Modafinil, better known as a “smart drug”, or nootropic, is an FDA-approved oral medication that was originally meant for the treatment of sleep disorders like narcolepsy and obstructive sleep apnea. Today, this smart drug is widely used for various off-label purposes as well.
So, what is modafinil, and what makes this “drug smart”? Here is everything you need to know about modafinil, its usage, health benefits, dosage, mode of action, side effects, and where to buy genuine pills at the best prices safely.
What Is Modafinil?
Modafinil is a CNS (central nervous system) stimulant that belongs to the class of wakefulness-promoting drugs. Hence, it is prescribed for treating excessive sleepiness caused by shift work sleep disorder, narcolepsy, and obstructive sleep apnea [1]. Modafinil is also used off-label by ADHD patients for increased concentration, wakefulness, and focus.
The drug is made of R-(−)- and S-(+)-enantiomers and most commonly sold under the brand name of Provigil. Its other trade names include Alertec and Modavigil.
Armodafinil is another the FDA approved wakefulness-promoting drug that consists of the (R)-(−)-enantiomer of modafinil. It is more effective than the latter as it has a longer half-life. The trade name of armodafinil is Nuvigil.
Before we delve deeper into what type of drug modafinil is, it is important to understand its benefits.
Main Benefits of Modafinil
Besides the wakefulness-promoting effect of modafinil, it has some hidden benefits that make it a really “smart drug”. Generally, it is used as a stimulant to promote alertness. Along with mental alertness, modafinil is also capable of positively impacting cognitive abilities and focus. It is used by many professionals and students to improve their productivity and stay sharp when they have to work longer.
A study has shown that this medication finds its uses in psychiatric treatment of depression, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, and schizophrenia [2]. In some cases, Modafinil has also may potentially be useful in fighting cocaine addiction [3].
Some positive lasting effects of the nootropic under discussion as observed in controlled studies are as follows [4]:
- a boost in short-term memory;
- increased ability to concentrate and pay attention;
- losing a sense of fatigue;
- euphoria;
- increased confidence;
- reduced social anxiety.
Pharmacology of Modafinil
Excessive sleepiness is usually associated with the lack of sufficient wakefulness-promoting substances called orexins in our body. Modafinil is capable of activating the neurons of orexins, and this activation can result in the form of euphoria or a highly alert mental state [3].
While the exact mechanism of how modafinil works is not known, it has been noted that this active substance increases the dopamine levels in the brain by reducing the dopamine reuptake into the nerves. The elevated amount of this neurotransmitter makes you stay alert and feel less tired.
The effects of modafinil linger in the body, based on the dosage, for about 12 to 15 hours until it is gradually eliminated by hepatic metabolism, with subsequent renal removal of metabolites [5].
What If “Smart Pill” Doesn’t Work?
The truth is that the “smart pill”, as it claims to be, may not work for everyone. This can be caused by many reasons. For example, the dosage could be insufficient, you might be using poor quality medicine, or your existing diet and drug combinations may be causing the inactivation of modafinil’s effects. Additionally, if you have been using this drug for long, you might feel the drug losing its effect on you.
Here are some questions to ask yourself to know why modafinil doesn’t work for you:
- Have you bought the drug from a trusted pharmacy?
- How tolerant are you to the medicine? Have you tried adjusting the doses to check the strength of its effects and your tolerance level?
- Are you taking some other drugs that could interfere with the way modafinil works? Get the proper information from your doctor and remember to take the nootropic at least an hour before your other medications.
- How long have you been taking modafinil? Long-term users can take periodic breaks from the drug to keep effectiveness.
Whatever the case, remember to consult your physician and check for any side effects and continue to use the med only as prescribed by a doctor.
Best Way to Take Safe Dosage
So, how to take modafinil? The correct dosage depends on a lot of factors like the patient’s weight, gender, metabolism, and duration of drug administration.
The best way to take this nootropic is to swallow it or place it under the tongue. The pill has a strong bitter taste, so swallowing is a better idea. It is considered best to take it on an empty stomach as it helps quicker absorption.
It is highly recommended to consume the drug in smaller doses, gauge the effects, and then move to stronger doses if required. Dosage is usually prescribed based on the half-life of the drug. It is an indicator of how long it takes for your body to break down the drug and how long its effects last in your body.
Modafinil doses from 100 to 400 mg maximum are available. For strong stimulant effects, a dose of 200 mg is necessary. Sometimes people split a tablet to get the right dosage levels that work for them. A 200 mg pill of modafinil usually takes 18 hours to wear off and is equivalent to 100 to 150 mg of armodafinil.
A study was conducted to analyze the effectiveness of modafinil based on its dosage. Patients were provided with doses of 200 mg and 400 mg, as well as a split-dose 400 mg regimen. It was found out that the split-dose regimen provided better results and was more successful in inducing wakefulness during the entire waking day [6].
For Students
Wondering how to increase your focus while studying? Modafinil can help with that. The standard dose of 200 mg will work fine. However, if you are highly sensitive to medications, start with a 100 mg tablet of this nootropic.
The best time to consume the pill is 45 minutes prior to studying to get the desired results. Further, for optimum performance, students must have a sleep schedule of 7 to 9 hours to recover from its effects. It is advisable to take modafinil 3 to 4 times a week for the best results. Also, if you are consuming it for the first time, you must check out its side effects to be on a safer side.
For Shift Work
According to a study, taking 200 mg of modafinil one hour before the start of each shift improves the performance of workers. However, this is not a medicine that you should prescribe yourself or your employees. Remember to take a doctor’s prescription before consuming it [7].
ADHD Treatment
Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder is a condition that makes it difficult for you to focus on. ADHD patients are often characterized by their impulsive behavior and hyperactivity. If you want to treat ADHD symptoms, modafinil can help you.
A dosage of 200 mg will work fine (500 mg is max). How often should you consume it? You can take the pill either every day or every few days. The problem with daily consumption is the development of tolerance. You are advised to talk with your doctor to analyze your requirements properly.
Side Effects of Using Modafinil
According to the modafinil pharmacology, here are its common negative effects:
- headache;
- nausea;
- nervousness;
- dizziness;
- sleeping difficulties.
Some rare but serious adverse reactions associated with this medicine include:
- hallucinations;
- severe rashes (Stevens-Johnson syndrome);
- depressions;
- mood changes;
- chest pain;
- allergic reactions like fever, rash, swollen lymph nodes, and breathing difficulties.
If you experience long-term side effects, stop consuming the drug immediately, and contact your physician for further help and consultation.
Interaction with Meds, Alcohol, and Food
Modafinil can disrupt the enzyme activities in your liver, and thus it should not be consumed with alcohol and with food – grapefruits. It could also interfere with the metabolism of other pharmaceuticals. Thus, taking modafinil together with other medications, particularly those containing cyclosporine, theophylline, and hormonal compounds like estrogen and progesterone, might reduce their effectiveness. In these cases, you may have to look for alternative medications.
Certain drug combinations can be highly toxic and cause dangerous effects as well. Warfarin, diazepam, propranolol, imipramine, desipramine, and phenytoin are some meds that can increase toxicity if consumed along with modafinil.
Drugs containing carbamazepine, phenobarbital, and rifampin can also interact with this smart drug in a negative way. Coadministering modafinil with ketoconazole or itraconazole may result in a reduction of the effectiveness of nootropic as well.
Never self-medicate as keeping track of all drug combinations can be difficult, and surely you don’t want to cook up a dangerous recipe by mistake. Always consult your doctor before taking any medication [8].
Where to Buy Generic Modafinil Pills Without Rx?
Buying quality modafinil from verified and legit pharmacies is critical to your health and expected health benefits. While most walk-in drugstores require you to provide a doctor’s prescription for buying desired pills, certain online pharmacies sell modafinil over the counter. Further, most of such stores provide free shipping in addition to amazing discounts and bonuses.
Afinil is a reliable online pharmacy that offers generic modafinil pills for sale without a prescription. We provide cost-effective delivery of this nootropic with varying doses to choose from. Is it safe? Definitely. Since we source our drugs directly from the manufacturer, the products we sell are quality and genuine.
Shopping for modafinil & armodafinil products (like Waklert, Modvigil, Modafil MD, etc.) from Afinil Online Pharmacy gives you such benefits:
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All in all, Afinil is the best e-pharmacy to buy modafinil and other drugs without a prescription. We provide nootropic medicine in all the available doses at the most favorable prices.
References:
- Practical Use and Risk of Modafinil, a Novel Waking Drug. Published online: Feb 22, 2012. Ncbi.nlm.nih.gov.
- Modafinil: A Review of Neurochemical Actions and Effects on Cognition. Published: Aug 22, 2007. Nature.com.
- Modafinil. Drugbank.ca.
- Effects of Modafinil on Attention Performance, Short-Term Memory and Executive Function in University Students: A Randomized Trial. Published: Jun 30, 2015. Ncbi.nlm.nih.gov.
- Clinical Pharmacokinetic Profile Of Modafinil. Published: 2003. Ncbi.nlm.nih.gov.
- Dosing Regimen Effects of Modafinil for Improving Daytime Wakefulness in Patients with Narcolepsy. Published: 2003. Ncbi.nlm.nih.gov.
- Modafinil for Excessive Sleepiness Associated with Shift-Work Sleep Disorder. Published: August 4, 2005. Nejm.org.
- Modafinil. Medicinenet.com.