Researchers at Mass General Brigham found that solriamfetol, a drug approved for treating excessive daytime sleepiness in conditions like sleep apnea and narcolepsy, may effectively reduce fatigue in early-morning shift workers. The drug, marketed as Sunosi, showed promise in a recent clinical trial involving 78 participants who started work between 3 and 7 a.m.
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These workers experienced excessive sleepiness due to shift work disorder, which occurs when individuals work during typical sleeping hours. For over four weeks, half of the participants received solriamfetol while the other half were given a placebo. Researchers assessed the ability of both groups to remain awake in a controlled, dark environment during their usual work hours.
Results indicated that those who took solriamfetol reported higher productivity and improved overall functioning compared to the placebo group. Senior study author Charles Czeisler, chief and senior physician of the Division of Sleep and Circadian Medicine in the Mass General Brigham Department of Medicine, noted the clinical significance of the findings. He emphasized that these workers could maintain alertness throughout an eight-hour shift, impacting performance, safety, and quality of life.
Czeisler stated, "Shift workers are essential to how our society functions, yet they often pay a hidden biological cost. This study shows we can do better for them." The study was published in the journal NEJM Evidence.