[tt] Reuters: Narcolepsy drug helps cancer-related fatigue: study

[Premise Checker]

This is an important transhumanist development, finding additional uses 
for this brain medication. I have taken Provigil for its original use, 
narcolepsy, for many years now.

Since, once a drug has been approved for a specific use by the Food and 
Drug Administration it can be legally prescribed for anything, I wonder 
what the significance of a further finding by the F.D.A. that it is safe 
and effective for another use is.

But then again, I am not sure that the legal significance of a formal 
declaration of war is either. The United States has not formally declared 
war since World War II, and I have been unable to find a single instance 
of any nation formally declaring war since that one. It is still going on, 
as the United States and Germany have yet to sign a peace treaty (if 
that's what it takes to formally end a war).

Thanks to Sarah for the article.

Narcolepsy drug helps cancer-related fatigue: study
http://www.reuters.com/articlePrint?articleId=USN3131463320080531

Sat May 31, 2008 5:37pm EDT

CHICAGO (Reuters) - The narcolepsy drug Provigil can alleviate
severe cancer-related fatigue, according to new research presented
on Saturday at a meeting of the American Society for Clinical
Oncology.

Provigil, or modafinil, is used to treat adults with narcolepsy and
obstructive sleep apnea who have difficulty staying awake. The drug
is made by Cephalon Inc.

A 642-patient trial, funded by the National Cancer Institute, found
that cancer patients who had the most severe fatigue at the
beginning of the study showed the most significant improvement after
taking the drug, while patients with mild or moderate fatigue showed
no improvement.

"A majority of cancer patients expect they will experience fatigue
and unfortunately, they are right," said Dr. Gary Morrow, director
of the University of Rochester cancer center and the study's lead
researcher.

He said modafinil "may have promise," but further studies need to be
done.

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration last year added a warning
about the risk of serious skin rash and psychiatric symptoms to the
label of Provigil.

(Reporting by Deena Beasley; Editing by Anthony Boadle)