Study evaluates potential treatments for daytime sleepiness in head-injury patients

Local patients are being sought for a national clinical research study currently investigating a study medication for people who have had a head injury, concussion or bump on the head and feel sleepy or tired during the day.  

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, head injury is one of the most common neurologic disorders, affecting around 1.5 million Americans every year. Many people with a past head injury feel sleepy during the day, yet few people know that their sleepiness might be connected to this injury.  People experiencing daytime sleepiness who have had one head injury within the last 10 years are encouraged to contact the clinical research screening center at 1-877-674-6317 or go to www.HeadInjuryResearchStudy.com for more information and where they can take the pre-screening questionnaire to see if they are eligible for the study.

"Currently, there are no treatments for patients who suffer from sleepiness during the day as a result of head injury," according to study investigator Dr. Milton Erman, MD at Avastra Clinical Trials. "Consequently, there is a great need for new medicines to treat this life-changing problem."

The clinical study is specifically designed for adults aged 18 to 65 who have had a head injury, concussion, or bump on the head within the last 10 years and feel sleepy or tired during the day. It will examine different dosage strengths of the study medicine and how patients respond to them. Eligible participants may receive medical care related to the study at no cost and be reimbursed for time and travel as a result of taking part in the trial.

A recent online survey of more than 100 people who have had a previous head injury found that feeling sleepy during the day negatively affects their work and family life. The survey was conducted by MediciGlobal, a patient communications firm working with Cephalon, Inc., the biopharmaceutical company sponsoring the study.

"Seventy percent of head injury sufferers surveyed said that their daytime sleepiness affects their ability to effectively interact with their family and co-workers, and seriously impacts long-term relationships," said Dr. Erman.  "This study is important because daytime sleepiness can negatively impact the daily lives of so many patients suffering from head injuries."