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Can you legally purchase Adrafinil in the UK?
Adrafinil, the prodrug to Modafinil, is used to promote a state of wakefulness and increase mental energy in the user.
Originally developed to experimentally treat patients suffering from narcolepsy, it eventually began to be used by people with excessive daytime tiredness and those who worked abnormal hours or shifts.
It offers a certain type of mental stimulation which differs from other psycho-stimulants like amphetamines or caffeine.
It works by stimulating the central nervous system but without the side effects of irritability, anxiousness and nervousness many people experience with other stimulants.
Adrafinil can also have a positive affect on mood, motivation, energy and reaction time.
Side effects range from mild to serious as this supplement has been found to increase liver enzymes similar to if you were to use Ibuprofen (Tylenol) on a continuous basis. If you plan to use Adrafinil over any period of time, it is recommended you work with a doctor to monitor your liver enzyme levels.
If an elevation in these levels is noticed, you should discontinue use and follow your doctor’s advice.
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Wakeful- ness
Thinking- Converted into Modafinil by the liver
- Increases energy, wakefulness & motivation
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The History of Adrafinil
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Adrafinil was first developed by scientist and experimental medicine professor Michel Jouvet for the French pharmaceutical company Lafon Laboratories in 1974. Jouvet and another scientist were doing research on developing new analgesics at the time.
They developed a series of benzhydryl sulfinyl compounds, including Adrafinil. It was found that Adrafinil did not have any pain-relieving effects, but instead has stimulant-like effects in the body. Adrafinil is categorized in a class of compounds known as eugeroics, or wakefulness promoting compounds.
While researching the mechanism of action of Adrafinil, Modafinil was discovered. Adrafinil is broken down in the liver into its component parts, and Modafinil was determined to be the primary active compound in Adrafinil.
Therefore, Adrafinil’s mechanism of action is through its breakdown into the active Modafinil. The exact mechanism of action of Modafinil is still unknown, but it has been observed in research to have effects on many neurotransmitters in the brain and central nervous system, including Dopamine, Norepinephrine, Orexin, and Histamine.
Both Adrafinil and Modafinil were seen to have stimulating effects in animal trials, causing increased locomotor activity and even hyperactivity at high dosages. Because of these effects, they were first tested in humans as a treatment for the serious sleep disorder narcolepsy.
In multiple double-blind placebo-controlled clinical trials both Adrafinil and later Modafinil were seen to increase wakefulness and decrease excessive daytime sleepiness significantly compared to placebo in narcoleptics.
Adrafinil was approved in France as a treatment for narcolepsy in 1986. Modafinil was later approved in France in 1994 and in the United States in 1998 for the same purpose.
In 2001, Cephalon Inc bought Lafon. They continued to make Adrafinil and Modafinil products for years, under the brand names Olmifon and Provigil respectively. In 2011, Cephalon was acquired by Teva Pharmaceutical Industries. That same year, they stopped production of Olmifon.
As Modafinil is the more potent, faster-acting compound, it is the one primarily used in medicine today. Cephalon, as a subsidiary of Teva, still makes Provigil to this day, as well as Armodafinil (brand name Nuvigil), a purified version of Modafinil.
While Cephalon no longer produces Adrafinil, it is now produced by a variety of manufacturers around the world.
Uses of Adrafinil
Originally test and approved for treating narcolepsy, Adrafinil has been used for other sleep disorders as well. The stimulating, wakefulness promoting effects of Adrafinil are useful for people who suffer from shift-work sleep disorder, excessive fatigue, hypersomnia, and the excessive sleepiness of obstructive sleep apnea/hypopnea syndrome. Some people also use it temporarily to relieve jet lag.
The most popular uses of Adrafinil today relate to its nootropic effects. Users of Adrafinil say that it acts much in the same way as Modafinil, albeit there is a longer lead time while the compound is metabolized before effects are felt.
Adrafinil is said to increase attention, concentration, mental energy, motivation, and memory. It is often used as an alternative to Modafinil, as Modafinil is a prescription only medication in many countries of the world.
- Increases energy, wakefulness and motivation
- Boosts mental performance and focus
- Supports memory and cognition
Legal Status of Adrafinil in the United Kingdom
For those not intimately familiar with the mechanisms of drug law in the United Kingdom, it can initially feel like a maze when trying to determine what is and what is not allowed by law regarding nootropics.
In the United Kingdom, both the Department of Health and the National Health Service (NHS) work with several agencies who share the responsibility for regulation of drugs.
Controlled drugs are governed by the Misuse of Drugs Act 1971, with additional statutory measures laid out in the Health Act 2006 and its associated regulations.
There is also the Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) which plays a role in regulation of certain drugs.
Adrafinil is not a controlled drug in the United Kingdom and does not require a prescription, but is also not approved or regulated by the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (equivalent to the Food and Drug Administration in the USA).
This puts Adrafinil’s legal status in a grey area, making it legal for a British resident to purchase this drug for their own personal use without a prescription. Personal use is usually considered an amount equal to a one-three month supply or less.
Importing this drug from vendors outside of the UK is permitted for personal use. It is not permitted to import this drug for purposes of commercialization or sale.
While there have been some reports of individuals having their Adrafinil powder inspected at the border and potentially seized, most people do not have any issues when ordering from international vendors.
Adrafinil Side Effects
When taken at appropriate dosages, Adrafinil is generally well tolerated. Some people have reported minor side effects in user reviews online, including headaches, nausea, stomach pain, anxiety, skin irritation, insomnia, and weight or appetite loss.
Sometimes people need a little while to adjust when they first start taking a new medication. It is common to experience mild side effects for the first few weeks when first taking Adrafinil as your body adjusts. If side effects continue after that, then consider taking a lower dosage.
Insomnia is a commonly reported effect of Adrafinil that is typically not a true negative reaction to the compound, but rather a due to poor dosage timing. Adrafinil has a long half-life, and can still have effects in the body many hours after it is taken. It is recommended to take your Adrafinil dosage in the morning to help avoid sleep disturbances at night.
There is a possibility of developing one of a group of rare, but serious skin and mucous membrane conditions when taking Adrafinil, including Stevens-Johnson syndrome. There is strong evidence showing that some people have a genetic susceptibility to developing these cutaneous conditions when they taken certain compounds, including Adrafinil and Modafinil.
If you develop a red or purple rash that spreads and eventually blisters, stop taking Adrafinil and speak with your doctor immediately.
Another serious complication of taking Adrafinil is the possibility of increased toxic liver enzyme levels. As mentioned earlier, Adrafinil is broken down in the liver. This breakdown process requires certain liver enzymes.
While these enzymes are a natural bodily product and are necessary for the breakdown of various compounds, the accumulation of high levels of these enzymes can be toxic to the liver, causing damage.
It is thought that continued regular use of Adrafinil could lead to a build-up of these enzymes. Because of this, it is often recommended that Adrafinil only be taken on an occasional basis. It is also recommended that liver enzyme levels be checked regularly, especially if you do decide to take Adrafinil on a fairly frequent basis.
Where to Purchase Adrafinil
The French Pharmaceutical company, Lafon, originally developed Adrafinil under the name Olmifon or CRL-40028, but has now ceased manufacture of Adrafinil.
It is currently produced in several locations around the world and is sold under the generic name Adrafinil.
It often comes in Adrafinil powder form but sometimes it is sold in capsules. It is important to purchase Adrafinil from a reputable company whose product is known to be pure and authentic.
The recommended dose varies from 100mg – 300mg. We recommend new users begin at the lowest dose of 100mg and allow the body to process it fully.
Keeping in mind the effect it can have, over time, on the liver, users should try to achieve the desired results with the lowest dose possible. Using Adrafinil on an occasional or as-needed basis is a good option.
For example, if you had an all-night work or cram session planned, Adrafinil might be a good choice. If using Adrafinil for an extended period of time, you should take care to cycle this drug regularly and to have a doctor monitor your liver enzymes every few months.
Although there were a couple of UK vendors for Adrafinil in the past, there are currently none. Fortunately, Adrafinil is available from several online companies who are able to ship to the UK.
Considerations about which company to use include shipping prices, quick fulfillment and the quality of the product being offered. Online reviews are available via several sites. If you compare a few reviews, it should offer a realistic picture about any company you are considering.
Buying from China might initially seem tempting, but it may not be the best choice at this time. In the future, we may have a more valid means of assuring purity and safety, but for now China is still in a development phase and we do not recommend ordering from there.
North American vendors typically have a higher success rate of being able to deliver Adrafinil powder and capsules around the world.
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Other Nootropic Options
If you have a liver condition, are concerned with potential liver enzyme issues, or Adrafinil simply does not seem like the right fit for your needs, then there are other nootropic options you can try. Many people in the UK and elsewhere turn to one of the Racetams for their cognitive enhancing needs.
Racetams are a class of compounds that are all derived from the original nootropic, Piracetam. First developed in the 1960s, Piracetam has been observed to have positive effects on the neurotransmitter Acetylcholine, which is associated with memory, executive function, and learning ability.
The derivatives of Piracetam, including Oxiracetam, Aniracetam, Pramiracetam, and Phenylpiracetam, are all more potent then their parent compound, and have additional nootropic effects. For example, Pramiracetam is considered to be 40-50 times as potent as Piracetam and has strong mental energy effects that are said to last for up to 8 hours.
These compounds are available in a variety of formats, including Aniracetam capsules and Pramiracetam capsules, and Oxiracetam powder and Phenylpiracetam powder. Capsule formulations are typically more expensive than powder, but are easier to take. Do your research and determine which Racetam works best for your needs and budget.
Summary
The United Kingdom has several agencies responsible for regulation of drugs but Adrafinil is neither regulated nor approved by them, making it allowable for purchase for your personal use. In short, Adrafinil is legal in the UK but it is difficult to find for sale in country.
When importing from another country, personal use is usually considered to be equal to a three-month supply or less. Adrafinil may not be purchased or imported for commercial sale or for distribution in the UK.
When selecting a company to buy Adrafinil pills from, choose an established company with a reputation for purity of their products, expedient shipping and good shipping prices.
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- Rao RN, Shinde DD. Enantioselective separation and determination of adrafinil and modafinil on Chiralcel OJ-H column in rat serum and urine using solid-phase extraction followed by HPLC. Biomed Chromatogr. 2009
Article last updated on: April 13th, 2018 by Nootriment