Beginners Guide to Mixing Modafinil and Weed

Weed is a complicated plant.

It can be both a stimulant or a depressant, a productivity enhancer or a productivity killer, and it can help us with symptoms like anxiety or make them even worse.

The trick to getting it right is to choose the right strain. Every type of weed is different and will give you different effects.

Your weed can either help your modafinil use or hurt it.

This guide aims to break the barriers and help you understand exactly how to mix weed with modafinil effectively. 

We also talk about some tricks to avoid the negative side effects associated with these substances.

Why Mix Weed & Modafinil?

There are many reasons why someone would want to combine weed and modafinil.

The most common reason is to reduce some of the side effects of the modafinil.Others use it to boost the concentration and creativity-enhancing effects of the modafinil further.

Others mix them indirectly by taking modafinil for work or school during the day— followed by a few hits of weed later on to relax.

Is mixing modafinil and weed dangerous?

We’ll discuss this in more detail below.

A Primer on How Modafinil Works

In order to break down how weed and modafinil mix, we need to briefly go over how modafinil actually works. 

Modafinil is a synthetic, isolated chemical.

It has several distinct effects on the human body that force the brain into a waking state.

The Effects of Modafinil Include:

1. Increases dopamine and norepinephrine levels (by inhibiting reuptake) [2]
2. Increases the release of orexin (a key regulator of the wake portion of the “sleep-wake cycle” [3]
3. Increases the release of histamine (which has a stimulating effect on the brain) [4]

The sum of these effects makes us feel very awake while the drug is in effect. This can last up to 20 hours depending on the dose and the size/build of the person taking it.

The reason this is so useful for increasing productivity is that it can dramatically increase the amount of productive time we have available to work on a given task. It also helps us focus in on the task at hand and avoid distractions.

How we Metabolize Modafinil

From the moment modafinil enters the bloodstream, the liver begins to metabolize it (primarily through CYP3A4 enzyme species).

It converts the active compound into an inactive, water-soluble version known as modafinilic-acid. The kidneys then filter this metabolite out and eliminate it through our urine.

Depending on how efficient our liver metabolism is, will determine how fast the modafinil is eliminated from the body. Those with poor liver function may find that the effects of the drug last much longer than advertised, and those with extremely efficient liver metabolism may find the effects are shorter lived.

A Primer on Weed (Cannabisspp.)

The active compounds in weed are known as cannabinoids.

They’re a group of around 113 different chemicals that interact with a special set of receptors found in each one of our cells. These receptors and the compounds that interact with it are known collectively as the endocannabinoid system.

Cannabinoids from the marijuana plant bind to these receptors, and activate them, to varying strengths.

The most significant cannabinoids in the plant are THC and CBD. Each one has different effects on the body.

What is THC?

THC is considered more stimulating than CBD.

It’s the main psychoactive component of the plant and offers the appetite-promoting, stimulating, and psychoactive effects of the plant.

Although marijuana plants can have highly variable THC levels, sativa-dominant hybrid strains generally have a higher THC content than other cannabinoids.

You can also buy pure THC or have weed extracts that contain mostly THC.

Weed that’s high in THC is often described as producing a “head high” and can cause side effects like anxiety, paranoia, and insomnia.

Strains high in THC are better for complimenting the stimulating effects of the modafinil, reducing the appetite suppressing side effects of the drug, and for recovering from an uncomfortable come-down off the drug’s effects.

What is CBD?

CBD has a more sedating effect than THC.

It’s not psychoactive but offers most of the pain-relieving, sedating, anti-anxiety, and muscle relaxing benefits of the plant.

Therefore, weed strains high in CBD are better for reducing modafinil side effects like anxiety, muscle tension, headaches, and insomnia.

Indica dominant hybrid strains of marijuana are more likely to have higher CBD ratios than their sativa counterparts.

There are— of course— exceptions to this rule.

It’s best to look at the cannabinoid profile of each strain you aim to buy rather than just assuming all Indicas will do the trick.

CBD extracts are also available and may be the best option if your goal for mixing your modafinil with weed is for the benefits of CBD specifically.

We recommend finding a good indica-dominant strain high in CBD to receive these benefits. It’s best to combine this form of cannabis later on as the effects of modafinil start to wind down from the halfway point.

How to Mix Modafinil & Weed Effectively

1. Using Weed to Reduce the Side Effects of Modafinil

This is likely to be the most common reason behind mixing these two compounds.

Modafinil is a powerful psychotropic drug that stimulates parts of the brain associated with the process of wakefulness. It increases neurochemical concentrations of norepinephrine, dopamine, histamine, and orexin, all of which work together to make us feel awake and focused.

As with any powerful medication, some unfortunate side effects may arise.

Weed (Cannabis indica/sativa) offers some unique benefits that can reduce many of these side effects.

It’s important to note, however, that these benefits are highly dependant on the specific strain chosen due to the high variability of the phytochemicals in the cannabis plant.

As mentioned above, the main two cannabinoids in the marijuana plant are THC and CBD. Both of these cannabinoids will provide different benefits and different side effects.

Pros & Cons of Mixing THC with Modafinil

Pros	Cons
Increases appetite suppressed by modafinil	Can cause overstimulation and increase side effects like paranoia, irritability, insomnia, or anxiety
Can alleviate the adverse effects of the modafinil come-down	Can increase other side effects like dehydration, fidgeting, and dry mouth

Pros & Cons of Mixing CBD with Modafinil

Pros	Cons
Alleviates hyperstimulation caused by modafinil, improving side effects like anxiety, paranoia, irritability, insomnia, and anxiety.	May further worsen appetite suppression side effects
Can significantly improve insomnia symptoms	May reduce the overall impact of modafinil due to some opposing actions

How to Use Weed for Lowering Side Effects of Modafinil

As you can probably see, it’s not as straightforward as merely mixing your weed with modafinil to eliminate side effects of your Modafinil. If the wrong strain is chosen, it may be ineffective or make side effects even worse.

That’s why it’s important to identify what side effects you want to reduce.

If you find modafinil is making you feel overstimulated, try a lower dose. A strain higher in CBD might have the potential in alleviating this side-effect as well.

You can find strains known to be high in CBD through tools like Leafly.com. Your local dispensary will also likely have a good knowledge of what strains are higher in THC or CBD.

We recommend Cannatonic, or Harle Tsu if you’re not sure where to start.

If you find most of the issues with modafinil involve the comedown (feeling depressed, tired, uncomfortable), then we recommend using something more balanced or with a higher THC content (though not too high).

Aim for something with around 10-20% THC, or purchase an extract with medium THC levels and lower CBD.

We recommend Chocolope or Banana Kush for these effects.

2. Using Weed to Boost the Effects of Modafinil

Some users are mixing weed and modafinil to boost the effects of their modafinil.

Although these two compounds are very different and have separate effects on the body, some weed strains offer a similar benefit to modafinil through different mechanisms.

It can be a good way to get some extra kick out of your modafinil doses.

Use caution when mixing weed and modafinil for this reason. These two compounds can easily cause overstimulation resulting in negative side-effects like anxiety and insomnia— so approach with caution.

How it Works

One of the main ways THC can be used to boost modafinil’s effects is through one of the main endocannabinoid receptors, known as CB1.

This receptor is important for regulating dopamine release.

THC preserves dopamine levels by inhibiting the enzyme responsible for breaking it down (monoamine oxidase) [1]. It also works to increase the release of dopamine by activating the CB1 receptor in the brain [5].

How To Boost Modafinil’s Effects With Weed

The main stimulatory compound in marijuana is THC.

We recommend finding a weed strain with a moderate-high THC content for these effects.

It’s important to remain conservative with your dosing when mixing a stimulating, high-THC strain of weed with your modafinil. Start with doses that you are familiar with for modafinilFor most people this is around 200 mg.

Add the weed in slowly. It can help to take weed or weed extracts AFTER the modafinil has peaked, roughly around the 3 or 4-hour mark.

This will help to prolong the peak of the modafinil and will help to prevent becoming too stimulated as the effects of the weed and modafinil build up at the same time.

If you’re not sure where to start, we recommend Chemdawg, Jack Herer, or Durban Poison as a place to start.

3. Mixing Modafinil & Weed Separately

Many modafinil users also enjoy weed from time to time outside the effects of modafinil.

After taking modafinil during the day, you may choose to settle down with some marijuana in the evening. What many people aren’t aware of, is the fact that there is still likely to be modafinil floating around the bloodstream. This will then interact with the compounds in the marijuana even if you didn’t intend for them to mix.

If you’re reading this to find out if it’s safe to combine weed and modafinil, the short answer is yes, but with some caveats.

As mentioned in other sections, the interaction between modafinil and weed are highly variable. It can either make the side effects of the modafinil worse or improve them.

It all depends on the weed strain you use and how much CBD, THC, or other cannabinoids are present in the leaves/flowers.

Understanding the potential interactions is important if you wish to consume modafinil and weed on the same day.

How to Use Modafinil and Weed Separately Without Causing Negative Side Effects

The best way to combine these two compounds is to ensure that your modafinil is taken very early in the morning.

This allows as much of it as possible to be eliminated from the body by the time you sit down to roll up a joint or hit the vape.

Keep in mind what you’re using the marijuana for in the first place. If you use it to help you relax after a stimulating day on modafinil, look for a strain with well-known muscle relaxant and sedative qualities.

If you’re looking for the psychoactive qualities of the herb, try using something that is a little more well-rounded, and avoid the high-THC strains.

Taking high THC strains on days where you’re also taking modafinil can result in overstimulation and insomnia.

A few good, well-rounded strains suitable for use with modafinil includes Chernobyl, Maui Wowie, or Jack Herer.

Is Mixing Modafinil & Weed Safe?

Now that we know why someone would want to mix weed with modafinil and how to combine them to get the results you’re looking for, you may be wondering, “is mixing modafinil and weed safe?”

A group of researchers set out to find the answer to this question with a study that was published in 2010.

The study took 12 occasional marijuana users and gave them four sessions of 4 different combinations:

1. THC extract with modafinil
2. THC with Placebo
3. Modafinil with Placebo
4. Placebo with Placebo

All 12 participants were given all combinations four times. They were not told which combination they were receiving each time.

Researchers conducting the study concluded that “modafinil can be safely combined with oral THC” [6].

There have not yet been any comprehensive studies involving raw cannabis or CBD extracts in combination with modafinil, but it is unlikely for there to be any negative interactions.

In summary, modafinil and weed can be combined, and in many ways the combination is beneficial.

However, it’s important to choose the strain cautiously, and understand what your goals are for mixing.

Looking to reduce side-effects of modafinil? — choose a high CBD strain. 

Looking to give your modafinil a boost? — choose something high in THC. 

References

1. Fišar, Z. (2010). Inhibition of monoamine oxidase activity by cannabinoids. Naunyn-Schmiedeberg’s archives of pharmacology, 381(6), 563-572.
2. Volkow, N. D., Fowler, J. S., Logan, J., Alexoff, D., Zhu, W., Telang, F., … & Hubbard, B. (2009). Effects of modafinil on dopamine and dopamine transporters in the male human brain: clinical implications. Jama, 301(11), 1148-1154.
3. Scammell, T. E., Estabrooke, I. V., McCarthy, M. T., Chemelli, R. M., Yanagisawa, M., Miller, M. S., & Saper, C. B. (2000). Hypothalamic arousal regions are activated during modafinil-induced wakefulness. Journal of Neuroscience, 20(22), 8620-8628.
4. Ishizuka, T., Sakamoto, Y., Sakurai, T., & Yamatodani, A. (2003). Modafinil increases histamine release in the anterior hypothalamus of rats. Neuroscience letters, 339(2), 143-146.
5. Schlicker, E., & Kathmann, M. (2001). Modulation of transmitter release via presynaptic cannabinoid receptors. Trends in pharmacological sciences, 22(11), 565-572.
6. Sugarman, D. E., Poling, J., & Sofuoglu, M. (2011). The safety of modafinil in combination with oral∆ 9-tetrahydrocannabinol in humans. Pharmacology Biochemistry and Behavior, 98(1), 94-100.

Modafinil vs. Vyvanse: Comparison of Effects, Benefits, Side Effects, and Combined Use

Have you ever wondered about the difference between Vyvanse and modafinil?

Although there are quite a few similarities between the two— both are used off-label for increasing focus and concentration— there are some important differences between them that you need to be aware of.

Vyvanse is a brand name drug and comes at brand name prices.

It’s also an amphetamine, similar to Adderall, which is another popular smart drug.

Amphetamines come with a set of issues not found in next-generation smart drugs like modafinil.

Here, we discuss what makes these two drugs different and why we prefer modafinil to Vyvanse.

Central Nervous System Stimulants

Central nervous system stimulants (often just called stimulants for short) are a class of drugs that force the brain into an aroused state.

This class of drugs is the most commonly used class of drugs in the world, aside from caffeine in coffee and tea.

Other, more powerful stimulants like modafinil, Vyvanse, Adderall, and Ritalin are rising in popularity among the workforce and in universities.

The reason for taking these drugs is to give the brain a boost.

It’s preferred amongst people who need to perform at the highest cognitive level possible or achieve superhuman levels of productivity on a daily basis.

It’s like hitting the turbo in the brain, forcing it into overdrive to get more speed and performance out of it.

Who Takes Stimulants?

A lot of the people who use these stimulants are people with heavy workloads or high expectations to perform.

CEOs, students, business professionals, and designers all use stimulants to get more work done.

Other industries also have unique uses for these medications.

Truck drivers use it to stay awake on long, overnight hauls, and E-sports contestants use them to increase reaction times during competitions.

Even the military has used it in their special forces units to stay awake and vigilant on long overnight missions.

The fact of the matter is that anybody who needs to get a lot of stuff done, or who want to get through a tough, tedious task can benefit from stimulants.

Choosing the right one can be a challenge when there are so many options available.

What is Modafinil?

Modafinil is a central nervous system stimulant used for treating narcolepsy and obstructive sleep apnea.

It forces the brain into a waking state where we become more alert and focused.

Modafinil works to increase dopamine levels in the brain, helping us stay motivated for several hours at a time. It can delay the onset of fatigue, and can dramatically improve productivity.

This drug has fewer side effects than many other stimulants and is easy to buy online both with or without a prescription.

How Much Does Modafinil Cost?

There are two types of modafinil that we need to talk about in order to discuss price.

There’s brand name modafinil, which can cost anywhere from $25 to $52 per tablet. The brand name versions are Provigil® and Nuvigil®.

There are also generic modafinil that are significantly cheaper.

The range of generic modafinil available through the online vendor AfinilExpress.com is between $0.80 and $2.80 per tablet.

The cost variation depends on how much you buy (bulk orders are cheaper) and whether you buy modafinil or armodafinil (armodafinil is slightly more expensive).

What’s the Dose for Modafinil?

Modafinil Comes in Three Main Doses:

1. 100 mg (modafinil)
2. 150 mg (armodafinil)
3. 200 mg (modafinil)

The most common dosage is 150 mg for armodafinil, and 200 mg for modafinil.

Most of the manufacturers making generic modafinil and armodafinil make them with a crease down the center. This allows the user to break the pill in halves to get two equal doses.

Some people choose to take a higher dose and will double up instead.

We don’t recommend going higher than 400 mg modafinil or 300 mg armodafinil due to the increased chances of side effects.

Modafinil is very safe— there are reports of people taking more than 4000 mg of modafinil in a single day!

Though it’s not recommended, there were no lasting side effects on this account, the side effects, while the drugs were circulating in the body, were severe and very uncomfortable.

Within the normal 200–400 mg range, side effects are rare and highly manageable.

How Modafinil Works

Modafinil works through three main activities:

1. Increases dopamine levels in the brain by preventing its reuptake and destruction
2. Increases norepinephrine levels in the brain by blocking its reuptake and destruction
3. Triggers the release of the neuropeptide orexin from the hypothalamus, forcing the mind into a state of arousal

The combined effects of the drug force us into a waking state. We feel alert, even when we would typically feel tired.

Modafinil also helps us concentrate through its ability to increase dopamine concentrations, which is a critical component of focusing on a given task, and staying motivated to work or study.

Where to Source Modafinil

The best way to get your hands on some modafinil for yourself is to buy it online through a community-vetted online vendor like AfinilExpress.com.

These sources offer discounted generic modafinil at prices significantly cheaper than brand name options. They take credit card or Bitcoin payment and have some of the best customer service in the industry.

Tip: Use the discount code MODAFINILOTC when shopping at Afinil Express to save 10% on your order.

The Side Effects Of Modafinil

The most common side effects of the drug are headaches, anxiety, and insomnia. Both of these side effects can be avoided if by following these simple tips.

The mild side effects of modafinil include:

• Insomnia
• Headaches
• Poor appetite
• Diarrhea
• Anxiety
• Dry mouth
• Faster heartbeat
• High blood pressure

More severe side effects include:

• Fever
• Hallucinations
• Severe depression
• Chest pain
• Severe skin reactions
• Depression

What is Vyvanse?

Vyvanse is a pharmaceutical drug used in the treatment of Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) and severe binge-eating-disorder (BED) in adults.

Vyvanse is the brand name for the compound known as lisdexamfetamine dimesylate, an amphetamine stimulant medication. Its chemical structure makes it similar to Adderall, another amphetamine stimulant used to treat ADHD.

The company that makes the drug, Shire Pharmaceuticals, claim that their drug medicine is the #1 prescribed branded ADHD medication.

Some people are taking Vyvanse for boosting productivity and increasing focus and concentration.

What Are People Saying About Vyvanse?

Online forums like Reddit and Longecity are great online resources for anecdotal reports and opinions about the drugs from people who’ve tried it and aren’t incentivized to promote or discourage the use of the drugs.

After In-Depth Combing Through These Forums, Here’s the Highlights:

1. It’s great for increasing mental energy but isn’t as useful for boosting concentration or focus as other, similar drugs, and commonly produces abrain fog.
2. It hinders the creative thought process.
3. Can make you feel distant and prevents you from being a “functional member of society.”
4. It lowers appetite
5. It can cause a rollercoaster of effects, sometimes working well, other times not at all
6. It can produce bad headaches

Unfortunately, as you can see, the general opinion on these forums is negative.

There are, of course, a lot of positive benefits of the drug, but it appears to be unreliable in its effects.

On top of this, the cost is very high for the drug, forcing a lot of daily users to seek out other options.

How Much Does Vyvanse Cost?

According to Goodrx.com, the average cost of Vyvanse is about $270 for a 30 day supply.

That’s about $9 per dose.

Walmart lists slightly lower pricing, which is as follows:

Dosage	Number of Tablets	Total Cost	Cost Per Tablet
30/40/60 mg	30	$197.85	$6.60
30/40/60 mg	60	$393.70	$6.56
30/40/60 mg	90	$589.00	$6.54

Interestingly, buying in bulk offers almost no cost savings on the drug.

The difference between the smallest dose to the largest for the same number of tablets is only $5.

Are There Generic Versions of Vyvanse?

Modafinil has been around for over 20 years, and there are now a variety of generic options available at a fraction of the cost.

These generic medications are perfectly equivalent to the brand name versions and exposed to the same rigorous quality assurance measures taken by the FDA to brand name manufacturers.

There is yet no generic version of Vyvanse available to the public.

This allows the manufacturers of Vyvanse, Shire Pharmaceuticals, to control all sale and marketing of the drug. All sales go directly into their pockets no matter how much they want to sell the drug.

To maximize profits, pharmaceuticals will charge different amounts in different countries depending on the prevalence of the condition its approved to treat and how much the average person living in that area is willing to pay for the medication.

A lack of generics is a problem for the general public interested in taking Vyvanse.

The company will continue to hold a monopoly over the drug until 2023 when the patents finally expire.

Until then, I hope you brought your checkbook with you, Vyvanse is going to cost a lot more than the other options currently available.

What’s the Dose For Vyvanse?

Vyvanse comes in 3 main dosages:

1. 30 mg
2. 40 mg
3. 60 mg

All three dosages cost the same. However, the dosage given by a doctor must be adhered to. This means you can’t buy 60 mg Vyvanse and split it into two 30 mg doses or three 20 mg doses to save money.

Doctors will decide on the dose according to how it affects you because nobody reacts the same on the drug.

Generally, they will prescribe a 20 mg dose for two weeks and tell you to come back.

If at the end of the two weeks you report that the drug had little benefit, they’ll increase to a 40 mg dose and repeat.

The highest they will prescribe is 60 mg, and only if the drug is producing little to no effects at lower doses.

If the drug is still not working, they will usually change you over to either Adderall or modafinil.

What is Chewable Vyvanse?

There is another form of Vyvanse, designed for children six years and up.

It’s a chewable flavored tablet to help kids swallow the pharmaceuticals more easily.

This version comes in a greater range to account for the high variability in children’s sizes and metabolisms affecting the drug effects.

The doses for chewable Vyvanse includes:

• 10 mg
• 20 mg
• 30 mg
• 40 mg
• 50 mg
• 60 mg

What is Mixable Vyvanse?

Vyvanse takes the cake for having the most amount of administration formats in the world of stimulants. They also have a mixable version of the drug, again, aimed at making the drug easier to give to children with ADHD.

They advertise this on the Vyvanse official website. The method is to buy the capsulated versions, which are the normal swallowable option, but to then open the capsule and mix it in with juice, water, or yogurt.

The dose for this method is the same as the swallowable version of the drug.

How Vyvanse Works

Vyvanse is considered a prodrug. This means that for the drug to produce any effects, it needs to be metabolized by the liver into something else first.

The metabolite then goes on to produce the effects throughout the body.

The main effects of the drug are to increase the concentrations of dopamine and norepinephrine. These compounds are very similar in structure, and often when a drug affects one of them, it will also affect the other.

Vyvanse works on ADHD because people suffering from this condition often have lower dopamine levels in the brain. Low dopamine levels make it harder to stay focused and on track.

By increasing the concentration of dopamine to increase, it makes it easier for patients suffering from the condition stay focused on the task at hand.

The increase in norepinephrine causes a stimulating effect in the brain, making us feel alert and focused. It can also cause us to lose our appetite and can produce side effects like headaches and dry mouth.

When To Avoid Vyvanse:

1. If you’ve taken a monoamine oxidase inhibitor (MAOI) in the past 14 days
2. If you’re sensitive to stimulant medications
3. If you’re under the age of 6
4. If you suffer from any psychiatric conditions (including depression, bipolar disorder, suicidal thoughts)
5. If you’re pregnant or breastfeeding
6. If you suffer from Raynaud’s syndrome

The Side Effects of Vyvanse

Minor Side Effects

• Anxiety
• Diarrhea
• Dizziness
• Dry mouth
• Fast heartbeat
• Heart palpations
• High blood pressure
• Insomnia
• Irritability
• Nausea or vomiting
• Poor appetite
• Shortness of breath
• Stomach pain
• Tingling sensation in the hands and feet
• Weight loss

Serious Side Effects

• Hallucinations
• Heart attack
• Raynaud’s syndrome
• Serotonin syndrome
• Stroke
• Suicidal thoughts

Any side effects of this drug should be reported to the FDA.

Comparing Vyvanse & Modafinil

Modafinil	Modafinil	Vyvanse
Dose	50–400 mg	10–60 mg
Mechanism of action	Increases dopamineStimulates the release of orexinIncreases norepinephrine	Increases dopamine
Cost per brand name tablet	$20–$51	$6.5–$9.00
Cost per generic tablet	$0.70–$2.50	Not available
Available online without prescription?	Yes	No

Modafinil vs. Vyvanse? Which Should I Take?

Vyvanse is a popular medication for treating ADHD. It increases dopamine levels slightly more effectively than modafinil, but lacks most of the other beneficial effects modafinil offers.

For example, Vyvanse doesn’t delay fatigue nearly as effectively as modafinil and has many downsides.

Anecdotal reports from people using these drugs often complain about the unreliability of Vyvanse. Sometimes it works, and sometimes it doesn’t.

Being an amphetamine, Vyvanse also tends to cause tolerance and addiction, making it difficult to go without the drug after a while.

For all of these reasons, we believe modafinil to be the superior smart drug and the one we choose to take on a daily basis.

Modafinil vs. Ritalin: Comparison of Effects, Benefits, Side Effects, and Combined Use

In the search for the best smart drugs on the market, many nootropics users are constantly comparing new options, with older options.

Modafinil and Ritalin are both popular central nervous system stimulants. They’ve been used by millions of people worldwide with great results in wakefulness and productivity.

Some people even mix the two for a combined effect.

Here we discuss what makes these two drugs different, what makes them the same, and which one is the best option for you.

Why do People Take Smart Drugs?

There are many reasons someone would want to take a smart drug.

The Most Common Reasons for Taking Smart Drugs Include:

• To boost performance at work
• To improve efficiency while studying
• To treat a cognitive disorder like narcolepsy or ADHD
• To perform at a higher level athletically
• To increase reaction times for E-Sport competitions

Smart drugs are thought to provide an unfair advantage in the workplace. It allows people to do their jobs better, faster and longer than the average person.

The University of Oxford even wrote an entire post about smart drugs on their blog and appeared to be pretty upset about them, calling them an “unfair advantage.”

This is the primary reason someone would take them outside of the prescribed uses.

They want to get a step up on their competition, score higher on tests, land a new deal for their company, or get through virtually any task with record times.

Smart Drugs Like Modafinil & Ritalin Make us More Alert

Have you ever seen the movie Limitless? The one with Bradley Cooper where he takes a magical pill that makes him better at everything he does by a factor of 10?

The drug in the movie, NZT-48, doesn’t exist.

The real-life versions, modafinil, and Ritalin don’t increase intelligence.

They do, however, significantly increase productivity.

Both drugs work by hitting the “on-switch” in our brains when it would normally want to turn it off.

Hitting the on-switch allows us to stay vigilant on the tasks we’re working on for a longer period of time. Typically, after working for a few hours, the brain becomes slow and fatigued. When this happens, our efficiency at performing tasks involving virtually all areas of the brain, start to diminish.

The Causes of Fatigue in the Brain Include:

• Adenosine builds up in the brain (causing our neurons to fire slower)
• Dopamine levels diminish (causing our attention spans to disintegrate)
• Acetylcholine levels drop (making it harder to store and retrieve memories)
• Histamine is used up (making it more difficult to remain vigilant on the task at hand)
• Norepinephrine levels decline (making us feel less alert)

Our neurons fire slower, meaning it takes longer to transmit the same amount of information per second.

As neurotransmitter levels begin to decline, we experience a drop-off in attention spans and memory.

Buying Smart Drugs Online

Most pharmaceutical smart drugs are prescription only, including modafinil and Ritalin.

This means that getting the drug will require a visit to the doctor and a reason for the prescription.

The only way a doctor can prescribe these drugs is if there is an indication that you suffer from either “excessive daytime sleepiness” or are diagnosed with ADD or ADHD.

Doctors will not give a prescription for these drugs on the basis that you need it to boost productivity.

But there’s still a way to get them.

Some online sources, such as AfinilExpress.com offer generic smart drugs like modafinil at much lower prices.

Instead of the expensive brand-name options like Provigil® and Nuvigil®, they offer high-quality generics for a fraction of the price.

The online nature of these vendors allows them to sell modafinil without a prescription, making it the number one place to get modafinil for productivity and work performance.

How Do Smart Drugs Like Modafinil & Ritalin Work?

Both Ritalin and modafinil have similar effects in the brain, all working to increase the feeling of being alert and awake.

They’re both considered central nervous system stimulants, which means that they force the “on switch” in the brain.

They rely on different mechanisms to achieve this, however.

Let me explain.

1. How Ritalin Works

Ritalin is the brand name for methylphenidate.

The main benefit of the drug is to increase dopamine levels in the brain.

This is useful because dopamine is one of the primary neurotransmitters involved with focus and concentration.

This may get a little technical, but here’s exactly how it works.

Ritalin blocks 50% of dopamine transporters (DAT) in the brain [1].

These dopamine transporters are tasked with moving dopamine into the neurons after they’ve released. Once transported, the dopamine is then broken down into its individual parts, ready to be reused elsewhere.

Its effects are especially good at enhancing extracellular dopamine in an area known as the basal ganglia of the brain but may cause some damage to this specialized region over time [4].

By inhibiting the dopamine transporters, Ritalin increases the amount of dopamine in the synapses, allowing us to concentrate on tasks more easily.

This mechanism is especially useful for the condition of ADD or ADHD because dopamine levels are often found in lower amounts in people with this condition [2].

Dopamine is also a vital part of the reward center in the brain.

If levels are too low, the brain needs to work extra hard to stimulate itself, causing the characteristic fidgety, low attention symptoms common in ADHD sufferers.

The Results of Low Dopamine May Include:

• Fidgety behavior
• Frustration
• Inability to concentrate on a task for extended periods of time
• Learning disabilities

There Are Two Forms of Methylphenidate (Ritalin)

Both modafinil and Ritalin come in two chemical forms, called enantiomers.

Modafinil comes in an R-modafinil, and S-modafinil, while methylphenidate comes in d-threo-methylphenidate and l-threo-methylphenidate.

Enantiomers are compounds that have the same structure but are mirror images of each other. This is common in the world of chemistry.

Some compounds have no difference from one enantiomer to the next, while others— like Ritalin— have a big difference between the two.

Only d-threo-methylphenidate blocks dopamine receptors, which has lead to the development of an enantiopure (only one enantiomer) version called Focalin.

This compound only contains d-threo-methylphenidate, and therefore has slightly stronger effects on dopamine overall.

Other Forms of Methylphenidate Include:

• Aptensio XR
• Concerta
• Cotempla XR-ODT
• Focalin
• Metadate CD
• Metadate ER
• Methylin
• QuilliChew ER
• Quillivant XR

What’s the Dose for Ritalin?

The dose of Ritalin can vary a lot — most people take 20–30 mg per day.

Others need more (40–60 mg per day), while others need less (10–15 mg per day).

The Right Dose Depends on a Few Factors:

• How sensitive the individual is to the drug
• How severe the symptoms are
• How much the individual taking it weighs

In most cases, if prescribed Ritalin by a doctor, they will give the drug in the smallest dose, then after a week or two, they will reassess and decide whether a larger dose is necessary or not.

Unlike modafinil, the effects of Ritalin usually won’t last the entire day, so multiple doses are needed every couple of hours to maintain its effects.

Most people who take Ritalin will take it about 2 or 3 times per day. Starting before breakfast, then about 30 minutes before lunch, then again between 2 and 4 pm.

The extended-release versions don’t need to be taken as frequently, usually only once or twice per day.

How Long Does Ritalin Last?

The effects of Ritalin tend to last about 3 hours. The extended-release is a bit better, lasting around 8 hours.

When taking the standard (non-extended release) version of the drug, it needs to be taken in increments of about 4 hours to maintain its effects throughout the day.

Ritalin reaches peak concentrations about 60–90 minutes after consumption [1].

So it takes about an hour before effects are felt, followed by about 3 hours of high productivity before another dose of Ritalin needs to be taken.

What are the Side-Effects of Ritalin?

Like any pharmaceutical medication, there are some side effects of Ritalin. Most of these side effects are shared by all stimulants, including modafinil.

The most common side effects when taking Ritalin are insomnia, fast heartbeat, weight loss, and headaches.

Mild Side Effects of Ritalin Include:

• Insomnia
• Mood changes
• Fast heartbeat (Tachycardia)
• Loss of appetite
• Weight loss
• Nausea
• Stomach pain
• Headaches

More Severe Side Effects of Ritalin Include:

• Chest pain
• Difficulty breathing
• Dizziness
• Aggression
• Paranoia
• Seizures
• Muscle twitches
• Vision disturbances
• Painful erection

2. How Modafinil Works

Modafinil, like Ritalin, is a central nervous system stimulant.

Similarly to Ritalin, it works by increasing dopamine levels in the brain by inhibiting the dopamine transporters.

Instead of focusing most of its effects on dopamine, it offers additional benefits on other regions of the brain like the orexin pathway, and norepinephrine reuptake.

Orexin is a neuropeptide in the brain that carries out the effects of the wakefulness portion of the sleep-wake cycle.

The sleep-wake cycle is what makes us feel awake during the day, and tired at night.

It’s lined up according to our habits, as well the natural rhythm of night and day. When the sun comes up, it stimulates the waking side. When the sun goes down, it stimulates the sleeping side of the system.

Modafinil overrides this system by directly stimulating the waking portion of the sleep-wake cycle.

When the wakefulness switch is “flipped on,” orexin is released from the hypothalamus and travels all around the brain telling it to wake up.

The results are a state of hypervigilance even when we would otherwise be tired. It allows us to work longer amounts of time, getting more done.

Medically, the drug is specific for conditions that involve “excessive sleepiness.” This includes conditions like narcolepsy and side effects of other conditions like chronic fatigue syndrome and multiple sclerosis.

There Are Two Forms of Modafinil

Just like Ritalin, there are two forms of modafinil (enantiomers).

These are R-modafinil and S-modafinil.

The R-modafinil enantiopure product of modafinil is called Nuvigil®, Artvigil, or Waklert.

Other forms of modafinil include:

There are a number of different forms of modafinil, including brand name and generic versions of the drug.

Although most are very similar, our favorite is Modalert and Modvigil. They offer an excellent mix of both cost and benefits.

• Modalert (Sun Pharmaceuticals)
• Modvigil (HAB Pharmaceuticals)
• Alertec (Cephalon Inc)
• Provigil (Cephalon Inc)
• Vilafinil (Centurian Labs)
• Modaheal (Healing Pharmaceuticals)
• Modafresh (Sunrise Pharmaceuticals)
• Modafil MD (INTAS)
• Modawake (HAB Pharmaceuticals)

What are the Side-Effects of Modafinil?

Modafinil shares many of the same side effects as Ritalin and other central nervous stimulants like Adderall.

Mild Side Effects of Modafinil Include:

• Insomnia
• Headaches
• Poor appetite
• Diarrhea
• Anxiety
• Dry mouth
• Fast heartbeat

More Severe Side Effects of Modafinil Include:

• Mood disturbances
• Hallucinations
• Fever
• Severe depression
• Chest pain
• Severe skin reactions (Steven Johnson Syndrome)
• Chest pain
• Heart palpations

Modafinil & Ritalin: How do They Compare?

Modafinil and Ritalin are used for the same conditions but have some slightly different effect profiles nonetheless.

In general, Ritalin is better for boosting dopamine levels, while modafinil is better for stimulating wakefulness.

In terms of duration of effects, modafinil lasts significantly longer than Ritalin.

Comparing the Effects of Modafinil vs. Ritalin

#	Modafinil	Ritalin
Effect on dopamine	Mild Increase	Strong Increase
Effect on wakefulness	Strong Increase	Mild Increase
Side Effects	Mild Side Effects Common	Mild Side Effects Common
Duration Of Effects	14–18 hours	3–4 hours

Can I Combine Modafinil & Ritalin?

Some people have started combining modafinil and Ritalin to boost both of their benefits.

When working on tasks at work or school they want to be more awake (modafinil is best for this) and have better concentration (Ritalin is best for this).

They combine the two to get the best of both worlds.

This combination will affect everyone differently. Some people report that the combo turned them into a machine while studying for their exams, but made it more difficult during the exam.

Other reports suggest similar findings, saying that the combo helps with concentration, but can ultimately lower memory recall.

Users on forums like Reddit and Longecity are reporting improvements in both concentration and memory with a smaller dose of each (100 mg modafinil and 10 mg Ritalin every 4 hours).

Ultimately, you will need to do some self-experimentation to get a feel for how this combination affects your productivity and performance.

We recommend starting with a smaller dose, and building up slowly until you know how it works for you.

References

1. Volkow, N. D., Fowler, J. S., Wang, G., Ding, Y., & Gatley, S. J. (2002). Mechanism of action of methylphenidate: insights from PET imaging studies. Journal of attention disorders, 6(1_suppl), 31-43.
2. Li, D., Sham, P. C., Owen, M. J., & He, L. (2006). Meta-analysis shows significant association between dopamine system genes and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). Human molecular genetics, 15(14), 2276-2284.
3. Coghill, D., Banaschewski, T., Zuddas, A., Pelaz, A., Gagliano, A., & Doepfner, M. (2013). Long-acting methylphenidate formulations in the treatment of attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder: a systematic review of head-to-head studies. BMC psychiatry, 13(1), 237.
4. Wong, Y. N., King, S. P., Simcoe, D., Gorman, S., Laughton, W., McCormick, G. C., & Grebow, P. (1999). Open‐label, single‐dose pharmacokinetic study of modafinil tablets: influence of age and gender in normal subjects. The Journal of Clinical Pharmacology, 39(3), 281-288.

Flmodafinil vs. Modafinil: What Exactly is the Difference?

There’s a new player on the nootropic scene — it’s called Flmodafinil.

People are giving the drug praise, saying it’s faster acting than both modafinil and armodafinil, with fewer side effects.

Are these claims true? What is Flmodafinil? How is it different from the standard modafinil and armodafinil?

We explore these questions and more below.

Flmodafinil Overview

According to clinicaltrials.gov, there are roughly 287,501 clinical trials currently underway.

Just one of these trials involves a new (ish) drug called Flmodafinil.

It’s been under investigation since 2015, with almost nothing to show for it yet.

So what is it?

Flmodafinil a research chemical.

Nobody fully understands the effects of the drug or its safety. The company that invented it spoke of its existence all the way back in 1986 in a patent application [4].

Since this time, there has been little information leaked about the drug. Whether this is due to secrecy, or lack of findings — we’re not sure.

Here’s What We Currently Know About the Drug:

Alternative names: CRL-40,940, Lauflumide, Bisfluoromodafinil, N-deshydroxyl Fladrafinil, bis-(p)-fluoromodafinil,

Scientific name: 2 [bis(4fluorophenyl) methylsulfinyl]- acetamide

Chemical Structure: C15H13F2NO3S

CAS No: 90280-13-0

Molecular Weight: 309.3308

Reported Benefits: Increased bioavailability than traditional modafinil.

Modes of Administration: Tablet, water-soluble powder, capsulated powder.

Flmodafinil & Modafinil

Flmodafinil is very similar to modafinil.

The main reported difference is that Flmodafinil has a higher bioavailability than modafinil. However, there are no scientific studies to support this at the time of writing.

There also exists another, slightly different version, known as CRL-40,941, although it doesn’t appear as though this compound has been selected for further research.

Both of these drugs are new products developed by the original creators of modafinil, Lafon Labs (Laboratorie Lafon).

The drug is currently only available for testing purposes and is reported to come in two main forms, a tablet, like modafinil, and a powder. The powder can be mixed in with water to increase absorption speeds, or capsulated.

Some people online are getting excited about the idea of a new and improved version of the highly esteemed modafinil.

Is it really all it’s cracked up to be?

We’ll get into this in more detail later on.

What is Modafinil?

Modafinil is the crowned “king of smart drugs.”

Its effects are well-known in the nootropics community for supercharging your work or study efforts.

It’s classified as a eugeroic, and central nervous system stimulant.

You’re probably wondering what this means.

A eugeroic is a class of drugs that promote wakefulness. It turns the “on-switch” in your brain to make you feel more awake and vigilant in an instant.

Central nervous system stimulant is a term used to describe all eugeroics but also goes further to describe any compound that stimulates the brain. They give us a burst of energy, increase reaction times, and turn us into machines.

The most famous central nervous system stimulant is caffeine.

Modafinil is an excellent stimulant. It’s long-lasting, very safe, and extremely potent.

Students, business executives, and creatives all use it to enhance their productivity to get paid more, earn a raise or promotion, or ace a difficult exam.

Technically speaking, modafinil is only supposed to be used to address the problems associated with what the FDA considers “excessive daytime sleepiness.”

This includes conditions like narcolepsy, chronic fatigue syndrome, fibromyalgia, obstructive sleep apnea, shift-worker sleep disorders, or multiple sclerosis.

But that’s not how it’s always used in the real world.

The thing is, the FDA won’t allow a pharmaceutical stimulant for use as a “productivity enhancer.” It will never happen.

This has lead a lot of people to obtain modafinil under the table. They order it online from places like AfinilExpress.com or borrow it from friends with a valid prescription.

The off-label use of modafinil is significantly higher than the legal use of the drug. Even the company that owns it, Cephalon Inc, was caught promoting its off-label use. [1].

They were forced to settle at the cost of many millions of dollars.

Where to Buy Modafinil

There are a few ways you can buy modafinil:

1. In a Pharmacy

This is the traditional way to get the drug.

In order to do it, you’ll need to visit a doctor and have a valid reason for them to prescribe the drug to you.

If you don’t, you’re out of luck. Try method number 2 instead.

Even if you do manage to get a prescription, and you take it to the pharmacy to pick up your first round, I hope you brought a lot of cash.

The brand name versions (Provigil® and Nuvigil®) aren’t cheap. They retail anywhere from $20-51 per tablet. This can end up costing you thousands of dollars each year.

2. Online

The best way to get modafinil is to buy the drug online.

This is because online vendors based out of countries like India, with loose medication laws, can sell the drug legally without a prescription.

They also prefer to sell the generic versions of the drug, which has the same dose, and high quality as the brand name, but without the price tag.

Generic versions of modafinil like Modalert and Modvigil cost between $0.80 and $2.80 per tablet— which is significantly cheaper than the brand name options.

Even armodafinil, which is slightly more expensive, is still much cheaper than brand name options. A single tab of Waklert or Artvigil costs users between $0.90 and $2.50 per tablet.

Much more affordable.

Flmodafinil is just like modafinil but comes with a twist.

Allow me to explain by first discussing the different types of modafinil currently available.

Version 1. Racemic Modafinil

Most chemicals come in two main versions. We call these versions enantiomers.

The best way to explain what an enantiomer is is by talking about our hands.

Each of your hands is classified as a hand.

I’ sure you can agree on that.

Even though they are both hands, and they both do the same thing, they’re mirror images of each other.

In order to lay the one over the other and have the same outline, you need to flip one of them upside down.

Well, chemicals are the same.

There are right and left versions of the same chemical. Although they generally both do the same thing, one is usually better at something than the other.

So back to what racemic modafinil is…

This is the standard version of modafinil. It contains both the right-handed (R-modafinil) and   (S-modafinil) in the same mixture.

Provigil®, Modalert, and Modvigil are all racemic versions of modafinil.

Version 2. Enantiopure Modafinil

If a racemic modafinil has both right and left-handed versions of the drug, then the enantiopure version contains only one of these enantiomers.

It’s a pure concentration of one enantiomer.

In the case of modafinil, the R-modafinil enantiomer is generally preferred because the effects of this form have been shown to be stronger in its effects.

This is referred to as armodafinil.

Armodafinil products include Nuvigil®, Waklert, and Artvigil.

Of course, the dose is smaller when the compound is stronger. Instead of the standard 200 mg dose of racemic modafinil, the enantiopure modafinil containing R-modafinil is usually given at a dose of 150 mg to achieve the same results.

Version 3. Modafinil Derivatives

Now we’re getting into the territory of Flmodafinil.

It’s not an enantiomer, but a derivative.

This essentially means it’s a modification to the original compound in some way or another.

Something is changed or adapted to the molecule, usually to make it better.

In order to classify as a derivative of a drug, the compound needs to be “derived” from the parent structure.

This means that in order to make a derivative of modafinil, it has to be made directly from modafinil itself. We would call this a “first-order” derivative.

A good example of a well-known derivative is Aspirin.

Aspirin is derived from a compound called salicylic acid, a compound found naturally in the bark of the willow tree. A researcher in the early 1900’s figured out that this was the main chemical responsible for the pain-relieving qualities of the herb, and decided to make it even better.

By adding an acetyl chemical group to the compound, he was able to make it much more bioavailable to the body, significantly increasing the potency of the drug.

This is precisely the case with Flmodafinil.

Is Flmodafinil Improved Modafinil? Probably Not

Flmodafinil is very similar to modafinil but has two fluoro- groups attached.

It’s considered to have a higher bioavailability than modafinil thanks to the additional fluoro- groups attached.

Increased bioavailability means that a higher percentage of the drug is absorbed through the digestive tract, ultimately allowing for smaller doses.

The Suggested Benefits of Flmodafinil Include:

• Neuroprotective
• Dopamine reuptake inhibitor
• Antidepressant
• Anti-aggressive [3]

The company working on the drug patented it back in 2013, and have been pushing the drug through phase I clinical trials since 2015.

As of yet, there have not been any compelling, or convincing information to surface that the drug offers any improvement over modafinil.

Flmodafinil & Modafinil: Why You Should Stick to Modafinil

Although the idea of improved modafinil sounds great, there’s no indication that Flmodafinil is any better.

The increased bioavailability is being talked about a lot in online forums, however, despite 30 years since its discovery, and three years of phase I clinical trials, nothing is yet to come from the company that patented it.

Besides, do we really need modafinil to be more bioavailable?

A 200 mg dose is already very small, and highly effective for increasing productivity, treating narcolepsy and other sleeping disorders, and boosting energy levels.

Lowering the dose wouldn’t change its effects, only the amount of the drug we take.

The tablet size (dose) of modafinil is not a problem. It’s already small and efficient.

We’ll be sure to keep you updated on any new developments of this drug, but until then, we’re not convinced it’s going to bring anything useful to fruition.

Stick to modafinil and keep the productivity going strong!

1. Peñaloza, R. A., Sarkar, U., Claman, D. M., & Omachi, T. A. (2013). Trends in on-label and off-label modafinil use in a nationally representative sample. JAMA internal medicine, 173(8), 704-706.
2. King, L. A., Ujváry, I., & Brandt, S. D. (2014). Drug laws and the’derivative’problem. Drug testing and analysis, 6(7-8), 879-883.
3. US patent 4489095, Lafon, L., “Halogenobenzhydrylsulfinylacetohydroxamic Acids”, issued 1984-12-18, assigned to Laboratoire L. Lafon
4. Louis Lafon (28 January 1986). “Patent CA 1199916 A1 – Benzhydrylsulfinylacetamide derivatives”. Retrieved 25 July 2015.

Modafinil vs. Armodafinil: What Exactly is the Difference?

If you’ve shopped around for modafinil, you may have noticed that there are actually two different products available, modafinil and armodafinil.

The brand names of these drugs are Provigil® and Nuvigil® respectively.

The generic versions are Modalert and Modvigil (modafinil) and Waklert and Artvigil (armodafinil).

What exactly is the difference between these two types of modafinil? Is one better than the other? Which one should I buy?

We discuss how these drugs were developed, and what makes them different. We then explain which option is better for your specific uses.

What is Modafinil?

Modafinil is a popular eugeroic medication.

It’s sold officially for treating narcolepsy and other conditions involving “excessive sleepiness.”

Medical conditions like multiple sclerosis, or chronic fatigue syndrome are also treated with modafinil because one of the main side effects of these conditions is excessive sleepiness.

What Is Armodafinil?

Modafinil is considered a racemic compound.

This term refers to the chemical structure of its active ingredient, Modafinil.

There are two different chemical layouts modafinil molecules can have.

You may be wondering, “how can one chemical have two different layouts?”.

The easiest way to picture this is to look at your hands. Both of them are identical in every way, except that they are opposites of each other. You can lay them one on top of the other, and they would fit, but only if one hand was flipped upside down.

Most chemicals work are the same. There’s a right-handed version and a left-handed version.

In chemistry, we call this enantiomers.

So Modafinil is a racemic compound because it contains both the left and right-handed versions of the drug. We call this (S)-(+)-modafinil, and (R)-(−)Modafinil accordingly.

Armodafinil, only contains one of these enantiomers, the (R)-(−)Modafinil enantiomer. We would call this an “enantiopure” compound.

Where to Buy Modafinil & Armodafinil

The easiest way, by far to buy both of these medications is to order them online.

High-quality modafinil vendors, like AfinilExpress.com offer free shipping, guaranteed delivery to most countries, and a number of discounts depending on how you pay, and if you’re a returning customer. Enter MODAFINILOTC at checkout to save 10% off your order.

The Differences Between Modafinil & Armodafinil Include

Both of these compounds have the same general effects on the body. Both of them are used for treating excessive daytime sleepiness by stimulating the waking portion of the sleep-wake cycle.

There are, however, some subtle differences between the two;

1. Duration of Effects

The duration of effects between these two drugs are very similar, and there are a lot of factors that can affect this, however, in general armodafinil is considered to have a longer duration of effect than modafinil.

Armodafinil averages around 18 hours in duration, while modafinil usually lasts closer to 16.

2. Onset Of Effects

Armodafinil reaches peak effects quicker. It takes about 2 hours to reach its peak before gradually declining.

Modafinil usually takes about 4 hours before it reaches peak effects, which can last another 2 or 3 hours before starting to diminish over the next several hours.

3. Side Effects

The side effects of modafinil and armodafinil are the same, however, certain side effects can be more or less common in one than the other.

Modafinil, for example, tends to cause side effects like headaches and nausea more often than armodafinil.

Armodafinil, on the other hand, more commonly causes insomnia, likely due to its longer duration of effect. Some people also find anxiety more common in armodafinil due to its slightly stronger effects.

The 3 Evolutions Of Modafinil

Modafinil is the most common form of the drug, but it’s actually the middle of three generations developed over the years.

Generation 1: Adrafinil

Like many of the best drugs before it, modafinil was discovered partially by accident.

In the late 1970’s researchers at a company called Laboratoire Lafon were testing various compounds on their effects on the nervous system.

They eventually discovered a compound with the chemical name of 2-(Benzhydrylsulfinyl)acetohydroxamic acid which showed some promising effects in some of their animal subjects.

As research continued on the compound, they discovered several critical effects of the drug using animal test models.

Critical Findings Included:

• It increased brain activity on EEG scans
• It allowed mice to swim longer in the forced swim test
• It reversed the sedative effects of baritone
• There were no increases in mortality

Laboratoire Lafon eventually gave it a more catchy name, adrafinil.

Around the same time, a French neurophysiologist names Michel Jouvet was doing experimentation on the processes behind sleep, a topic not well understood at the time.

A lot of his work eventually lead to the discovery of the five sleep stages, now common knowledge in the world of sleep science.

Upon learning about the research being done on adrafinil, he became interested and helped the company perform more research into its effects.

He helped them develop and market the drug as a treatment for narcolepsy, a sleeping disorder where sufferers experience chronic daytime sleepiness.

The drug was finally sent to market in the 1980s.

Generation 2: Modafinil

Adrafinil was good, but there was a lot of room for improvement.

For starters, the drug was considered a “prodrug.”

This means that it wasn’t the drug itself that was providing the benefits. The drug had to be first broken down into its metabolites, which then went on to exert their effects.

This made the onset of the drug slow, and unreliable.

Some people started to feel the effects after 2 hours; others needed to wait as long as 4 hours for the effects to begin appearing.

On top of this, adrafinil occasionally caused liver damage in people as it was broken down.

Back at Laboratoire Lafon, researchers were hard at work looking for the next evolution of the drug.

One of the things they discovered was that the effects the drug was producing were the results of a specific metabolite called modafinil.

They shifted gears and decided to focus on synthesizing this compound directly, and achieved it sometime in the early ’90s.

They called this iteration Provigil®, which had fewer side effects, required a smaller dose, and had a significantly faster onset of effects than its predecessor adrafinil.

Along Came Cephalon Inc

While all of this was happening, the drug hadn’t yet gone through the expensive and tedious clinical trials needed to bring a drug to market.

These trials were needed for government regulators to accept the drug and allow them for sale as a medicine. These trials often cost upwards of a hundred million dollars.

Cephalon Inc., a large American drug company, caught wind of a new drug with effects similar to amphetamines (the current ADHD and narcolepsy medications), only without the nasty side effects.

They jumped on it and ended up buying Laboratoire Lafon for $450 million cash, securing the exclusive rights to market and sell their new blockbuster medication Provigil®.

They started selling the drug officially in 1998.

Four years into marketing the drug, the companies founder Dr. Frank Baldino once stated:

“There are no warts on this drug, the only question is how big we can make it.”

Thanks to Cephalon Inc’s global influence and behemoth size, they were able to market the drug effectively, earning massive profits.

In 2008 Provigil® sales were reported to have exceeded $1 Billion.

Generation 3: Armodafinil

The next generation of modafinil is armodafinil, also referred to as R-modafinil.

Armodafinil was developed through the continued work of Cephalon Inc and approved for sale in 2007 [1].

Although it was discovered several years before it was marketed, Cephalon executives decided to hold off on its development in an attempt to leverage the patents they held for the exclusive rights on Provigil®.

They wanted to get as much revenue as they could before the patents expired allowing other drug manufacturers to start producing generic versions of the drug.

The idea was that once the patent was nearing its expiry, they would release the third generation, and market it as being a superior product.

They names their armodafinil product Nuvigil®.

Unfortunately for Cephalon Inc, it didn’t go according to plan.

In 2016 the FDA granted Mylan the rights to produce generic armodafinil. This was followed shortly after by a handful of other companies.

What the Modafinil Market Looks Like Today

Today there are many different generic versions and a few brand-name versions of both armodafinil and modafinil.

The first generation, adrafinil is still available online. However, it’s not recommended anymore as the other two options are clearly superior in their effects. The effects appear faster, feel stronger, and last longer.

It’s also important to note that the original manufacturer, Laboratorie Lafon, and its parent company, Cephalon Inc, no longer produce the drug.

Most of the modafinil and armodafinil you buy in stores will be expensive brand name versions.

This is because most pharmacies filling modafinil prescriptions will get some or all of the cost covered by government or health insurance, and therefore selling the most expensive options possible is going to be better for them.

Online, however, it’s common to find generic versions of modafinil.

These products are significantly cheaper for virtually the same product.

Many of the manufacturers selling these drugs, such as Sun Pharmaceuticals and HAB Pharmaceuticals are based out of India. This is an important factor when it comes to the sale of prescription medications.

In India, these medications can be sold without the need for a prescription, allowing the manufacturers to sell their products to online vendors, who then distribute them all over the world through online sales.

This has made buying modafinil a lot cheaper, and more convenient.

Modafinil vs. Armodafinil: Which is Better?

The question about which one is better is harder to answer than you might think.

Here’s why.

These two medications are very similar, especially with the corrected dose for armodafinil (150 mg instead of 200 mg).

A large, double-blinded clinical trial published in 2011 looked at the differences between a 150 mg dose of armodafinil, and a 200 mg dose of modafinil found no difference in efficacy between them [2]. The benefits were equal in both groups.

Anecdotally, however, there are some subtle differences in how these medications feel.

Armodafinil is Stronger Than Modafinil

In general, even at a smaller dose, armodafinil is going to be stronger and reaches peak effects in about half the time it takes modafinil.

This is because the R-modafinil enantiomer found in armodafinil is better at binding to the active receptor sites than the other form, S-modafinil.

Since modafinil contains both R- and S- enantiomers, the effects are going to be more subtle.

Whether or not this is better or worse depends on the individual experience.

Some people find the effects of armodafinil to be too strong, causing side effects like headaches and anxiety more easily.

Others find the increased effectiveness of armodafinil to be preferable.

I prefer modafinil because I’m already an anxious person and find that armodafinil is a little too strong for me, often causing some mild, but uncomfortable anxiety about 2.5 hours after taking the drug.

Modafinil is Cheaper Than Armodafinil

A standard dose of modafinil from AfinilExpress.com costs about $0.80 if you buy it in bulk, or $2.80 if you only buy the smallest quantity.

This is cheaper than armodafinil, which goes for $0.90 in bulk, or $2.45 if you buy the minimum amount possible (20 tablets).

In Summary

Although both armodafinil and modafinil technically contain the same chemical, the orientation of the molecules is different.

Modafinil contains both the S- and R-enantiomers of modafinil, while armodafinil only contains the R-modafinil enantiomer, which is stronger in its effects.

For this reason, manufacturers provide these two drugs in different doses. A 150 mg dose of armodafinil is considered equivalent to 200 mg of modafinil.

Armodafinil tends to be stronger (even at the smaller dose), and its peak effects come on quicker.

The best option between the two will vary from one person to the next, but in general, modafinil is best for people who want more gentle effects, and armodafinil will be best for people who want to get the strongest effects possible.

References

1. CDER Drug and Biologic Approvals for Calendar Year 2007″ (PDF). Retrieved January 21, 2008.
2. Tembe, D. V., Dhavale, A., Desai, H., Mane, D. N., Raut, S. K., Dhingra, G., … & Padsalge, M. (2011). Armodafinil versus modafinil in patients of excessive sleepiness associated with shift work sleep disorder: a randomized double-blind multicentric clinical trial. Neurology research international, 2011.

Modafinil vs. Adrafinil: Here’s Why You Should Avoid Adrafinil

Modafinil and adrafinil are both popular smart drugs. They increase focus and concentration and can make us feel alert and vigilant.

Students, business executives, and freelancers alike all use these medications to boost their productivity and work efficiency.

These compounds are closely related, but there are some key differences you should know about.

Here we discuss what adrafinil and modafinil are, how they compare, and what important differences you need to know about to make an informed decision.

Adrafinil: Modafinil’s Roots

Today, modafinil is one of the most popular pharmaceutical smart drugs on the market.

It’s actually just one of three compounds all closely related in the same group, the afinils.

The first iteration of the drug is adrafinil, which was invented sometime in the 1970s in the lab of a French pharmaceutical company called Laboratoire Lafon.

Adrafinil Research

After discovering the compound was able to increase the waking state of mice, it drew the attention of a then prominent sleep researcher named Michel Jouvet.

He further developed and tested the dug alongside Laboratorie Lafon and helped build anticipation for the drug thanks to his celebrity status among sleep psychology and neurology at the time.

The compound was released in 1994 in France, and four years later in the United States and the rest of the world.

It was initially sold under the brand name Olmifon.

(More on this later)

Modafinil Research

Researchers at Lafon remained hard at work investigating more of the subtleties of the drug. They eventually discovered that the active ingredient, responsible for its many effects, is a metabolite of the drug, not the adrafinil itself.

This is referred to in pharmacology as a “prodrug,” a drug that needs to be metabolized by the liver before it becomes active.

It turns out that when the drug is metabolized, we get an inactive metabolite, known as modafinilic acid, and an active metabolite, known as modafinil.

Lafon researchers then decided to isolate the pure active metabolite, modafinil, and turn it into a drug of its own. They called it Provigil®.

Modafinil showed colossal improvement on the previous design— it was more potent, delivered its therapeutic effects much faster, and the effects lasted much longer. This meant that the newer version came in a smaller dose.

The drug was a hit—selling a few hundred million tablets in the first couple of years.

Since this time, Laboratorie Lafon was bought for $450 million by the large American-based pharmaceutical company, Cephalon Inc.

Cephalon used their reputation and financial backing to boost drug sales even further. The primary goal of buying the company was to get the exclusive rights for what they believed to be the next blockbuster drug, Provigil®.

They liked that the drug had the same effects as the already popular amphetamines but without the side effects.

Provigil® was a huge success, resulting in billions of dollars worth of revenue over the next several years.

Armodafinil Research

Armodafinil is the next generation of the drug.

The chemical structure of modafinil comes in two types, a right-handed version (R-modafinil) and a left-handed version (S-modafinil). We call these “enantiomers.”

Let’s use our hands as a metaphor for how these compounds are different.

We know there are two versions of the same thing, the left-handed version and the right-handed version (R- and S- modafinil).

Let’s say you’re hitting a button, the right or left hands can both do this effectively. However, one will always do it better (your dominant hand).

Modafinil is the same, one of the enantiomers is better at hitting the buttons (receptors) in your body.

Researchers at Laboratorie Lafon noticed that the R-modafinil enantiomer was the dominant version.

This is what lead to the development of armodafinil. It only contains pure R-modafinil, rather than both the S-modafinil, and R-modafinil found together in modafinil. They called this new product Nuvigil®.

Armodafinil is stronger than modafinil and comes in a different dose to reflect this.

Instead of the standard 200 mg, armodafinil comes in a standard 150 mg dose.

Buying Modafinil & Adrafinil Online

Buying modafinil and adrafinil is easiest through the use of online vendors — it can also save you a ton of money.

Places like AfinilExpress.com offer significantly discounted rates on their modafinil. (TIP: You can get another 10% off if you use the discount code MODAFINILOTC during checkout).

Instead of carrying the expensive brand name products like Provigil® and Nuvigil®, most online vendors supply generic versions of the drug instead.

These generic medications are the same as the brand name products but cost significantly less.

Adrafinil can instead be bought from places like Amazon.

The Similarities Between Adrafinil & Modafinil

Modafinil and adrafinil have a lot of similarities. This is because the effects they provide are the result of a single chemical, modafinil.

Similar Benefits of Modafinil and Armodafinil Include:

1. Increase dopamine concentrations
2. Increase norepinephrine concentrations
3. Increase orexin concentrations
4. Increase histamine levels in the brain
5. Boost focus and concentration
6. Stimulate wakefulness
7. Increase productivity

Of course, these similarities aren’t a surprise when you consider how closely related the compounds are.

What’s more important isn’t how similar they are but how different they are.

The differences will highlight our reasoning behind saying that you should avoid this compound and stick to modafinil.

The Differences Between Adrafinil & Modafinil

Although adrafinil and modafinil have a lot of similarities in the effects they produce, the way function is very different.

Here’s the fundamental difference between modafinil and adrafinil:

1. Adrafinil is a Prodrug

Adrafinil, as mentioned, is NOT the active ingredient. It needs to get processed by the liver before it starts providing benefit. We call drugs that behave like this “prodrugs.”

Some Other Examples of Prodrugs Include:

• Prednisone (converted to prednisolone)
• Aspirin (converted to salicylic acid)
• Codeine (converted to morphine)

Prodrugs differ from other drugs because they tend to take longer to become active, but also last longer in their effect profiles.

This is desirable with medications like Aspirin, Prednisone, and Codeine because it means that they provide pain relief for extended periods of time.

With adrafinil, however, this isn’t always a good thing, which leads us to the second main difference…

2. Adrafinil’s Effects Last Longer

This may seem like a good thing, but the half-life of the active metabolite, modafinil is already very long. It the drug takes too much longer to break down it can cause side effects stretching into the early hours of the night… the most common of which is severe insomnia.

This is the most common side effect reported with adrafinil. Since the drug needs to first be converted to modafinil and modafinilic acid before the body can start eliminating it, the effects can last a very long time; and not in a good way.

We still need to power down at night to recover and prepare for the next day.

With modafinil, the length of time is perfect because we can take it in the morning and still have enough time to metabolize the drug and sleep at the end of the day.

With adrafinil, you would need to wake up extra early to take the drug, or risk not being able to fall asleep at the end of the night.

3. Modafinil is Significantly More Potent

Being a prodrug— adrafinil needs to be activated by the liver.

During the “activation” of adrafinil, the liver metabolizes it into two compounds, modafinil, and modafinilic acid.

The metabolism rate is roughly 50% of each.

Modafinilic acid does nothing for the body and will circulate the bloodstream for a few hours before being filtered by the kidneys and eliminated from the body.

This means that half of your adrafinil dose is simply wasted. You need to take double the amount to get the results you want.

Modafinil and armodafinil go straight to the point.

They don’t need to be metabolized to become activated the same way adrafinil does. This allows them to be significantly more potent than adrafinil at the same dose.

The equivalent adrafinil dosage for the standard 200 mg modafinil is about 600 mg…

That’s three times more potent!

4. Modafinil Peaks Much Faster Than Adrafinil

The adrafinil molecule has a half-life of about an hour. This means that it takes 60 minutes for half of the adrafinil to be converted into modafinil (which then takes another 15 hours).

The time it takes to metabolize adrafinil means it takes longer for it to start producing effects on the body.

So it takes about an hour for the drug to enter the bloodstream and then another two hours for the drug to metabolize into enough modafinil to produce its effects.

Peak effects usually show up between the 3 and 5-hour mark, which is a very long time.

This is more than half the average work day.

If you took adrafinil right as you got to work, let’s say this is around 8 am. The drug wouldn’t reach its peak until around lunchtime!

Modafinil, on the other hand, takes about one hour to get into the bloodstream and reaches its peak after about two hours. As a productivity tool, modafinil is much more reliable.

5. Adrafinil May Damage the Liver

This is the most important difference.

While adrafinil is metabolized by the liver, it can cause damage to the functional hepatocytes living there. There have been some reports of the drug causing liver damage after repetitive use.

Although this hasn’t been officially proven, it’s better to go with something like modafinil that’s been shown to lack liver toxicity.

On top of this, the drug company that invented it, Laboratorie Lafon (now owned by Cephalon Inc) discontinued the drug in 2011 due to superior generations already available (modafinil and armodafinil).

Generic versions of adrafinil are still available online, but the original brand name version is long gone now.

6. Adrafinil Isn’t Regulated

This is a positive benefit for adrafinil but makes very little difference in terms of buying the drug.

Some people still use adrafinil because it doesn’t have the same restrictions as modafinil.

You can even buy it on Amazon.

However, modafinil isn’t much harder to buy.

Here’s how to do it.

AfinilExpress.com and other vendors sell modafinil from places where the legislation doesn’t restrict the sale of modafinil to the public. This allows users to buy the medications online using credit cards or Bitcoin, and have it shipped to their address as usual.

Adrafinil or Modafinil, Which One Should You Choose

So which one should you choose?

Although adrafinil is slightly easier to buy because of differences in legislation, overall, modafinil and armodafinil are going to be superior products.

They both produce the same effects but modafinil is going to do it faster, stronger, and with fewer side effects than adrafinil.

Even the manufacturer chose to stop producing the drug in favor of the newer generations available. If anybody knows the product best, it’s them.

Modafinil vs. Adderall: Comparison of Effects, Benefits, Side Effects, and Combined Use

If you’re a student, you’ve probably heard of Adderall and modafinil.

They’re the most commonly used smart drugs currently available.

Depending on who you ask, you’ll likely hear different anecdotes about which one is better and others still saying that they’re better when combined at the same time.

Here, we’ll show you what makes these drugs different and which one you’re better off using to boost your productivity at work or school.

We also go over mixing Adderall and modafinil together — why you might want to do it, and how to do it safely.

What are Eugeroics?

Both modafinil and Adderall are considered eugeroics.

What does this mean you ask?

In the most basic sense, a eugeroic is any compound that promotes wakefulness.

They’re used medicinally to treat conditions involving “excessive daytime sleepiness.”

They’re also used off-label to help people stay alert at work or school to achieve longer working hours and get more out of their work or study session.

Conditions Often Treated With Eugeroics Include:

• Narcolepsy
• Obstructive sleep apnea
• Shift worker sleeping disorder
• Side effects of other medications
• Side effects of multiple sclerosis

Most eugeroics work through a stimulating effect on the brain. We often refer to this class of drugs as a central nervous system stimulant, or more simply, “stimulants.”

There are quite a few stimulants on the market, some of which are extremely popular (such as caffeine).

Examples of Stimulant Medications Include:

• Adderall
• Modafinil
• Armodafinil
• Adrafinil
• Ritalin
• MDMA
• Dexedrine
• Vyvanse
• Caffeine

Why do People Use Stimulants?

People use stimulants for a number of reasons.

From increased productivity to treating medical conditions, stimulants certainly have their place.

Adderall Overview

Adderall is one of the older central nervous system stimulants.

It’s a combination of two amphetamines: amphetamine and dextroamphetamine.

It’s primarily used to treat attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) but is also used as a treatment for narcolepsy and conditions involving excessive sleepiness.

This may include multiple sclerosis, chronic fatigue syndrome, narcolepsy, and obstructive sleep apnea.

Its primary effects are on norepinephrine and dopamine.

Unfortunately, the effects on dopamine, although useful, make the drug addictive.

Adderall Side Effects

• Anxiety
• Blurred vision
• Diarrhea or constipation
• Dizziness
• Dry mouth
• Fever
• Hair loss
• Headaches
• Heart palpitations
• Increase blood pressure
• Increased heart rate
• Insomnia
• Low libido
• Mood changes
• Muscle tremors
• Nausea/vomiting
• Poor appetite
• Restlessness
• Weight loss

Modafinil Overview

Modafinil is a newer generation stimulant only released in the last two dozen years.

As new generations of drugs come out, one of the main things we see improvements on over the past generation is how “specific” they are.

What do I mean by this?

Let me explain.

In most cases, when a drug is more specific in its actions, it not only becomes better at its job, but it has fewer side effects.

It’s also more predictable in its benefits and side effects.

Some drugs will activate a number of different, unrelated receptors in the body. If the drug isn’t able to activate one of these receptor types (there are many reasons how this could happen), then the effects of the drug will change. Sometimes this can produce very adverse side effects.

When the drug only targets one specific receptor, and it isn’t able to activate that receptor, the drug simply has no effect.

Modafinil’s specificity on its target receptors makes it much safer than older stimulant medications, including modafinil.

Effects of Modafinil on the Central Nervous System:

• Inhibits dopamine reuptake (DAT)
• Increases orexin release
• Inhibits norepinephrine reuptake
• Boosts histamine activity in the brain

Modafinil Side Effects

• Agitation
• Anxiety
• Diarrhea
• Dizziness
• Dry Mouth
• Headaches
• Insomnia
• Nausea
• Nervousness
• Upper Respiratory Tract Infection

Comparing Adderall & Modafinil for 5 Common Uses

1. Increasing Productivity at Work/School

This is one of the most common reasons why someone would take a stimulant.

Caffeine is the most widely used stimulant, by far.

In fact, caffeine is arguably the most popular drug in all of history.

It’s long been associated with productivity, being reserved for scholars and the business elite for most of the early days in coffee history.

Pharmaceutical stimulants are simply the next level of productivity enhancement stimulants.

We’ve all felt it.

The fatigue that starts to set in late into the afternoon. We start feeling dull and sluggish; it can be a challenge to get the same amount of work done as it was earlier in the day.

This is what people take stimulants for.

The goal is to delay the onset of fatigue and remain at the top of your game for longer amounts of time. Getting a lot more work done in the process.

This is especially useful if you have a tight deadline, like a test or work project, and need to work through the night to get it done. It’s also useful if the task you’re trying to complete is boring or tedious, and therefore more likely to make you tired while you finish it.

Adderall and modafinil are both used for this, and both are highly effective.

So Which One is Better for Productivity?

Although both of these medications are excellent for boosting productivity, modafinil is preferred by most.

Here’s why.

The effects of these medications are very similar for this effect, and both will delay the onset of fatigue effectively. However, the negative side effects common to Adderall, especially its addictive side effects, can hurt productivity in the long run.

When we seek enhanced productivity, we generally want to get these effects more often than just once. Taking Adderall will certainly boost your productivity the day you take it, but can quickly start to have diminishing returns as tolerance forms, and you start to depend on the drug to be productive at all.

Without it, we start to feel dull and foggy.

The addictive potential of the drug is a real problem. Doctors are more hesitant to prescribe it, and many users have already switched over to modafinil.

Modafinil offers virtually identical benefit regarding productivity but isn’t addictive.

Winner: modafinil

2. ADHD Treatment

Both modafinil and Adderall are used for ADHD treatment; however, in the United States, only Adderall is approved for this use.

ADHD is a complicated neurological dysfunction. In most cases, the issue can be linked back to dopamine function in the brain.

ADHD sufferers on average have less dopamine expression in the reward center of the brain than normal [1]. The reward center uses dopamine to communicate with the rest of the brain to reward positive behavior.

It does this by releasing small doses of oxytocin, the “feel good” neurotransmitter in the brain whenever we do something interesting, or that benefits us (like eating or having sex).

The lack of dopamine makes it harder to trigger this oxytocin release, causing them to have to work harder to stimulate it. This is demonstrated by fidgeting movements, distracted behavior, and hyperactivity.

Adderall and modafinil both increase dopamine levels in the brain by preventing it from being reabsorbed and destroyed by the neurons.

They keep dopamine floating around for extended periods of time, allowing it to exert stronger effects.

The Results of Boosting Dopamine Includes:

• Improved concentration
• Less fidgeting
• Better memory
• More stable energy levels
• Fewer feelings of frustration

Which One is Better for ADHD?

Both of these medications will work for ADHD. However, Adderall is slightly better for this because it has more of a focus on dopamine than modafinil.

This effect on dopamine is great but is also the main reason for its addictive nature.

The reward center is also one of the main causes of addiction. When we stimulate this region of the brain too much, we develop an addiction to it as the body craves its activation when we’re not on the drug.

Nevertheless, if you’re looking for direct improvement in ADHD symptoms, Adderall is going to produce stronger benefits overall— but be aware of the addictive nature of the drug.

If you want to avoid addictive side effects, modafinil and other drugs like Vyvanseare also excellent options for treating ADHD symptoms.

Winner: Adderall.

3. Increasing Reaction Times

A newer use of stimulants that have only started to become more well-known in recent years is to increase reaction times for professional or amateur video gaming.

E-Sports (electronic sports) have exploded in interest in recent years.

In 2015, the world final championship for the video game League of Legends had an attendance of 45,000 people and 27 million online viewers. The prize money exceeded 2 million dollars.

E-Sports is enormous, and the stakes are high.

As a result, people are always looking for opportunities to get a step up on the competition.

Unlike more traditional sports, it’s not the muscles and blood that need a boost to enhance performance; it’s the brain.

Stimulants are popular among these attendees because it increases vigilance and reaction speeds. At high levels, even a slight improvement in reaction times can make a significant difference.

It can mean the difference between winning and losing.

Adderall and modafinil are both common in this arena, as well as other stimulants like caffeine and Ritalin.

Which One is the Best for Increasing Reaction Time?

In light of some high-level, E-Sports champions coming out in recent years saying they took stimulant medications to win, a lot of gaming commissions regulating the industry have started testing for Adderall.

Modafinil has also been mentioned, but currently is not being tested for in professional E-Sports events. This makes modafinil the clear winner here.

Winner: modafinil

4. Enhancing Athletic Performance

Traditional sports players also use Adderall and modafinil. However, they’re not nearly as common at these events.

Athletes can also benefit from the stimulating effects of the drugs. They sometimes use them when they want to do high-intensity training or long training events (over 10 hours).

The drug helps them stay alert and focused while doing ultramarathons, or all-day/night biking events.

It’s important to note here that we don’t recommend taking modafinil or Adderall for these activities unless under the direct supervision of a trained medical professional.

Nevertheless, this remains a widespread application of these medications.

Which is Better for Athletic Enhancement?

Adderall is currently banned by every sports commission in operation, but the drug is still discretely used by many top-level athletes.

Drug testing is the most significant factor when it comes to athletic stimulant use.

Also important to consider is the after-effects of the drugs.

Adderall often causes dopamine levels to drop the day after taking it, which can negatively affect your performance.

One study found that the top athletes involved in the study had the best dopamine efficiency [2].

Modafinil hasn’t been shown to lower dopamine levels after dosing, while also offering the same stimulating effects on the brain. This makes modafinil the preferred option as an athletic performance enhancement stimulant.

Winner: modafinil

5. Treating Excessive Daytime Sleepiness

Excessive sleepiness is a symptom. It often develops with medical conditions like multiple sclerosis, chronic fatigue syndrome, narcolepsy, or obstructive sleep apnea.

Both Adderall and modafinil are approved for the treatment of excessive sleepiness and are commonly prescribed for these conditions as a result.

Both drugs stimulate the central nervous system in the brain, causing an increased level of alertness, and keeps them wide awake throughout the day.

Which is Better for Daytime Sleepiness?

Modafinil is the preferred treatment for excessive sleepiness of any kind by doctors because it’s far less addictive than the older generation stimulants like Adderall.

The effects on sleepiness from both Adderall and modafinil are very similar. However, modafinil is considered slightly stronger in this effect.

This is likely because of modafinil’s higher level of specificity in the brain than Adderall. This makes its effects more targeted, which also reduce side effects.

Adderall affects more receptors in the brain, which can cause more side effects, can make the drug unpredictable from one person to the next.

Winner: modafinil

Adderall vs. Modafinil: Which One is Better?

Both of these drugs are excellent pharmaceutical stimulants.

They force the brain into a waking state, increase dopamine levels, and help us get our tasks done faster, better, and for a longer period.

Deciding which is best will depend on what you’re using it for.

If you’re using it as a treatment for ADHD, Adderall is slightly better, though not without its side effects.

If you’re using it for increasing productivity, staying awake, improving athletic performance, or boosting your reaction times, modafinil is the better option.

Can you Mix Modafinil with Adderall?

Some people choose to combine their modafinil with Adderall. The idea is that by mixing two compounds that have similar effects, but work through different mechanisms, we can provide more reliable results.

Is Mixing Modafinil & Adderall Safe?

It’s unclear whether the combination of modafinil and Adderall is safe.

Based on the way these medications work, as outlined above, it’s likely that combining the two will only serve to increase side effects or cause serious overstimulation which could reduce productivity and negate the entire reason someone would want to take these medications.

Going back to the shower example, mixing Adderall and modafinil would be like plugging the shower drain, and cranking the faucet on as high as it will go. The tub will quickly fill up with water and may start to overflow over the sides.

This is the same thing that would happen to the brain when you take these two stimulants together. Too much dopamine can cause short-term cognitive problems like headaches, anxiety, twitchiness, and irritability. Long-term effects can include insomnia, depression, low libido, and lack of motivation.

Should I Mix Adderall with My Modafinil?

Most people participating in the discussion about whether or not modafinil and Adderall SHOULD be mixed agree that they’re probably best kept apart.

Forums like Quora or Reddit often recommend that you DON’T mix these two compounds together.

We tend to agree with them.

Both of these drugs are very powerful, and there are no studies investigating the combined use of them at the same time.

The combination could be the ride of your life, but it could also lead to serious side effects.

In fact, we recommend taking only one stimulant at a time and don’t even recommend taking caffeine with your modafinil.

Modafinil works perfectly fine on its own and so does Adderall. Therefore, we see no need to mix the two together, and it serves no reasonable benefit to do so.

Ordering Modafinil Online

You can order modafinil online, with or without a prescription from AfinilExpress.com.

If you’re looking for something stronger than your run of the mill modafinil, try armodafinil. These are a specialized isomer of modafinil with stronger effects. AfinilExpress.com sells this in the form of Waklert and Artvigil.

Common Side Effects of Mixing Modafinil & Adderall

• Headaches
• Jitteriness
• Anxiety
• Insomnia
• Heart palpitations

How To Mix Them Together Safely

Let’s say that despite all of the information above and you still want to mix Adderall and modafinil together, how can you do it safely?

Due to the similarities in their effects, we recommend taking them each in smaller doses if you’re going to take them at the same time.

The normal dose of modafinil is 200 mg per day. The equivalent to this in Adderall is about 60 mg.

Therefore, if you’re going to mix the two, start with a half dose of each. 100 mg of modafinil and about 30 mg of Adderall.

You can buy modafinil in the 200 mg dose and use the manufacturer’s crease to break the capsules in half for even 100 mg doses.

Adderall doesn’t usually come with a crease down the middle but is supplied in doses of 10 mg, 30 mg, or 60 mg. We recommend buying either the 10 mg or 30 mg doses to mix with your modafinil.

Start Low And Increase Gradually

It’s very important that you start with a lower dose when you’re just starting. This goes for any new combination of drugs or supplements.

This is done to make sure there are no serious side effects from the medication.

Start with a half dose of each and build up slowly.

Even if you don’t feel the effects as strong as you had hoped on the first day, WAIT until the next time before increasing the dose.

An easy way to create problems for yourself is to take a second dose out of impatience before the first one took effect. This is how many people overdose on illicit drugs like MDMA (which Adderall is a close relative).

Keep in mind that Adderall doesn’t reach peak concentrations for about 3 hours [6], while modafinil takes about 2 hours.

Final Thoughts on Mixing Modafinil & Adderall

Although Adderall and modafinil may seem like a good pairing, it can be unsafe and isn’t necessary since both drugs are so similar, and both drugs work just fine on their own.

If you’re really determined to mix the two together, it’s important to start with smaller doses of each before building the dose up.

Wrapping it up

Modafinil and Adderall are similar but have some distinct differences.

While modafinil is better for keeping you awake and productive for hours on end, Adderall is better for boosting dopamine in people with ADHD.

Both drugs are extremely potent and will provide much of the same benefit.

Ultimately I prefer modafinil over Adderall because despite having many of the same benefits, modafinil is less addictive, and has fewer side effects than Adderall.

The only exception is in people with ADHD — Adderall may be a better option (though only slightly) in this regard.

If you aim to mix the two together, I highly recommend taking it slow, and start with a lower dose than normal for each until you know exactly how it’s going to affect you individually.

References

1. Li, D., Sham, P. C., Owen, M. J., & He, L. (2006). Meta-analysis shows significant association between dopamine system genes and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). Human molecular genetics, 15(14), 2276-2284.
2. Gilbert, C. (1995). Optimal physical performance in athletes: key roles of dopamine in a specific neurotransmitter/hormonal mechanism. Mechanisms of ageing and development, 84(2), 83-102.
3. Arrang, J. M., Devaux, B., Chodkiewicz, J. P., & Schwartz, J. C. (1988). H3‐receptors control histamine release in human brain. Journal of neurochemistry, 51(1), 105-108.
4. Ishizuka, T., Sakamoto, Y., Sakurai, T., & Yamatodani, A. (2003). Modafinil increases histamine release in the anterior hypothalamus of rats. Neuroscience letters, 339(2), 143-146.
5. Madras, B. K., Xie, Z., Lin, Z., Jassen, A., Panas, H., Lynch, L., … & Miller, G. M. (2006). Modafinil occupies dopamine and norepinephrine transporters in vivo and modulates the transporters and trace amine activity in vitro. Journal of Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics, 319(2), 561-569.
6. Sherzada, A. (2012). An analysis of ADHD drugs: Ritalin and Adderall. JCCC Honors Journal, 3(1), 2.

Modafinil Tolerance 101: What It Is & How to Manage It

Have you ever noticed that after drinking coffee every day— you become less affected by it?

You can have two, three, or even four cups without any apparent side effects?

What you’re experiencing is tolerance.

You’re “tolerating” the caffeine in the coffee because you’re body is less responsive to it than before you drank it everyday.

Tolerance is a common phenomenon in the medical industry with pharmaceutical drugs— and it can be a big problem.

The problem is that as tolerance increases, the dose also needs to increase.  Eventually, the effective dose can become so high it becomes dangerous through its effects on other organs, especially the liver and kidneys.

It’s therefore useful to understand ways to manage tolerance so that the effective dose can remain within safe levels.

What is Tolerance?

Tolerance is a concept that describes the bodies resistance to a medication. As tolerance develops, the drug has less of an effect on the body.

In order to keep producing the desired effects, the drug has to be taken at increasingly higher doses.

Many different drugs cause this effect, including:

• Opioids like morphine, codeine, and heroin
• Caffeine
• SSRIs (antidepressants)
• Benzodiazepines
• Alcohol
• Nicotine

In most cases, drug tolerance is a bad thing, because it means the effects of a drug are reduced. In some cases, however, tolerance can be useful.

Take for example the use of allergen therapy.

This involves exposing the body to small doses of a compound it’s allergic to.

By exposing the body to these compounds in small amounts every day, and gradually increasing the dose, the body will eventually start to tolerate it and becomes less allergic.

Where to Buy Modafinil

For information on buying modafinil, check out our recent buyers guide to modafinil in 2019.

Our favorite supplier is Afinilexpress.com. They offer competitive prices, multiple forms of payment, and excellent customer service. We can’t recommend them enough.

There Are 2 Main Types of Tolerance a Drug Can Produce:

Tolerance can happen through two main mechanisms, both of which are involved in modafinil tolerance; desensitization tolerance, and metabolic tolerance.

1. Desensitization (Pharmacodynamic) Tolerance

Most drugs produce their effects by activating protein receptors on the surface of our cells.

Desensitization happens when the cells reduce the number of receptors a particular drug binds to. It does this to lower the chances of having the drug find and activate these receptors, effectively lowering its potency.

Imagine you give you have a website promoting your services. On your website, you have a button that gives anybody a direct line to your personal phone. At first, you get a few customers and everything is going great.

Eventually, as you become more busy with these customers, it becomes too difficult for you to manage the constantly ringing phone lines.

In order to prevent your phone from ringing constantly, you may set the direct connection button on your site to only show every second day. This effectively cuts your phone ringing in half, allowing you to do the work your customers are asking for.

2. Metabolic (Pharmacokinetic) Tolerance

Virtually every compound that enters our body, with the exception of some minerals, are eventually processed by the liver and eliminated through feces or urine. This includes modafinil.

The liver is the most complex part of this process.

A series of highly specialized enzymes (called CYP450 isoenzymes) are responsible for converting active, and non-water soluble compounds into inactive, water-soluble compounds. It then becomes the kidneys responsibility to filter these compounds out of the bloodstream.

Our bodies are very efficient and will adapt to our environments in more ways than we could ever fully understand. The liver enzymes are a major part of this adaptation.

Our liver enzymes are very dynamic and will change according to our diet and the compounds that end up in our bloodstream.

With metabolic tolerance, these enzymes become elevated to clear the drug from the system faster.

An example of this can be made with alcohol. People that consume large quantities of alcohol for long periods of time have been shown to have significantly higher CYP2B6, which is responsible for breaking down alcohol in the liver [1]. This causes alcoholics to have to drink more alcohol to reach the same level of intoxication as time goes on.

Does Modafinil Cause Tolerance?

The question of whether or not modafinil causes tolerance is difficult to answer. Some evidence suggests that it does, while others suggest it doesn’t.

When you look at the biochemical pathways of modafinil, it’s easy to make assumptions that it not only develops tolerance but can even be addictive.

Modafinil binds to the same receptors as the tolerance-forming and highly addictive drug, cocaine (though in a slightly different context) [4]. Cocaine has been shown to develop tolerance after just a single dose [5].

Tolerance and addiction are often closely connected. One study concluded that “because drugs that increase dopamine have the potential for abuse, and considering the increasing use of modafinil for multiple purposes, these results suggest that risk for addiction in vulnerable persons merits heightened awareness.” [4].

Other studies have conversely found no tolerance forming or addictive potential of modafinil.

A large retrospective study involving 105 different patients taking modafinil found no significant differences in their dosage from the start of their prescription to the end [3].

This suggests that the participants in the study didn’t develop tolerance to the drug.

In fact, researchers in this study even found that those who were diagnosed with bipolar disorder actually had a lower dose at the end of the study, which is the opposite of what you would expect with tolerance-forming medications.

On top of this research, there is a large community of people on places like Reddit sharing their experiences with modafinil. Many people are reporting some tolerance to the medication. The effects produced by the drug seemed to be diminishing over time.

An article in the New Yorker touched on this some more, discussing a Poker player that took modafinil so much, it eventually stopped working altogether.

How to Manage Modafinil Tolerance

Now that we understand the difference between desensitization tolerance and metabolic tolerance, we can highlight some ways we can avoid it.

Managing Desensitisation Tolerance to Modafinil

Desensitization tolerance usually takes a long time to develop. The body needs to be exposed to a particular compound for a long period of time before the cells start to down-regulate receptors on the cell surface. The decision to do this happens at the level of the DNA itself.

In the case of modafinil, these receptors are things like TAAR1 and D2 which activate the dopamine transporters (DAT).

By far the best way to avoid a down-regulation of TAAR1 and D2 is to cycle the drug.

Drug cycling involves taking it for a while, followed by periods of drug abstinence. This can be something like 3 days on, 1 day off, or 3 weeks on, 1 week off. There are many different philosophies for doing this.

The periodic breaks from having the drug allow dopamine levels to decrease for a time. This gives the cells a reason to need the TAAR1 receptors and will reduce the chances of having them down-regulated (therefore producing tolerance).

Managing Metabolic Tolerance to Modafinil

Metabolic tolerance to modafinil is far more common than desensitization tolerance.

The way we tackle problems like this is to identify what enzymes the liver uses to breakdown modafinil. Luckily, in order for a drug to be approved for sale in most countries, this research needs to be done as part of the vetting process.

One such study states that modafinil is metabolized by CYP1A2, CYP2B6, CYP2C9, CYP2C19, and CYP3A4/5 enzymes [8]. The main one involved with modafinil is CYP2C19.

This means that when we take modafinil for long periods of time the CYP2C19 enzyme activity in our liver increases in order to clear it from the body quicker. In order to stop this, we need to slow down this specific set of enzymes.

Some Examples of Herbal CYP2C19 Inhibitors:

• Bacopa (Bacopa monnieri) [9]
• Barberry (Berberis vulgaris) [10]
• California Poppy (Eschscholzia californica) [11]
• Chaste Tree (Vitex agnus-castus) [12]

Perhaps the best inhibitor of this enzyme is grapefruit juice.

Many modafinil users take grapefruit juice (real grapefruit, not from concentrate), to increase the effects of their medications and avoid tolerance.

Concluding Thoughts

It’s not clear in the medical research whether modafinil produces tolerance or not, however, there are plenty of anecdotal reports of users experiencing tolerance with regular use.

The best way to avoid tolerance with modafinil (and other drugs) is to cycle the medication. The more breaks you have, the lower your chances are of developing tolerance.

Many people will start with a day free from modafinil every fourth day. Other users take one entire week off per month.

The other way many people prevent or reduce tolerance is to take herbs or supplements that block liver metabolism of the drug while they take it. The most common supplements people take for this are grapefruit juice, bacopa, and barberry.

References

1. Olmo Pérez, L. (2016). Consequences of the different enzyme alleles regarding alcohol tolerance among populations.
2. Tsai, H. J., Wang, S. C., Liu, S. W., Ho, I. K., Chang, Y. S., Tsai, Y. T., … & Liu, Y. L. (2014). Assessment of CYP450 genetic variability effect on methadone dose and tolerance. Pharmacogenomics, 15(7), 977-986.
3. Nasr, S., Wendt, B., & Steiner, K. (2006). Absence of mood switch with and tolerance to modafinil: a replication study from a large private practice. Journal of affective disorders, 95(1), 111-114.
4. Volkow, N. D., Fowler, J. S., Logan, J., Alexoff, D., Zhu, W., Telang, F., … & Hubbard, B. (2009). Effects of modafinil on dopamine and dopamine transporters in the male human brain: clinical implications. Jama, 301(11), 1148-1154.
5. Mendelson, J. H., Sholar, M., Mello, N. K., Siew Koon Teoh, M. D., & Sholar, J. W. (1998). Cocaine tolerance: behavioral, cardiovascular, and neuroendocrine function in men. Neuropsychopharmacology, 18(4), 263-271.
6. Meyer, J. H., Krüger, S., Wilson, A. A., Christensen, B. K., Goulding, V. S., Schaffer, A., … & Kennedy, S. H. (2001). Lower dopamine transporter binding potential in striatum during depression. Neuroreport, 12(18), 4121-4125.
7. Schneier, F. R., Liebowitz, M. R., Abi-Dargham, A., Zea-Ponce, Y., Lin, S. H., & Laruelle, M. (2000). Low dopamine D2 receptor binding potential in social phobia. American Journal of Psychiatry, 157(3), 457-459.
8. Robertson, P., Decory, H. H., Madan, A., & Parkinson, A. (2000). In vitro inhibition and induction of human hepatic cytochrome P450 enzymes by modafinil. Drug Metabolism and Disposition, 28(6), 664-671.
9. Ramasamy S, Kiew L. & Chung L. (2014). Inhibition of Human Cytochrome P450 Enzymes by Bacopa monnieri Standardized Extract and Constituents.Molecules, vol.19(2),p.2588-2601.
10. Guo Y, Chen Y, Tan Z, Klaassen C. & Zhou H. (2012). Repeated Administration of Berberine Inhibits Cytochromes P450 in Humans.European Journal of Clinical Pharmacology, vol.68(2),p.213-217.
11. Manda V, Ibrahim M, Dale O, Kumarihamy M, Cutler S, Khan I, Walker L, Muhammad I. & Khan S. (2016). Modulation of CYPs, P-gp, and PXR by Eschscholzia californica (California Poppy) and Its Alkaloids.Planta Medica, vol.82(6),p.551-558.
12. Ho S, Singh M, Holloway A. & Crankshaw D. (2011). The effects of commercial preparations of herbal supplements commonly used by women on the biotransformation of fluorogenic substrates by human cytochromes P450.Phytotherapy Research, vol.25(7),p.983-989.

Beginners Guide to Modafinil for Studying

Modafinil is quickly becoming one of the most popular study drugs in the world.

It competes with other well-known powerhouses like Adderall and Concerta.

“Study drug” is a loose term and generally refers to any drug or supplement that increases someone’s ability to study effectively.

Modafinil is not your average study drug though— it can offer profound benefits for students if used correctly.

Here’s how to use modafinil to get the most out of your study efforts.

Using Modafinil for Studying

Modafinil is the king of the study drugs.

It works through several different pathways in the brain that culminate together to improve the entire process of studying.

It makes our brains more awake and alert, boosts concentration, and improves the speed at which our nerve fibers send electrical impulses.

This means that we can study longer and more efficiently while modafinil is circulating through the body.

Study Drugs vs. Eugeroics

If you’re reading this article, you most likely have a good understanding of the term “study drug,” however, many people are not familiar with the term “eugeroic.”

1. What are Eugeroics?

A eugeroic is a compound that promotes a state of wakefulness.

This is achieved through direct stimulation of the brain (this is how modafinil works).

It can also be achieved by inhibiting the “tiredness-promoting” compounds in the brain, like adenosine (this is how caffeine works).

Both of these effects produce virtually the same result; it makes you feel as though you’re awake even when other processes in the body are making you feel tired.

Most eugeroics are also considered study drugs for their ability to make us feel alert and awake while we’re studying.

2. What are Study Drugs?

The term “study drug” is highly debated in the nootropics community, and there’s no official definition for compounds in this category.

Some people consider only the drugs that specifically stimulate or boost cognitive output for academic learning or behavioral adaptation to be a study drug.

This would exclude most of the nutritional nootropics like L-tyrosine and phosphatidylcholine.

Modafinil Fits The True Definition Of A Study Drug

Modafinil exerts a stimulatory effect on the mind and interacts with neurotransmitters specific to the learning process (dopamine and norepinephrine).

How Modafinil Can Boost Your Study Efforts

Modafinil can offer some serious benefits when it comes to studying. However, it isn’t a miracle drug. There are still some limitations when it comes to using modafinil.

Understanding how to use modafinil effectively for studying can make your study efforts much better.

Modafinil Strengths

Modafinil’s strengths have already been well-discussed, here’s a summary of its effects:

• Increases wakefulness
• Boosts memory
• Alleviates fatigue
• Increases dopamine
• Improves focus & concentration

The Limits of Modafinil

Modafinil can only go so far it delays the need to sleep for several hours, but can’t replace it. A lot of the recovery process happens when we sleep. Our brain uses the downtime to organize what we learned for the day and removed the buildup of oxidative and toxic byproducts.

Modafinil makes us feel refreshed, but unless we actually go to sleep, these recovery processes don’t happen as they need to.

For modafinil to have the best results, it’s vital that you still get a good night’s sleep. Aim for 7-9 hours of sleep each night.

Modafinil also has some adverse side effects that are important to be aware of.

THE MOST COMMON SIDE EFFECTS OF MODAFINIL INCLUDE:

• Headaches
• Insomnia
• Anxiety
• Dry mouth
• Gastrointestinal upset
• Low appetite

Learn more about the side effects of modafinil and how to prevent them.

How to Use Modafinil for Effective Studying

Step #1: Get a Good Night’s Sleep

It’s important to understand that modafinil is NOT A SUBSTITUTE FOR SLEEP.

Yes, it can delay tiredness and makes us feel sharp even when we’re tired, but it doesn’t provide the same benefit to the brain as a good night’s sleep does.

Therefore, the best way to use modafinil is after you’re well rested.

This ensures your brain is in optimal condition. The modafinil is then used to boost this optimal condition even further.

Step #2: Eat Breakfast and Pack Nutritious Snacks for the Day

One of the main side effects of modafinil is suppressed appetite.

In the short-term this isn’t a problem, however, when we go too long without getting adequate nutrition, our cognitive performance will start to suffer.

In fact, nutrient deficiencies are one of the most common causes of things like brain fog or issues with concentration. Scientists are now starting to investigate the potential role nutrient deficiencies play in children with ADHD or autism [1].

It’s recommended that you always eat a well-balanced, nutritious meal first thing in the morning in case it’s your last meal until dinner time. This is going to support your brain during study exertion and helps you stay at the top of your cognitive performance range.

It’s also recommended that when you leave the house to go to work, you take some nutritious snacks with you. You may not feel hungry from the modafinil, but if you can remember to eat some food throughout the day, it will go a long way to supporting your cognitive output and prevent side effects.

Step #3: Take Modafinil

When you’re ready to get to work, it’s time to take modafinil.

Keep in mind it takes about 45 minutes for the effects of the drug to take effect, so many people will take it just before they get to their desk or workstation.

This gives them a few minutes to prepare and start working before the modafinil begins to take effect.

The recommended dose for studying is 200 mg. This is the most common form of the drug. Some people find this too stimulating and choose to cut the pills in half.

We recommend taking either Modalert or Modvigil in 100 or 200 mg doses. You can find both of these generic versions of modafinil at Afinil Express.

Another option is to take the related compound armodafinil. This is slightly stronger in its effects, so the dose is usually around 150 mg instead. The most common generic armodafinil products are Artvigil and Waklert.

Step #4: Eliminate Distractions

Now that you’re at your desk or workstation and you’re ready to get studying, it’s useful to clear all distractions. Check your email one final time and then completely close it from your browser.

Eliminate other distractions by either turning your phone off or set it to airplane mode.

If you can, find a space that is isolated and away from other people.

Many users find it difficult to work efficiently on modafinil in public places. If you can get into your own little bubble somewhere on campus or wherever you choose to study, your study efforts on modafinil will be much more efficient.

Step #5: Begin Work or Study

Now that you’re well rested, fed, and have eliminated as many distractions as possible, it’s time to start working.

This is what it’s all about.

This is productivity time.

Many people report working for 8 to 20 hours straight on modafinil before becoming fatigued again. It allows you to work all day or all night and get through whatever it was you were studying or needed to get done.

Step #6: Give Yourself a Chance to Recover

Once you’ve finished a study session, it’s time to recover to prepare for the next one.

Unless this study session was a one-time thing, it’s critical that you create a good routine with your modafinil to make sure you’re getting everything you can out of the drug, and out of your study sessions.

Modafinil can make us feel very awake, but it’s still essential to sleep after the drug has worn off. Depending on your schedule, you will need to incorporate this fact.

If you plan on taking modafinil every day, then it’s important that you take the modafinil early enough in the morning to allow you to get to sleep in the evening.

Aim for 7 to 9 hours per night of sleep.

In most cases, we recommend taking modafinil 3 or 4 times per week. This gives a day off in between doses to fully recover and ensures that your brain can function as high as possible in the days following your modafinil use.

Tips & Tricks to Using Modafinil for Studying

What’s the Best Dose to Take?

Modafinil doses are generally recommended at 200 mg per dose. Some people, however, will need to either increase or decrease this dose according to their body size and how often they’re using it.

For smaller people or people who are highly sensitive to pharmaceutical medications, a 100 mg dose may be a better option.

Most modafinil tablets supplied by Afinil Express, are manufactured with a crease down the center that easily splits the pill into 100 mg doses when the tablet is broken.

Other people may need a higher dose, in which case either 1 and a half, or 2 tablets can be taken. We recommend first starting with one tablet, and if the effects aren’t strong enough, increase the dose the next time.

How to Take Modafinil Safely

Generally speaking, modafinil is a safe medication. Few people experience anything more than some mild side effects, the most common being headaches and insomnia.

1. Check for Allergies

There are, however, some cases of hypersensitivity (allergies).

These reactions can cause severe skin inflammation and may require medical attention. The most severe case of hypersensitivity is something called Steven Johnson syndrome.

To prevent this condition, it’s best to start with small doses of the medication and build up slowly from there.

For example, you may take a 50 mg or 100 mg dose the first time to see if any reactions result. From here you can increase the dose.

2. Stay Hydrated

Another issue common with modafinil is dehydration.

The body uses more water than usual to filter the modafinil metabolites out of the body. It’s also common to forget to drink altogether while under the effects of modafinil.

To prevent this, always carry some water with you while on modafinil, and place it somewhere visible, so you remember to drink throughout the day.

Some people even set timers on their phones or watches every 1 or 2 hours to remind them to take a few sips of water.

3. Don’t Mix Modafinil with Other Stimulants or Alcohol

Modafinil is a powerful stimulant, and therefore should not be mixed with other stimulants like Caffeine or Adderall.

In many cases, mixing these compounds will cause overstimulation, anxiety, jitteriness, and heart palpitations. It can even end up working against you, making studying more difficult due to the excessive stimulation and anxiety.

It’s also not recommended that you never mix alcohol with your modafinil, as this can further cause dehydration and may damage the liver.

Summary: Using Modafinil for Studying

Modafinil can be an incredibly useful study drug. Its main benefits are increasing focus/concentration and increasing the duration of studying by delaying fatigue.

It’s not uncommon for people to study for 20 straight hours while taking modafinil.

Although academic success isn’t as simple as just taking modafinil before every exam, it can go a long way in optimizing the process as a whole. We need to remember that sleep. adequate nutrition, exercise, and self-discipline are also critically important — modafinil is merely another tool you can add to your arsenal to get the most out of your study efforts.

References

1. Curtis, L. T., & Patel, K. (2008). Nutritional and environmental approaches to preventing and treating autism and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD): a review. The Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine, 14(1), 79-85.

 

Modafinil and Steven Johnson Syndrome 101

The company that first released modafinil, Cephalon Inc, lists Steven Johnson Syndrome as a possible adverse reaction to the medication.

During a clinical trial, one patient was reported to have developed the condition.

Since this time, there have been no documented cases of the condition in response to modafinil. Nevertheless, the severity of this allergic reaction makes it important to know and understand the early signs and symptoms.

Here, we share some tips and tricks to make sure it doesn’t happen to you.

What is Steven Johnson syndrome? How significant is it? What are my chances of developing it?

What is Modafinil?

Modafinil is a prescription medication prescribed in the treatment of narcolepsy and other sleep disorders.

It tells the brain to enter a state of wakefulness and vigilance. This has made it useful amongst students and highly productive individuals to further enhance their work efforts.

Modafinil essentially works to increase the quality of the working hours available in the day by delaying the onset of fatigue. When people take modafinil, they can easily churn out a dozen hours of non-stop work.

This makes it great for people who have a deadline coming up and need an extra boost in their productivity to get the project done. Others take it while they cram late into the evening for a tough exam.

Unlike popular “study drugs” such as Adderall and Concerta, modafinil has the added benefit of boosting dopamine levels in the brain.

This neurotransmitter is often found in low concentrations in people with difficulty focusing. It’s a common finding in people who have ADD or ADHD.

By increasing dopamine concentrations, modafinil can help boost our ability to focus on one task at a time without becoming so easily distracted or unmotivated.

Where to Buy Modafinil

There are a few ways you can obtain some modafinil for yourself.

You can go to the doctor and get a prescription, however, you’ll need to have a valid reason before they prescribe it.

The second option is to buy your modafinil from an online vendor like AfinilExpress.com.

These sources offer modafinil ready for delivery without the need for a prescription.

Even people with valid prescriptions often use this method because it can save them thousands of dollars per year compared to local pharmacies. This is made possible by selling generic versions of the drug, which usually cost between $0.80 and $2.80 per tablet.

Conversely, brand names like Provigil or Nuvigil can cost between $30 and $50 per tablet.

What is Steven Johnson Syndrome?

Now that we’re familiar with WHY someone would use modafinil let’s go over Steven Johnson Syndrome and how it’s connected to modafinil use.

Steven Johnson syndrome (SJS) is a severe allergic skin reaction.

Early symptoms are flu-like, causing fever, burning eyes, sore throat, and body aches. The skin sometimes starts to burn a day or two after the condition begins developing [3].

Eventually, symptoms increase in severity to include skin ulcers and a painful rash spreading all over the body.

The rash covers the skin in blisters and can be very painful.

The ulcers start to form around the mucous membranes, almost always involving the mouth and tongue. This can make it extremely difficult for sufferers to eat and drink due to the pain involved with the ulcer formation.

The genital regions also develop similar ulcers around the same time.

What Causes Steven Johnson Syndrome?

Steven Johnson Syndrome is thought to be the result of immune system dysfunction. It’s an allergic reaction to certain medications or infectious organisms.

It’s considered a type IV hypersensitivity reaction, which means that it’s a delayed allergic reaction. These types of allergies can take several days to develop completely.

Symptoms usually start to show up about 4 to 28 days after initial exposure to the causative agent. This makes it particularly challenging to determine what triggered the condition.

Compared to other forms of allergies, type IV reactions don’t involve antibodies, which are the more common cause of allergic symptoms.

When someone is experiencing an allergic reaction to bee stings or peanuts, the symptoms that result are caused by an allergic antibody-mediated response.

Instead, Steven Johnson Syndrome involves an issue with the cells themselves. They release chemical messengers that cause widespread destruction throughout the skin tissue.

The most common causes of this condition are medications [4]. As many as 100–200 different medications are associated with Steven Johnson Syndrome [6].

Some common culprits include:

• Lamotrigine (Anticonvulsant)
• Tetracycline (Antibiotic)
• Carbamazepine (Anticonvulsant)
• Allopurinol (Anti-Gout medication)
• Barbiturates (Anxiolytics)
• Sulfonamide antibiotics (Antibiotic)
• Nevirapine (HIV medication)
• Modafinil (Narcolepsy medication)

See a complete list of drugs that have been connected to Steven Johnson Syndrome.

Other causes for this condition include infection of Mycoplasma pneumonia or cytomegalovirus [1].

In many cases (roughly half of all cases), the cause is not determined.

Some factors can help predict the chances of developing the condition. This includes a few genetic links that researchers have made recently that can be used to help identify people who may develop this condition.

People who have autoimmune conditions (like multiple sclerosis, systemic lupus erythematosus, or asthma) or HIV are also at a much higher risk of developing the condition.

Is it Dangerous?

There are some complications that can arise from Steven Johnson syndrome, including dehydration, infections, pneumonia, and organ failure.

The death rate associated with it is about 5–10%.

In most cases, the skin will stop blistering and regrow as normal over a few months.

How Common Is Steven Johnson Syndrome?

Luckily, Steven Johnson syndrome is very rare, only affecting about 1 or 2 people per million. [2].

People at a Higher Risk of Developing this Condition Includes:

• Males (roughly twice as common as females) [1]
• People of Han Chinese origin
• People of Thai origin
• People suffering from an autoimmune disease
• HIV patients

Some tests can be done for some of these populations to determine risk (HLA-B*15:02 and CYP2C9*3 genetic testing).

Countries like Singapore, Hong Kong, Taiwan, mainland China, and Thailand are now performing genetic screening before placing people on at-risk drugs like modafinil or certain antibiotics.

How is Steven Johnson Syndrome Treated?

Treatment for Steven Johnson syndrome typically requires hospitalization.

Patients are placed in a specialty unit— like a burn unit or intensive care unit— and given symptomatic treatment for pain and to prevent secondary infection.

Antihistamines, antibiotics, immunoglobulin therapy, and pain medications are all used over the next couple of weeks until the condition starts to improve.

If the causative agent is identified and removed before rashes and blistering appear, it’s possible to avoid most of the symptoms of Steven Johnson syndrome before hospitalization is required.

It can take as long as three months for treatment to conclude.

How to Prevent Steven Johnson Syndrome

Although Steven Johnson syndrome is extremely rare, there are a few things you can do to prevent the condition before it develops.

1. Risk Assessment

The best way to avoid the condition is to assess risk properly.

If you have HIV or any autoimmune conditions, it’s important to first speak with your doctor before trying modafinil, or any of the other drugs associated with risk of Steven Johnson Syndrome.

Beyond this, there are some genetic tests available that researchers have identified as being a marker for the development of Steven Johnson syndrome.

In East Asian populations, the best method is to test for a genetic variant called HLA-B*15:02 [7].

In Caucasians, a slightly different marker is investigated called HLA-B*57:01  or HLA-B*58:01 [7].

These markers can provide a good indication of the level of risk a person has for developing the condition before it happens.

Learn more about these tests here.

2. Start Small with Modafinil

If the symptoms of Steven Johnson Syndrome are identified early (burning eyes, flu-like symptoms, fever, itchy skin), and you stop taking the medication, you can prevent the worst of the condition from ever developing.

For this reason, it’s recommended that you start with a smaller dose of modafinil if you’re trying it for the first time before gradually increasing the dose.

As soon as any symptoms of Steven Johnson Syndrome present, stop taking the medication.

It’s recommended that you start with a dose of about 100mg modafinil for the first few days, then increasing to 200 mg or 400 mg per day depending on how you feel.

It’s also recommended that you don’t take modafinil every day for the first week.

Instead, try taking it every second day or less and then building up from there after you know how it affects you and how you tolerate it.

Should I Be Worried About Steven Johnson Syndrome?

Although Steven Johnson syndrome is a very severe condition it’s unlikely to develop.

Unless you have a predisposing factor like an autoimmune disease, HIV, or have a specific genetic predisposing factor, you are more than likely NOT going to experience Steven Johnson syndrome.

If this is something that you are worried about and is preventing you from trying modafinil, speak with your doctor. They may be able to get you genetic testing that can screen for known genetic variations associated with the condition.

Remember, Steven Johnson Syndrome comes on gradually, so you will need to wait several days before you know for sure if you’re completely free from risk.

References

1. Sartaj, S., & Swamy, A. (2018). Study of Stevens-Johnson syndrome. IJASRE, 4.
2. Dodiuk-Gad, R. P., Chung, W. H., Valeyrie-Allanore, L., & Shear, N. H. (2015). Stevens–Johnson syndrome and toxic epidermal necrolysis: an update. American journal of clinical dermatology, 16(6), 475-493.
3. Maverakis, E., Wang, E. A., Shinkai, K., Mahasirimongkol, S., Margolis, D. J., Avigan, M., … & Shear, N. H. (2017). Stevens-Johnson Syndrome and toxic epidermal necrolysis standard reporting and evaluation guidelines: results of a National Institutes of Health working group. JAMA dermatology, 153(6), 587-592.
4. Mockenhaupt, M., Bastuji-Garin, Salopek, Auquier-Dunant, Rzany, Ziemer, … & Rzany. (2011). The current understanding of Stevens–Johnson syndrome and toxic epidermal necrolysis. Expert review of clinical immunology, 7(6), 803-815.
5. Cephalon, Inc. (2017). Provigil prescribing information.
6. Cooper, K. L. (2012). Drug reaction, skin care, skin loss. Critical care nurse, 32(4), 52-59.
7. He, X. J., Jian, L. Y., He, X. L., Wu, Y., Xu, Y. Y., Sun, X. J., … & Zhao, L. M. (2013). Association between the HLA-B* 15: 02 allele and carbamazepine-induced Stevens-Johnson syndrome/toxic epidermal necrolysis in Han individuals of northeastern China. Pharmacological Reports, 65(5), 1256-1262.