The world’s most popular treatment for preventing drowsiness is caffeine, which is most frequently found in coffee.
For the majority of people, this treatment is effective enough.
That being said, caffeine may not always promote the optimum amount of wakefulness in people with Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA) and Excessive Daytime Sleepiness (EDS).
Solriamfetol, a prescription drug, has surfaced as a possible substitute in these circumstances, claims Science Alert.
Solriamfetol has a different neurochemical pathway from caffeine and was initially developed to treat narcolepsy and OSA.
Solriamfetol raises one’s levels of dopamine and norepinephrine, two neurotransmitters associated with alertness, in contrast to caffeine, which promotes alertness by inhibiting adenosine receptors.
Solriamfetol may be a better option than caffeine for alertness, especially in patients with OSA and EDS, according to this novel mechanism of action.
Solriamfetol, armodafinil-modafinil, and pitolisant were the subjects of a review conducted by a team of researchers led by Dr. Tyler Pitre.
All three showed superior efficacy against placebo in reducing EDS, with solriamfetol showing the most striking improvement.
These results imply that solriamfetol, especially for those with OSA and EDS, may significantly improve alertness more than caffeine.
The benefits of solriamfetol go beyond the available scientific data. Its longer-lasting effects over caffeine are a significant advantage.
Caffeine’s ability to increase alertness can wear off after a few hours, frequently requiring multiple doses throughout the day, which may disrupt sleep when the time comes to go to bed.
Contrarily, solriamfetol prolongs wakefulness for up to 9 hours, requiring fewer doses and lowering the risk of sleep disruption.
Solriamfetol has advantages, but due to difficulties, many people find that caffeine is a more practical alternative.
Similar to the side effects that excessive amounts of caffeine can cause, solriamfetol can cause headaches, nausea, and decreased appetite.
Additionally, compared to solriamfetol, which needs a prescription, caffeine is a more widely available and socially acceptable option.
Solriamfetol also carries a risk of dependence, just like other stimulants do.
Although there is a chance of dependency with caffeine as well, the withdrawal symptoms are typically milder, frequently involving headaches and fatigue.
On the other hand, abruptly stopping the use of solriamfetol after a prolonged period of time can cause more serious withdrawal symptoms, comparable to those brought on by strong stimulants.
Solriamfetol improves wakefulness but, like caffeine, does not address the underlying problems that lead to OSA and EDS.
Although it aids in symptom management, it is not a cure-all. Despite this, drugs like solriamfetol may pave the way for better treatment approaches since OSA affects up to a billion people all over the world.
Solriamfetol might not be a practical option for everyone looking to combat excessive sleepiness due to factors like cost and accessibility.
It can be expensive to purchase as a prescription drug, and some people might only have limited access to it. Maintaining the customary morning routine, which frequently includes a cup of caffeine-filled coffee, is probably still the most practical course of action until these obstacles are removed.
