Modafinil (Provigil) has been suggested as a potential wake-promoting drug that might be helpful in PWS. Interestingly, this article (although a very small study) showed that individuals taking modafinil consumed less food. Compared to amphetamine, which also increases wakefulness and decreases appetite, modafinil did not cause increased heart rate at high doses.
Wake-promoting agents with different mechanisms of action: comparison of effects of modafinil and amphetamine on food intake and cardiovascular activity . Makris AP, Rush CR, Frederich RC, Kelly TH. Appetite. 42:185-95, 2004.
Theresa Strong
Theresa V. Strong, Ph.D., received a B.S. from Rutgers University and a Ph.D. in Medical Genetics from the University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB). After postdoctoral studies with Dr. Francis Collins at the University of Michigan, she joined the UAB faculty, leading a research lab focused on gene therapy for cancer and directing UAB’s Vector Production Facility. Theresa is one of the founding members of FPWR and has directed FPWR’s grant program since its inception. In 2016, she transitioned to a full-time position as Director of Research Programs at FPWR. She remains an Adjunct Professor in the Department of Genetics at UAB. She and her husband Jim have four children, including a son with PWS.
