagonist/inverse agonist.[7][8][9]