What is Modafil MD?

Modafil MD is a generic version of Provigil®. It’s made by the Indian pharmaceutical giant, INTAS Biopharmaceuticals.

INTAS makes a number of name-brand medications but has been gradually acquiring other generic medication manufacturers, like Actavis UK and Actavis Ireland from Teva Pharmaceuticals.

Modafil MD comes in two doses, 100 mg, and 200 mg. The 200 mg is the most common form carried by online suppliers.

This brand is quickly becoming a popular modafinil medication due to its unique administration method (more below).

What are the Benefits of Modafil MD?

Modafil MD is similar to other generic versions of modafinil in its effect profile, but has the benefits of faster absorption and therefore faster onset of effects.

Modafil MD is prescribed for sleep disorders like narcolepsy, extreme fatigue, shift work sleep disorder, sleep apnoea, and ADD/ADHD.

It’s used outside its prescribed uses for promoting concentration and productivity. It works primarily by increasing wakefulness and alertness for several hours.

It increases dopamine and norepinephrine concentrations in the brain, making it useful for boosting creativity and focus.

What Makes Modafil MD Different From Other Modafinil Options?

Most modafinil comes in 200 mg tablets, with some manufacturers offering 100 mg versions as well. These are meant to be taken once daily in the morning or at the start of a shift.

These pills are absorbed in the gastrointestinal tract after about 30 minutes, and begin to enter the bloodstream where they go on to exert their effects.

Modafil MD can be used in the same way, but can also be absorbed sublingually (under the tongue).

What are the Benefits of Sublingual Medications?

Underneath the tongue, you’ll find tiny blood vessels called capillaries.

These capillaries are located just under the mucous membranes of the mouth, which allow only a short distance of travel directly into the bloodstream.

By holding a medication under the tongue while it absorbs, these chemicals can travel directly into the bloodstream through the mouth.

This results in much faster absorption, and therefore quicker onset of effects.

When taking medications sublingually, the effects are felt as soon as 15 minutes afterward — rather than 45–60 minutes with the traditional oral route.

Not all medications are suitable for a sublingual application. Most other modafinil could be taken this way in theory, but have an awful taste, and special coatings to help it slide down the throat easier that block it from dissolving in the mouth as quickly as Modafil MD.

Modafil MD by INTAS is flavored with mint to eliminate the bad taste and has a thinner coating to allow the drug to begin breaking down as soon as it enters the mouth.

How Sublingual Drug Absorption Works

Taking a drug directly into the bloodstream (either sublingually, rectally, or via IV injections), follows a different path of metabolism than drugs taken via the oral route (AKA swallowing them).

When we swallow medications, they are broken down by the acidic conditions in the stomach, followed by alkaline conditions in the duodenum of the small intestine.

The medications are then exposed to bacteria and enzymes further down in the small intestines that break apart molecules as they pass through the digestive tract.

When modafinil is absorbed in this way, it goes directly to the liver for filtration. This is called “first pass metabolism.”

This first pass metabolism neutralizes some of the medication before it ever gets a chance to exert its effects.

Most of the drug, however, escapes this metabolism and goes on to exert their effects on the body.

When medications enter the bloodstream directly, however, they aren’t exposed to this first pass metabolism. They enter systemic circulation, which can then flow anywhere in the body, some to the brain, some to the limbs, others to internal organs like the liver where they’re eventually metabolized.

This often makes the effects of sublingual absorption stronger and more sudden.  

Does Sublingual Modafinil Work?

In 2009, a patent application was filed by a company called Neurohealing Pharmaceuticals.

This patent highlighted the use of modafinil sublingually, suggesting much faster absorption and a shorter duration of its effects [1].

There’s also plenty of anecdotal evidence among those using the drug to say it works.

Some Caveats with Modafil MD Sublingual Absorption

Taking medications this way allows the effects to come on much faster, but can also increase the concentrations of the drug in the bloodstream too quickly. With this comes a faster peak and higher chances of feeling side effects.

It also allows the drug to clear from the system faster.

This makes it a good mode of administration for people who want the benefits of the medication as fast as possible, as strong as possible, and for a shorter duration of time.

It’s like adding a turbo boost to your modafinil dosage.

How to Take Modafil MD Sublingually

For modafinil to absorb through the mucous membrane of the mouth and into the tiny capillaries underneath the tongue, you need to hold the entire pill under the tongue for about 15 minutes.

To make this even more effective, you can crush the pill up in your mouth to increase the surface area, and then hold this under your tongue for 5-10 minutes.

Please be aware that even with the minty flavor INTAS added to Modafil MD, it tastes god-awful (though significantly better than other forms of modafinil).

Cost of Modafil MD

Modafil MD 200 costs USD $1.48 per tablet in orders containing around 60 pills. If larger orders are made, the price reduces to about $0.89 per tablet.

This is about par with other versions of generic modafinil, such as Modalert ($0.98–$2.80), and Modvigil ($0.80-$2.10).

The most economical way to purchase Modafil MD is to buy a large quantity. Three hundred tablets will cost about $269.00. This is nearly a year supply of modafil MD for one person!

Final Thoughts On Modafil MD

Modafil MD by INTAS Biopharmaceuticals is an exciting option for modafinil users looking for the fastest onset of effects, and shorter durations.

The minty flavor, and ability to absorb the medication under the tongue makes it unique from many of the other generic versions available.

The effects of Modafil MD are comparable to Sun Pharmaceuticals Modalert and is slightly stronger than HAB Pharmaceuticals Modvigil.

References

1. Ron, E. S., Farber, N. M., Katzman, D. E., & Gamzu, E. R. (2009). U.S. Patent Application No. 11/988,695.
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. Wisor, J. P., Nishino, S., Sora, I., Uhl, G. H., Mignot, E., & Edgar, D. M. (2001). Dopaminergic role in stimulant-induced wakefulness. Journal of Neuroscience, 21(5), 1787-1794.