Armodafinil for Treatment of Excessive Sleepiness Associated with Chronic Shift Work Disorder
Summary
This 12-week, multicenter randomized controlled trial tested whether armodafinil could reduce excessive sleepiness in 254 night-shift workers diagnosed with Shift Work Disorder. Taken before each shift, armodafinil significantly improved objective wakefulness, with patients staying awake longer on lab sleep tests. Compared with placebo, more patients reported overall clinical improvement, and diaries showed reduced sleepiness during night work, in the lab, and on the commute home. Armodafinil also improved memory and attention scores, and did not interfere with daytime sleep. The medication was generally well tolerated.
Why It Matters For Night Shift Workers and Night Owls
This large trial shows that medication can help manage one of the most dangerous parts of night-shift work: severe sleepiness during the job and while driving home. Armodafinil improved alertness, memory, and attention without harming daytime recovery sleep. For workers, it shows that Shift Work Disorder is a recognized medical condition with treatment options. For employers and clinicians, it supports considering armodafinil as part of broader strategies to reduce fatigue-related risks.
Notes
PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/19880686/