HealthAugust 18, 2026

modafinil

mo-DAF-uh-nil

Definition

A wakefulness-promoting drug occasionally investigated in clinical trials as a potential pharmacological treatment for stimulant use disorders.

Etymology

The name is a portmanteau derived from its chemical structure and pharmacological profile; it was synthesized in France in the 1970s and is a derivative of benzhydryl sulfinyl compounds.

In the news

Modafinil is listed as one of the five specific medications that has been systematically evaluated across all three stages of the research pipeline for treating methamphetamine use disorder.

Graduate researcher leads landmark methamphetamine treatment systematic review

Read the full article ↗

Medical Xpress

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