Wakefulness-promoting agent

Wakefulness-promoting agent
Drug class
The chemical structure of modafinil, a widely used wakefulness-promoting agent
Class identifiers
SynonymsWakefulness-promoting agent; Wakefulness-promoting drug; Wakefulness promoting medication; Wake-promoting agent; Wake-promoting drug; Wake-promoting medication; WPA
UseTo increase wakefulness and arousal, to reduce sleepiness and sedation
Legal status
In Wikidata

A wakefulness-promoting agent (WPA), or wake-promoting agent, is a drug that increases wakefulness and arousal. They are similar to but distinct from psychostimulants, which not only promote wakefulness but also produce other more overt central nervous system effects, such as improved attention span, executive functions, vigilance and motivation. Wakefulness-promoting agents are used to treat narcolepsy and hypersomnia and to increase wakefulness and performance in healthy people.

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