Provigil (Modafinil) for Depression and Weight-loss?

Wish you could pop a pill that would give you more energy, boost your mood/overcome depression, improve your memory and help you lose weight - all at the same time? Provigil (Modafinil) sounds like a wonder drug to me and I’d love to try it. Too bad it’s not approved for any of the above uses. Right now it’s only approved for excessive sleepiness associated with treated obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), or with shift work sleep disorder (SWSD) or narcolepsy.

I wonder if Provigil (Modafinil) will ever be approved as an adjunct to anti-depressant therapy? Some studies have been done showing it can be effective as a mood brightener. Many people suffering from depression also have severe fatigue and can’t get out of bed or enjoy life, so could certainly use an energy boost.

Several studies have been done on Modafinil as an augmentation for antidepressant treatment… but I don’t believe it’s FDA approved for this use yet, so it’s difficult to get insurance to cover it and Provigil is very expensive.

I’m intrigued by the fact that some consider it a smart drug, so I wonder if it could give us boomers a cognitive boost too. See: Is modafinil ( Provigil ) a smart drug ? and A Dose Of Genius - washingtonpost.com

Last but not least, studies on modafinil indicate that it has an appetite reducing/weight loss effect. Sounds like the perfect anti-depressan to me. More energy, weight-loss - instead of gain and mood enhancement all in one med. I’m going to ask my psychiatrist about it.

Brain Fog, Memory Problems and those Senior Moments

Misplaced car keys?  Forgetting words? Losing your train of thought?  Whether you call it brain fog, spaciness or flippantly refer to it as a senior moment - it’s irritating and can be debilitating. Regardless of what you call it, feeling like you are literally losing your mind is no fun at all!

Forgetfulness and memory problems increase with age and are associated with older people. However as the article states below, memory and cognitive function peaks at 22 and begins to decline at age 27. 
Old age begins at 27: Scientists reveal new research into aging

Many things can have an effect on brain function and create a sense of spaciness. Stress can feel like it’s literally eating your brain. Illness can affect mental capabilities, for instance brain fog is very common in fibromyalgia sufferers.

One product I’ve tried that seems to help make me feel more mentally alert is Neuro Optimizer by Jarrow. I just ordered a new product called MindRX by Advance Physician Formulas. I’ll let you know if that seems to work any better. One other product I just started taking is Ashwagandha which in studies has been shown to boost cognitive function. Here is some info.

Ashwagandha and brain health

“Ashwagandha is used in India to treat mental deficits in geriatric patients, including amnesia. Researchers from the University of Leipzig in Germany wanted to find out which neurotransmitters were influenced by ashwagandha herb… The researchers say, “The drug-induced increase in acetylcholine receptor capacity might partly explain the cognition-enhancing and memory-improving effects of extracts from ashwagandha observed in animals and humans.”

A study done in 1991 at the Department of Pharmacology, University of Texas Health Science Center indicated that extracts of ashwagandha had GABA-like activity. This may account for this herb’s anti-anxiety effects.

A 2002 laboratory study indicates ashwagandha extract stimulates the growth of axons and dendrites. A 2001 study in rodents showed ashwagandha extract had memory boosting ability. A 2000 study with rodents showed ashwagandha extract to have anti-anxiety and anti-depression effects.”