Esmodafinil (also known as (S)-modafinil or (+)-modafinil; developmental code name CRL-40983) is the enantiopure (S)-(+)-enantiomer of modafinil. Unlike armodafinil ((R)-(–)-modafinil), esmodafinil has never been marketed on its own.[3]
Esmodafinil has been researched for the treatment of cocaine addiction.[5][6] Like armodafinil, esmodafinil attenuates the effects of cocaine by occupying the dopamine transporter.[6] While doing so, esmodafinil increases dopamine levels in the nucleus accumbens to a lesser extent than cocaine.[5] However, the short half-life of esmodafinil has been cited as reason to investigate armodafinil as a cocaine addiction treatment instead.[5]
Analysis in biological samples
Modafinil is considered a stimulant doping agent and as such is prohibited by World Anti-Doping Agency in sports competitions.[9] Modafinil enantiomers can be separately quantified in biological samples.[10]
References
^ abcdSousa A, Dinis-Oliveira RJ (2020). "Pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic of the cognitive enhancer modafinil: Relevant clinical and forensic aspects". Substance Abuse. 41 (2): 155–173. doi:10.1080/08897077.2019.1700584. PMID31951804.
^Niemegeers P, Maudens KE, Morrens M, Patteet L, Joos L, Neels H, et al. (September 2012). "Pharmacokinetic evaluation of armodafinil for the treatment of bipolar depression". Expert Opinion on Drug Metabolism & Toxicology. 8 (9): 1189–1197. doi:10.1517/17425255.2012.708338. PMID22803602.
^Harvanová M, Gondová T (May 2017). "New enantioselective LC method development and validation for the assay of modafinil". Journal of Pharmaceutical and Biomedical Analysis. 138: 267–271. doi:10.1016/j.jpba.2017.02.028. PMID28231529. S2CID43492396.