Ray WilliamThe Man Who Discovered Modafinil:
The discovery of Modafinil is fascinating. It all started in 1974 when two French chemists found its unique molecular structure. The chemists were Michel Jouvet and Lafon Laboratories. Jouvet was a French sleep researcher who worked with Lafon Laboratories. He was known for his groundbreaking research on the brain mechanisms involved in sleep and dreaming. Jouvet obtained his medical degree from the University of Lyon in 1950 and later became a professor of experimental medicine at the same university. He passed away in 2017 at the age of 91.
Initially named CRL-40476, the compound later received the name Modafinil. Lafon Laboratories tested it in the 1980s for its potential as a treatment for narcolepsy, which is characterized by excessive daytime sleepiness and uncontrollable sleep attacks. In 1994, the US Food and Drug Administration approved Modafinil as a treatment for narcolepsy under the brand name Provigil.
Modafinil has been studied for its potential to treat sleep disorders such as obstructive sleep apnea and shift work sleep disorder. It has also been studied as a treatment for attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), depression, and other conditions. Modafinil’s ability to improve cognitive function, focus, and alertness has made it popular as a “smart drug” or nootropic. Its use in this capacity has been widely debated.
Modafinil has a rich history of military use:
Modafinil’s military use is also intriguing. The French Ministry of Defense authorized its use by military personnel in the French Air Force, Foreign Legion, and Marine infantry during the 1st Gulf War. Officers administered the drug under the name Virgyl to enhance operational tempo. Several countries, including the United States, the United Kingdom, India, and France, have shown interest in modafinil as an alternative to amphetamine for situations of sleep deprivation.
The Indian Air Force included modafinil in their contingency plans in 2011. In November 2012, the US Air Force approved modafinil as a “Go pill” for fatigue management, replacing amphetamine-based medications like dextroamphetamine. Astronauts aboard the International Space Station also use modafinil to optimize performance while fatigued. The drug helps counteract the disruptions in circadian rhythms and reduced quality of sleep that astronauts often experience, according to the Canadian Medical Association Journal.
