In her interview with TV journalist Rajdeep Sardesai, Rhea Chakraborty, at the centre of investigations around actor Sushant Singh Rajput's suicide, talks about Sushant using Modafinil before boarding a plane.
She says the actor was prescribed the drug by his psychiatrist to deal with his claustrophobia in 2013.
What is this drug? What are its uses and side effects?
What is Modafinil?
Modafinil is popular as a 'cognitive enhancer'. We'll explain that in a bit, but first, Modafinil's primary use is to treat sleep disorders like Narcolepsy, According to WebMD, Narcolepsy is a neurological condition where people face excessive daytime sleepiness and will often fall asleep without any control over it. For these patients, Modafinil will increase focus, motivation, and decision-making.
Modafinil and Nuvigil are classified as "wakefulness-promoting agents."
For this reason, these drugs are also prescribed by some doctors 'off-label' for dealing with jet lag.
In 2012, the US Food and Drug Administration had rejected a pharma company's application to recognise Nuvigil as a 'jetlag' drug, according to this New York Times report.
Smart Drugs: Why Are They Popular with Students?
Modafinil became popular with students in highly competitive environments as a ‘study drug’, precisely for the same reasons. A drug that can help them stay awake and focused during the night, doing away with the 'need to sleep.' In a podcast for FIT, a journalist had spoken about his abuse of Modafinil while in college and how it made his anxiety worse over a period of time.
Generally, Modafinil is not considered harmful, but it can be psychologically addictive.
Other than Modafinil, Adderall and Ritalin, used to treat Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder, are the drugs of choice for those studying in the US and the UK.
Modafinil and ADHD drugs are sold under different brand names in India and are Schedule H drugs, meaning they can only be procured with a prescription.
For those with ADHD, these drugs help increase concentration. For those who don’t have ADHD, these drugs may help with focus, but they come with side effects.
In an earlier interview with FIT, Dr Amit Sen, a child psychiatrist had explained:
"If you don’t have ADHD, but you have undiagnosed anxiety, you can get a panic attack. If you have a heart condition, it can cause problems. It can lead to dizziness, insomnia, loss of appetite. If you have exam anxiety and you are seeking these drugs it’s counter-productive."
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