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Modafinil and Armodafinil are closely related smart drugs used to increase energy levels and improve focus and alertness.
Modafinil (Provigil) was developed in France by Lafon (now known as Cephalon) and was originally prescribed in 1994 to treat narcolepsy.
Armodafinil (Nuvigil) is the follow-up to Modafinil from Cephalon and has only been in use since 2007. Armodafinil is actually an enantiomer of Modafinil which is to say it has a slightly modified chemical structure making it more potent.
There are different effects associated with each of these drugs and different effective dosages that you will find them sold in. So which is better to use as a nootropic – Armodafinil vs Modafinil?
From a clinical standpoint they both are used to treat the same clinical conditions and are each very effective. It is true that Armodafinil requires a smaller dosage, but Modafinil effects may still be preferred by some individuals.
Asking whether Armodafinil is better than Modafinil discounts the fact that different drugs can have different reactions for different people. In other words, potency is not the only factor; what matters more is the experience you receive when using either of these smart drugs.
To give each one a fair trial, it is helpful to examine the individual benefits of Modafinil vs Armodafinil, their differences, mechanisms of action and potential side effects.
Alertness
Mental Acuity
Focus- Stimulates wakefulness centers in the brain
- Promotes mental acuity & processing speed
- Enhances focus, motivation & energy
Modafinil:
Related Topics
- What is Modafinil? (Provigil)
- How Does Provigil Work?
- Effects and Benefits
- User Reviews
- Typical Experiences
- Recommended Dosages
- How to Take
- Provigil Uses
- Use for ADHD
- Effects on Weight Loss
- Negative Side Effects
- Abuse Warnings & Dangers
- Comparison to Adrafinil
- Comparison to Armodafinil
- Comparison to Adderall
- Where to Buy
- Generic Modafinil Brands
- Is Modafinil Legal?
- How to Get Modafinil
- Review of Online Sources
For patients who suffer from conditions like narcolepsy, obstructive sleep apnea, or other serious sleep problems, Modafinil was one of the first medications to actually provide real relief.
The pharmaceutical helps to normalize sleep patterns and then acts as a wakefulness agent, allowing you to go about your daily life without constant fatigue.
Modafinil is often used by people without a medical prescription to promote an intense feeling of energy and wakefulness. Reviews from users reports say this drug gives them dramatically improved focus and helps them become more productive.
Along with this intense focus comes an increased fluency or fluidity of thought. Even ordinary tasks like reading and writing end up requiring much less actual effort or attention. It is easier to make connections from a mental perspective and memory recall and retention may be higher.
Some additional benefits include improved sensory perceptions and even appetite suppression for weight loss.
Armodafinil:
Armodafinil benefits are similar in a lot of respects to those associated with Modafinil. The wakefulness effect is very noticeable, similar to a powerful dose of caffeine. The exception is that unlike caffeine there are no jitters or nervousness and it does not increase (nor decrease) blood pressure or pulse rate.
Armodafinil is also recognized to be quite safe and has almost zero addictive potential (Modafinil does have a slightly higher potential for side effects and tolerance).
Unlike Modafinil, Armodafinil will not actually disturb your existing sleep patterns. This means that even after using the supplement you will not experience a sudden drop off in effects and will be quite able to go to sleep and at the same time as normal. You will also wake up at your regular hour.
While Modafinil users often say that it is impossible to sleep within 5-10 hours of taking a dosage of this drug, Armodafinil does not cause the same result. It is interesting that some regard this as a positive while other may see it as a negative if they are looking for a prescription drug that helps them stay awake for long hours.
- Increases energy, wakefulness and motivation
- Boosts mental performance and focus
- Supports memory and cognition
Armodafinil for Focus and Jet Lag
This nootropic does also improve your focus, but it does not seem to be quite as intense in this regard as its predecessor. This may make Armodafinil a better candidate for continuous use as opposed to Modafinil which really should be cycled or used only occasionally.
You will certainly be much more productive while taking it and this can also often include the aforementioned boost to memory and mental fluidity. It also has the ability to potentially help those suffering from jet lag.
Even though it has only been available for a few years, there have already been more than 2 million prescriptions for this drug and is being taking by all types of people ranging from entrepreneurs to athletes, to students to shift workers.
Armodafinil vs Modafinil:
The main difference between these two supplements is in their chemical structure. Armodafinil is technically considered to be an enantiomer of Modafinil.
The technical explanation is to say that Armodafinil consist of solely the (R)-enatiomer which is the active component of Modafinil. As a Racemic compound, Modafinil has both left and right-handed enantiomers in its structure.
By keeping only the right enantiomer, Armodafinil is essentially a purified and more targeted version of Modafinil. As a result, it binds differently to receptor sites within the brain and body versus its predecessor. While the standard Modafinil dosage is 200 mg, you only need 150 mg of Armodafinil to get the same effects.
There are more subjective differences between how these drugs will affect you, but many of these differences are dependent on who is actually taking Modafinil vs Armodafinil. Some reviews suggest that Modafinil has a better mood enhancement effect, creating positive sentiments and improving confidence and drive.
These same reviews say that Amordafinil may lead to anxiety, nervousness or stress. Some people find that Armodafinil makes them feel a little edgy and possibly a bit aggressive. On the other hand, this is also reported for Modafinil.
This should not be taken as a definitive catalog of experiences, but rather as indication of one of the possible areas where differences might be noticed. For most people, the best way to determine which to use is by having their doctors prescribe both so you can compare and contrast for yourself.
- Most powerful and popular cognitive enhancers
- Supports memory, attentiveness, mood and improved mental performance
- Boost focus, motivation and energy
Tolerance
Another important issue to consider is tolerance. While many people have indeed taken these prescription drugs for a long period of time without any seeming drop off in effects, others have noted that tolerance can build fairly quickly.
Tolerance also seems to be more typically associated with Modafinil than Armodafinil. This can usually be overcome by cycling or only using Modafinil on occasion. One possibility might even be to cycle between Modafinil and Armodafinil, but you should speak to a medical professional before trying this.
Buying Armodafinil and Modafinil
The final matter to consider is whether you are actually able to purchase these drugs for personal use. In many countries, it is legal to buy either of these substances without a prescription from an online pharmacy.
However, if you live in the United States, Canada or the UK, then these nootropics are only legal with a prescription. This also means that they tend to be very expensive, with costs in the hundreds of dollars a month for Armodafinil and Modafinil. If you have a drug plan then you may be able to get help with the financial aspect.
An alternative is to purchase generic Adrafinil which actually converts into Modafinil in the liver. It is legal without a prescription in the USA and can be purchased for a much cheaper price per dosage if you buy Adrafinil powder online.
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4 Comments
Adrafinil does not currently have FDA approval and is thus unregulated in the United States. It was marketed in France and elsewhere in Europe under the trade name Olmifon until September 2011 when France’s FDA-equivalent reassessed the drug and withdrew marketing permission, citing known adverse reactions and an unsatisfactory risk to benefit ratio.
Took 200mg of Modafinil for 3 days in the morning and felt really focussed and generally optimistic about working. I then decided by recommendation of a pharmacist to try armodafinil 150g and experienced very undesirable affects, a friend even asked if I was depressed.
* 2nd day on Modafinil felt very socially awkward as well
Tsholo, as many articles say, you should be taking half of Armodafinil compared to what you were taking of Modafininl. This might be the reason you got such bad side effects. So 100mg should do it.
Also I hope you made a typo with the Armodafinil 150 grams as you’d be in hospital most likely. Think you meant milligrams.
The thing with both of these substances, their half life is so long, there is residue still in your system 24 hours later when you take another dose you get a bit more. Then tolerance build up happens etc.
I’ve been taking Modafininl 2x200mg 5 days a week for about 7 or 8 years. And have been fine. On a rare occasion when I do feel extremely tired due to an incredible lack of sleep I have taken 2x200mg three times in an 8 hour shift. So just to be clear that is a total of 1200mg which is 6x200mg tablets within a 8 hour time frame. Which is 3 separate doses of 400mg.For me personally, it is only on those occasions , (as I’ve said are very rare) do I feel incredibly focused on work or whatever it is I’m doing. On those occasions everything I do is thought out meticulously, and in advance making every movement i make deliberate and fluid. No thought is wasted and no wasted thoughts appear. The same applies to body movement. Such is the level of focus I experience which lasts for up to 12 hours. Call it abuse if you like. On such rare occasions I do find the need to do this.The side effect is that if anyone is near me I do become very very chatty.