Le mazindol : une alternative dans le traitement des troubles de l'éveil et du maintien de l'attention ?

Mazindol is a non-amphetamine central nervous system stimulant. When the amphetamines were withdrawn, mazindol did not dominate the drug landscape in narcolepsy. When modafinil was registred for primary hypersomnias (e.g. narcolepsy), mazindol definitely lost any opportunity to be indicated for hypersomnias, despite clinical studies showing its safety and benefit. The review of the literature about the effects of mazindol at therapeutic doses (1-6 mg/d) confirms its clear efficacy profile in the treatment of excessive daytime sleepiness and cataplexy, with no potential for abuse, no withdrawal syndrome, and rare serious adverse events, even after a long-term exposure. The fact remains that mazindol suffers from limited knowledge of its use and interest in clinical practice. At a time when the depletion of pharmacotherapeutic options extends to orphan diseases in adults, is it possible to consider its therapeutic benefit as extended to attention disorders in children?