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Some reasons to use an Adrafinil Stack include increasing daytime wakefulness, supporting mental concentration, fighting fatigue, and supporting cognitive function.
Some reasons to use an Adrafinil Stack include increasing daytime wakefulness, supporting mental concentration, fighting fatigue, and supporting cognitive function. Some substances that are commonly used along with Adrafinil in nootropic stacks include Noopept, Caffeine, and L-theanine. [1]
Members of the nootropic community will typically stack multiple cognitive enhancers together to promote a synergistic effect. This may be done to increase the potency of specific effects or to widen the range of potential benefits.
Adrafinil is often stacked with members of the Racetam family of nootropics. It may also be combined with substances like Milk Thistle Extract or N-Acetyl Cysteine which are purported to support liver function and may minimize potential side effects of this compound.
This article reviews adrafinil’s modes of action, possible nootropic benefits, recommended dosages, and safety. Some common adrafinil stacks are also looked at.
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Adrafinil Stack
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An adrafinil stack is a combination of different nootropic substances used together to induce additive pharmacological effects.
For instance, many people buy adrafinil to use in an Adrafinil-Caffeine Stack to increase their mental and physical energy and help keep them motivated and focused through long periods of work or study.
Not all combinations of drugs or supplements work together well (synergistically). Further, there is limited research available to evaluate how effective nootropic stacks are.
Most nootropic drugs have been studied very little in double-blind placebo-controlled human trials as stand-alone substances; let alone in stacks.
In particular, Adrafinil has little modern research because it has been replaced by the related compounds Modafinil and Armodafinil for clinical use.
Most of what we know about adrafinil and the supplements it is commonly stacked with comes from animal studies or anecdotal reports from user experience forums and online nootropics review sites or blogs.
Before looking at specific adrafinil stacks, it is good to understand a bit about how adrafinil works, and its relationship to a prescription drug called Modafinil.
Adrafinil vs Modafinil
Adrafinil is scientifically called benzhydrylsulfinyl acetohydroxamic acid; or more simply CRL-40028. It is an adrenergic alpha-agonist according to PubChem. [2]
Adrenergic alpha-agonists are substances that can cross the blood-brain barrier and bind to and increase activity in alpha-adrenergic receptors.
According to Dr. Richard Klabunde from Cardiovascular Pharmacology Concepts, “Alpha-adrenoceptor agonists (α-agonists) bind to α-receptors on vascular smooth muscle and induce smooth contraction and vasoconstriction, thus mimicking the effects of sympathetic adrenergic nerve activation to the blood vessels.” [3]
Adrafinil is a prodrug of a prescription pharmaceutical called Modafinil. A prodrug is a biologically idle substance that becomes physiologically active when metabolized inside the body.
Adrafinil (C15H15NO3S) becomes Modafinil (C15H15NO2S) when it undergoes hepatic (liver) metabolism.
Modafinil is the prototype of a class of substances called Eugeroics. It is prescription-only in the USA and is marketed under the trade name Provigil.
It is used in treating Shift-Work Sleep Disorder, ADHD (attention deficit hyperactivity disorder) and narcolepsy.
In some human studies, modafinil and another eugeroic called Armodafinil have been shown to increase wakefulness and selectively and weakly inhibit reuptake of the dopamine neurotransmitter. [4]
Some other selective Dopamine Reuptake Inhibitors include Wellbutrin, Benocyclidine (BTPC), Amfonelic acid (AFA), Amineptine (Survector), Sertraline (Zoloft), and Medifoxamine (Cledial, Gerdaxyl).
Because modafinil is a metabolite of adrafinil, they are both believed to induce the same types of effects on mood, cognitive function, energy levels and motivation.
However, adrafinil is not as strong as modafinil. It is also linked to possible liver damage when used improperly because it must undergo hepatic metabolism.
In many countries in the world, you do not need a doctor’s prescription to buy adrafinil online. It has however been banned by the World Anti-Doping Agency.
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How Adrafinil Works
Scientists are not sure exactly how adrafinil, modafinil, armodafinil or similar compounds work. While there is evidence of some of the pathways they affect, their modes of action are not well-defined.
Scientists are not sure exactly how adrafinil, modafinil, armodafinil or similar compounds work. While there is evidence of some of the pathways they affect, their modes of action are not well-defined.Adrafinil has not been significantly studied in humans recently. While it was previously used and studied in Europe as a clinical therapy under the brand name Olmifon, its use was discontinued when Modafinil was developed.
However, Modafinil has been studied extensively and is recognized by the US FDA as a prescription-only stimulant drug. Because of its potential for addiction, Modafinil is a Schedule IV Controlled Substance in the United States.
Its scientific name is 2-[(diphenylmethyl)sulfinyl]acetamide and it is marketed under the brand name Provigil®.
Modafinil is prescribed for treating excessive sleepiness linked to shift worker sleep disorder, narcolepsy, and obstructive sleep apnea.
Because adrafinil is a modafinil prodrug, its modes of action and pharmacological effects are expected to be very similar to modafinil’s.
Like modafinil, adrafinil seems to work by affecting levels or activities of various neurotransmitters – including serotonin, histamine, acetylcholine, dopamine, GABA (gamma-aminobutyric acid), and glutamate.
Modafinil has been proposed as a potential neuroprotective agent and there is interest in understanding how it could affect people with Alzheimer’s disease, Parkinson’s disease, and other neurodegenerative disorders. More research is needed to determine the extend of its neuroprotective effects
Adrafinil research reviews report that this substance can increase levels of two Orexin Hormones: orexin-A and orexin-B. These neuropeptides are produced in the brain’s hypothalamus and are often called “hypocretins”.
All mammals produce orexin-A and orexin-B and they are known to be functional in regulating both sleep and appetite.
According to the Journal of the Royal Society of Medicine, “…administration of hypocretins directly stimulates cells on the LC-noradrenergic system in rats and monkeys, suggesting a role for the hypocretins in various central nervous functions related to noradrenergic innervation, including vigilance, attention, learning, and memory.” [5]
Adrafinil has a short half-life of just about one hour. However, that does not mean that it has short-lasting effects.
Adrafinil is converted into modafinil upon being broken down in the liver. Modafinil has a relatively long half-life of roughly 15 hours.
Many nootropic agent user reviews state that its effects can be felt up to twenty-four hours after taking a single dose.
User reports commonly state that adrafinil helps to maintain motivation, brighten the mood; and increase alertness, drive, focus, and productivity.
Eugeroic stimulants like adrafinil and modafinil work to increase wakefulness without causing many of the side effects that are common with other CNS (central nervous system) stimulants like Adderall, methamphetamine, caffeine, and cocaine.
Adrafinil is also said to be non-addictive, even though Modafinil is classified as a controlled because of its addiction potential. However, more research is needed to evaluate the risk of addiction with both of these substances.
Adrafinil Dosage for Stacking
There are no standardized dosage guidelines issued by the FDA for nootropic stimulants like adrafinil. Common dosage recommendations from various online sources range between 600-1200 milligrams (mg) daily. [6]
If you are using nootropics in a stack, lower dosages are typically taken to reduce the risk of side effects. Combining multiple stimulants together can cause a synergistic effect, meaning that a smaller amount will produce similar benefits.
Many users divide their total daily dose and take one half on an empty stomach first thing upon waking, and the other half around lunch time.
Taking adrafinil late in the afternoon can cause you to lay awake at night. All sources agree that it should only be used in cycles to avoid elevated liver enzymes.
This eugeroic stimulant tends to be taken 3 days weekly, but for no more than 5 months. There are a large number of possible cycling schedules designed protect the liver and kidneys.
How long does Adrafinil take to Work?
Many adrafinil user reviews state that its effects can be felt within 60-90 minutes after taking it.
As it saturates the bloodstream and begins to get broken down (into modafinil) in the liver, it reaches its peak plasma concentrations in roughly 3 hours after administration.
Some sources recommend taking this nootropic about 2 hours before needed for studying, taking exams, or pulling a long work shift.
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Common Adrafinil Stacks
Adrafinil is stacked with various other brain supplements, vitamins, nutrients, stimulants, nootropics, anxiolytics (reduce anxiety), muscle builders, and more.
Some of the most-popular adrafinil stacks are:
- Afradinil-L-theanine Stack
- Adrafinil-Noopept Stack
- Adrafinil-Caffeine Stack
Adrafinil-L-theanine Stack
L-theanine is an amino acid analog of two aminos used for making proteins: L-glutamine and L-glutamate.
There are very few known dietary sources of L-theanine. It is found nearly-exclusively in Camellia sinensis (green tea).
L-theanine is thought to be helpful for reducing stress and anxiety without causing the user to feel sleepy. It also seems to promote relaxation.
Some people use an Adrafinil-L-theanine Stack to keeps them focused, calm, motivated and sharp-witted.
One common Adrafinil-L-theanine Stack consists of 20 mg L-theanine in the morning with 300 mg adrafinil, and then another 300 mg dose at lunchtime.
Some users claim that this stack made them feel sluggish, and so they added in some caffeine to increase alertness.
Like all other nootropic stacks, using adrafinil with L-theanine will likely produce profound effects in some people, and very little effects in others.
Adrafinil-Noopept Stack
Noopept is a very popular nootropic that is commonly grouped together with the racetams, although it lacks the racetam-specific 2-oxo-pyrrolidone structural core.
Noopept is a smart drug used for increasing focus, memory, mental energy, and calmness. Some people like to use an Adrafinil-Noopept Stack for the same purposes, but with added wakefulness and alertness.
Taking 10-30 mg/day of Noopept powder with 150 mg of adrafinil first thing in the morning on an empty stomach is commonly-recommended for this stack. Subsequent doses of Noopept may be added throughout the day as needed.
Adrafinil-Caffeine Stack
While some people use adrafinil to wean off a caffeine dependence, others like to combine the two stimulants in an Adrafinil-Caffeine Stack.
Adrafinil is a eugeroic stimulant, meaning it acts to increase wakefulness and alertness. Caffeine is a CNS stimulant of the methylxanthine class and the most commonly used psychoactive drug in the world.
Methylxanthines are produced naturally in some plants and animals. Synthetic methylxanthine drugs like dyphylline and theophylline are used to treat airway obstructions caused by conditions inducing emphysema, chronic bronchitis, and asthma.
Double-blind placebo-controlled clinical research has shown that caffeine may improve microvascular endothelial function. This might be helpful for increasing the delivery of adrafinil via the bloodstream.
Some sources recommend using between 200-300 mg of adrafinil first thing in the morning on an empty stomach and then following it with a cup or two of caffeinated coffee.
Note that the health benefits associated with coffee are linked to consumption of black coffee; not coffee loaded with cream, sugar, or other flavor/texture enhancers.
Many users claim that combining the different stimulatory effects of adrafinil and caffeine creates an enjoyable, alert, awake, and motivated experience.
Like all other nootropics, adrafinil is not well-suited for all people equally. Every user will experience unique effects relative to all other users.
Various factors affect how a nootropic works in an individual. Exponentially-more factors come into play when a substance is stacked with others.
Always discuss using any nootropic or nootropic stack with your doctor before beginning to make sure it will be safe for you.
Adrafinil Safety
Adrafinil is largely-metabolized inside the liver. Because of this, excessive or chronic use may cause elevated liver enzymes or liver damage.
Using this product in conjunction with other compounds that affect liver function is not recommended. Combining it with alcohol, Tylenol (acetaminophen) or other drugs that are metabolized by the liver could increase the risk of negative effects.
Always cycle use on and off. Many users take it for three days per week, and then allow their bodies to completely clear it for the other four days.
Adrafinil powder should not be used for more than five months at a time, even in cycles. Long-term use of might cause liver damage or liver failure. Other long-term effects are not understood well yet.
When used properly and short-term as described in this article, adrafinil is said to be non-addictive. It is also well-tolerated in most users according to various online review sites.
Some rare but possible adrafinil side effects are decreased appetite, irritability, dry mouth, nausea, diarrhea, stomach pain, insomnia, and headache.
Be careful stacking adrafinil with kratom. Natural Medicines Comprehensive Database states that there is one case of modafinil being combined together with kratom to self-treat opiate withdrawal symptoms caused generalized tonic-clonic seizures. In theory, the same could happen with adrafinil and kratom. [7]
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- Nootrohacker Staff. ADRAFINIL: THE ULTIMATE GUIDE. Accessed March 24, 2018
- National Center for Biotechnology Information. PubChem Compound Database; CID=3033226. Accessed Mar. 24, 2018
- Klabunde, R. Alpha-Adrenoceptor Agonists (?-agonists). Accessed MArch 24, 2018
- Nootropics Journal Staff. Modafinil vs Adderall: Which is Best and What's the Difference? June 13, 2016. Accessed March 24, 2018
- Ebrahim, I O et al. "The Hypocretin/orexin System." Journal of the Royal Society of Medicine 95.5 (2002): 227–230. Print.
- Powder City Staff. Adrafinil. Accessed March 24, 2018
- Natural Medicines Comprehensive Database. Kratom Professional Monograph. Accessed March 24, 2018
