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New Scientist article on the possibility that ADHD is a sleep disorder treatable with a narcolepsy med.
New Scientist said:Is ADHD actually a sleep disorder? Stimulant drug improves symptoms
https://www.newscientist.com/articl...ep-disorder-stimulant-drug-improves-symptoms/
A DRUG normally used to treat narcolepsy and excessive daytime sleepiness also seems to improve symptoms of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) symptoms. The finding supports the idea that ADHD might be a sleep disorder.
New Scientist said:One suggestion is that the circadian rhythm that controls our sleep-wake cycle over each 24 hour period may be misaligned in people with ADHD, causing them to be sleepy or alert at the wrong times.
This idea inspired Eric Konofal at Robert-Debré Hospital in Paris to try using a drug for narcolepsy and excessive daytime sleepiness to treat ADHD.
Mazindol mimics the effects of a brain chemical called orexin, which modulates wakefulness and appetite. It works as a stimulant to keep us awake, and is lacking in people with narcolepsy, who tend to fall asleep at inappropriate times.
New Scientist said:In their clinical trial, Konofal and his colleagues gave either mazindol or a placebo to 85 adults aged between 18 and 65, all of whom had previously been diagnosed with ADHD. Within two weeks, ADHD symptoms had reduced by more than 50 per cent in just over half of those who tried the drug.
These results are better than those in trials using conventional ADHD drugs, such as Ritalin and Adderall
New Scientist said:Mazindol is the first new ADHD drug for decades to work in a novel way, says Efron. “Since mazindol acts on a different neurochemical pathway, it could be useful for those who don’t respond to existing treatments.”
New Scientist said:However, although mazindol improved many ADHD symptoms, it did not boost the quality of the volunteers’ sleep, nor reduce the daytime sleepiness they experienced. The team is planning larger trials and other experiments to better understand how the drug might be working.