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news
Provigil
drug use causes concern
By Adrienne Figueroa
On-line Forty-Niner
With finals just
a few weeks away, students who have not been studying in steady
increments since January may find themselves burning the midnight
oil in an attempt to cram an entire semester's worth of information
into one night.
This raises concern
among health care professionals who have seen young people
reach for over-the-counter or even prescription drugs to assist
them in staying awake.
In a recent article
in the Stanford Daily, a question was raised about the possible
availability of a prescription drug to students which keeps
both the mind and the body alert and awake for long periods
of time.
Provigil, short
for "promotes vigilance," is the name of this wakefulness-promoting
agent, which was approved by the Food and Drug Administration
in December of 1998 and is currently sold by Cephalon Pharmaceuticals.
Unlike caffeine
or amphetamines, Provigil cannot be classified as a stimulant,
said Aquita Robinson, medical information specialist for the
pharmaceutical company.
The drug works
by increasing neuronal activity in the hypothalmic-arousal
region of the brain, an area that mediates normal wakefulness
in patients, she said.
Although doctors
are able to prescribe the drug at their discretion, it has
only been FDA approved for the treatment of narcolepsy, a
condition characterized by a compulsive tendency to episodes
of deep sleep.
Provigil, a drug
which side effects include headache, nausea, anxiety and insomnia,
is not designed for those who wish to engage in an all-night
study session.
"This is not
recommended for college students staying up all night to cram,"
Robinson said.
Student Health
Center pharmacist Alba Thompson has not dealt with any students
who have taken Provigil. A larger concern for her is the students
who administer dosages of Vivarin or No-Doz in an effort to
maximize their study time.
She warns students
on the side effects of these products, which includes shaking
and heart palpitations. Caution should be exercised when taking
Sudafed or another decongestant at the same time as these
over-the-counter caffeine pills because bouts of nausea and
insomnia are likely to occur.
"I wouldn't
want to feel that yucky," Thompson said.
The pharmacist
said that she does not want to lecture students, but hopes
that they will be able to make informed decisions in favor
of their health.
"These are
the things that could happen," she said. "You make
the choice."
If a cognitive
boost is necessary, an herbal alternative to coffee may be
worth taking into consideration.
Madonna Morrissey,
vitamin manager at Papa Jon's Natural Market and Café
on Second Street, recommends one tablet of Turbo Charge, an
herbal supplement containing ginseng and other natural products.
"This gives
you energy without making you edgy," she said.
However, Morrissey
said she does not suggest that it be used in conjunction with
a study-filled, sleepless night.
"I don't know
how well you would do on the test the next day," she
said.
The vitamin specialist
advises that students try to get a good night sleep and maintain
proper nutrition. Consuming a protein shake with an herbal
supplement will be much healthier and easier to digest than
fast food during cram studying, when periods of stress and
physical inactivity are prevalent, she added.
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