With an aim to put an end to the suffering of several New Zealanders affected by narcolepsy, the government drug-buying agency Pharmac has decided to fund another drug.

Narcolepsy is known to cause people to be excessively drowsy during the day or to fall asleep unexpectedly and officials have announced that cost of funding Modafanil would come to be around $950,000.

Pharmac's Medical Director, Peter Moodie, said, “The condition was typically treated with a stimulant drug and about 200 New Zealanders already received funded Methylphenidate or Dexamphetamine for narcolepsy. Clinical trial results show that, for some people, Modafanil can be a more effective treatment than other stimulant drugs, so this is a useful addition to funded treatments”.

Another key point was highlighted by the officials which suggested Modafanil to be the second-line treatment for narcolepsy which means that people will have to try a stimulant drug before becoming eligible for it.

Announcing 85 people to be eligible to receive Modafanil, Dr. Moodie believed that this number would surely increase in the future.