HOW DO MODAFINIL AND GALANTAMINE AFFECT HEART RATE DURING +GZ STRESS

Introduction: Fatigue remains a significant challenge in the field of aviation safety. This is particularly the case in military aviation, where aircrews are expected to perform complex and cognitively demanding tasks, often with unpredictable working hours, insufficient sleep and disrupted circadian rhythms. The aim of the present study was to determine the effect of a single dose of modafinil on the physiological response (based on heart rate) to variable acceleration up to +3Gz during a limited period of sleep deprivation, compared with that of placebo and a single dose of galantamine. Methods: To determine the effect of stimulant use, 12 male volunteers with a mean age of 24 ± 2.5 years were tested under three night-time conditions, after an average of 27 hours of sleep deprivation. Participants received placebo, galantamine 10 mg, and modafinil 100 mg, and were tested in a human centrifuge during a daytime control session. Heart rate, blood pressure, core body temperature, and body hydration were measured in participants during the experiment. Results: As we expected, both galantamine and modafinil counteracted the effects of fatigue on the physiological response to variable acceleration up to +3Gz compared to placebo, with the beneficial effect of galantamine being greater than that of modafinil. A single administration of galantamine (10 mg) to participants after 27 hours of wakefulness resulted in a statistically significant reduction in heart rate relative to both placebo and modafinil. Conclusions: None of the drugs tested (modafinil or galantamine) at a single dose had a negative effect on the physiological response to variable acceleration reaching +3Gz. Therefore, if there are no contraindications to their use, they may be useful in combating the symptoms of fatigue in flight attendants exposed to overload during prolonged flights.