Modafinil as a Potential Motion Sickness Countermeasure

Abstract

Executive Summary Motion sickness often leads to decrements in operational performance for personnel working in dynamic environments. Previous research examining pharmacological solutions for motion sickness have reported that dextroamphetamine (d-amphetamine) imparts significant protection against provocative motion, when compared to other standard countermeasures such as antihistamines, without conferring drowsiness or significant side effects. The military currently prescribes Dexedrine ® to assist with fatigue deterrence during periods of high operational tempo and/or extended flight operations. If the reported anti-motion sicknesses properties of d-amphetamine can be confirmed, the military could utilize a single medication for motion sickness and fatigue prevention. The purpose of this study was to determine the efficacy and side effect profile of this potential motion sickness countermeasure for us e in military environments. It was hypothesized that subjects in the oral d-amphetamine (10 mg, d-amphet) condition will tolerate more head movements than subjects in the placebo condition, without exhibiting performance decrements or significant side effects. Thirty-six aviation candidates, 31 male and 5 female, were recruited and randomized to one of two treatment groups (10 mg, d-amphet or placebo) and then exposed to passive Coriolis cross-coupling. Medication efficacy was determined by number of head movements tolerated between groups. Cognitive and medication side-effect profiles for both groups were derived from performance on the ANAM ®

Visual Vertigo, Motion Sickness, and Disorientation in Vehicles

“…Alternative stimulants to amphetamine such as Modafinil appear ineffective. 86 Motion sickness induces gastric stasis, preventing drug absorption in the gut. Therefore, oral administration must be given well before exposure to motion.…”

Motion Sickness: Current Knowledge and Recent Advance

“…Nevertheless, scopolamine used in combination with d‐amphetamine against MS should be cautioned, for scopolamine impairs decision‐making and motivational behavior similar to the effect produced by amphetamine . Modafinil, a potential substitute of amphetamine, significantly enhanced the efficacy of scopolamine when used in combination in rodents , but failed to prevent MS in humans when used alone . Caffeine, a much more commonly used psychostimulant, was found to be effective in counteracting scopolamine‐induced memory impairment in humans and animals , while no study has been performed to evaluate efficacy of caffeine in the management of MS alone or in combination with scopolamine and antihistamines.…”

Vertigo and Dizziness from Environmental Motion: Visual Vertigo, Motion Sickness, and Drivers' Disorientation

“…Alternative stimulants such as Modafinil seem ineffective. 75 Oral administration must anticipate motion because motion sickness induces gastric stasis, consequently preventing drug absorption by this route. 76 Injection overcomes the various problems of slow absorption kinetics and gastric stasis or vomiting.…”