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Armodafinil is the most recent incarnation of the popular drug, Modafinil.
Armodafinil (also known by the brand name Nuvigil) is a compound belonging to a class of drugs known as eugeroics, or wakefulness promoting agents.
Armodafinil is used on-label to treat sleep disorders, narcolepsy and excessive daytime sleepiness.
Eugeroics provide the user with a natural feeling of wakefulness, as well as offering an increase in productivity and motivation.
There are several off-label uses, as well. Athletes, students, and entrepreneurs are among those who report having benefited from this drug.
Is Armodafinil legal where you live? Find out about laws pertaining to the sale of Armodafinil in various countries around the world.
Energy
Cognition
Motivation- Wakefulness-boosting stimulant
- Enhances motivation and focus
- Shown to boost mental performance
History of Armodafinil
Related Topics
- What is Armodafinil?
- What is Nuvigil?
- Armodafinil vs. Modafinil
- User Review
- Typical Nuvigil Experiences
- How it Works
- Nuvigil for ADHD
- Effects on Depression & Anxiety
- Dosage Recommendations
- How to Take
- Reported Side Effects
- Withdrawal & Tolerance
- Prescription Information
- Buying Nuvigil
- Generic Nuvigil Brands
- Is Armodafinil Legal?
- Is Nuvigil Safe?
- Comparison to Adderall
Armodafinil is popular because it can improve cognitive function in ways similar to stimulant drugs such as Adderall and Ritalin.
However, as a eugeroic it is known to possess a much lower risk of serious negative side effects, such as the cardiovascular side effects associated with traditional amphetamine based stimulnants.
Eugeroics are different than other stimulants because they are non-addictive and, in most users, do not experience the undesirable effects of nervousness or agitation.
Like Modafinil, it is thought Armodafinil works in the brain by increasing dopaminergic, adrenergic and histaminergic activity.
There are some differences between the two in both effect and side effects which should be noted before selecting one or the other.
Armodafinil came to market in 2007, right around the time the patent on Modafinil was set to expire. Expired patents allow for generic drugs to be manufactured and sold, thereby greatly limiting the profits of the pharmaceutical company holding a monopoly patent on a drug.
In some cases, such as this one, the original drug can be altered and/or improved to such an extent that it is considered a new drug which can then be patented, allowing the pharmaceutical company to begin the process all over again. In some cases, this can prove beneficial while in other cases, it is not.
Armodafinil is a purer form of Modafinil. The drug Modafinil has two stereoisomers in its chemical composition that are mirror image copies of each other, known as enantiomers.
In some cases, because of this mirroring, one isomer can be responsible for the beneficial effects experienced by the user while the other isomer is less active, inactive, or sometimes even responsible for unwanted side effects.
Modafinil is comprised of R- and S- enantiomers. It has been determined through research that the R-enantiomer is the more pharmacologically active, stable, and longer-lasting isomer of Modafinil.
Because of this, researchers isolated the R- isomer alone and synthesized Armodafinil (literally named for R-Modafinil). This makes Armodafinil an enantiopure version of Modafinil.
Is the Effect of Different From Modafinil?
The effect of Armodafinil does seem to be somewhat different for certain individuals.
Some users report their normal sleep cycle is not affected by Armodafinil. When they took Modafinil they wouldn’t be able to sleep for 6-10 hours, whereas with Armodafinil they can go to sleep and awaken at their regular hours.
Modafinil seems to have a better focus factor for users, while Armodafinil helps with focus but not to the same extent.
Whereas Modafinil seems to have a somewhat more consistent affect across a wide majority of users, Armodafinil seems to be a bit more dependent on the individual brain chemistry of the user taking the drug. Some users report nervousness while others report mood elevation.
In general, Armodafinil is known to be more potent than Modafinil with effective dosages being smaller. However, there are those who believe they achieve better results from Modafinil 200 mg pills than from Armodafinil 150 mg tablets.
This is largely a personal decision and one that really can only be made except by trying both.
Uses of Armodafinil
Armodafinil is a prescription-only medication in many countries around the world (see below for specific regulations in a number of countries). It is typically only prescribed for serious sleep disorders including narcolepsy and shift work sleep disorder.
It is also used as an adjunct treatment for the excessive daytime sleepiness associated with obstructive sleep apnea/hypopnea syndrome that can still exist even with traditional nCPAP treatment for the condition itself.
In some countries, Armodafinil is also prescribed for idiopathic hypersomnia, which is similar to, but often less severe than, narcolepsy. This condition, like the others, causes excessive sleepiness.
Any use of Armodafinil that is not one of these uses for sleep disorders it typically considered off-label. Armodafinil has been used off-label for a variety of uses, including:
- Fatigue associated with diseases such as depression, multiple sclerosis, and Parkinson’s disease
- To treat the symptoms of attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD)
- To treat depression as an adjunct therapy with antidepressants, or as a monotherapy
- Improve symptoms of age-related memory decline
- For reducing jet lag
One of the most common off-label uses of Armodafinil is as a cognitive enhancer or nootropic. Many different people have reported taking Armodafinil as a nootropic, from high powered business executives on Wall Street, to busy parents, to tech designers in Silicon Valley.
When it is taken as a “smart drug” users say that it helps improve their concentration and focus, improves their motivation to work and complete tasks, and enhances their memory formation, retention, and recall.
- Increases energy, wakefulness and motivation
- Boosts mental performance and focus
- Supports memory and cognition
Is Armodafinil Legal?
In countries where Modafinil is regulated, Armodafinil is regulated in the same manner. Though there were erroneous reports initially that Armodafinil was unregulated in the UK and Australia, this was not true.
Armodafinil is regulated and subject to prescription-only status in the same countries which regulate Modafinil as such.
Armodafinil is prescribed to treat the same medical diagnosis as Modafinil. Your doctor could prescribe Armodafinil for you if you are diagnosed with narcolepsy, obstructive sleep apnea/hypopnea syndrome, or shift-work sleep disorder.
It is also legal for doctors in most countries to make off-label prescriptions. Sometimes, physicians or psychiatrists will prescribe Armodafinil to patients with ADHD or other learning disabilities, mood disorders or forms of cognitive impairment.
However, not all doctors will write such prescriptions, as they are fearful of repercussions from their medical board.
The following is a list of a number of countries where Armodafinil is sold, and the legal status in those countries.
United States
Armodafinil is regulated by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in the United States as a Schedule IV prescription only drug. It is legal to buy and use this drug provided you have a doctor’s prescription for it.
Residents of the USA are not permitted to import Armodafinil, even if they do have a prescription. While these laws are not always equally enforced, you should be aware that importing Armodafinil is illegal unless you are authorized to do so by the DEA.
United Kingdom
The Medicines Act of 1968 established the three classes of medications in the United Kingdom: general sale list medicines, pharmacy medicines, and prescription only medicines (POM). Armodafinil, like Modafinil, is categorized as a POM in the UK.
Armodafinil is a regulated drug in the UK, and a doctor’s prescription is required to buy and use it. In the UK it is possible for residents to import Armodafinil in quantities equal to a 3-month or less supply, providing they have a prescription for it.
Canada
In Canada, Armodafinil is a regulated drug. It is listed by Health Canada in the Prescription Drug List as a Schedule I prescription only medication. The Schedule I designation replaced Schedule F of the Food and Drug Act and Regulations.
It is stated in the Administration of Health Canada Acts and Regulations Relating to Certain Controlled, Prohibited or Regulated Goods Memorandum D19-9-1 that Canadian residents are not permitted to import prescription drugs by mail or courier.
Australia
Drugs are regulated by the Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) branch of the Department of Health in Australia. Armodafinil is registered as a Schedule 4 prescription-only medicine on the Australian Register of Therapeutic Goods.
It is legal for Australian residents to import prescription medications provided they have a prescription from an Australian doctor. The TGA recommends that you provide the seller with a copy of your prescription to be included in your package to help demonstrate to the Australian Border Force that you have a valid prescription for the medicine you are importing.
Mexico and India
Armodafinil is not regulated in Mexico or India, and is sold as an over-the-counter medication in these countries. This means that Armodafinil does not require a prescription in these countries, and can be bought freely.
Buying Armodafinil Online Without a Prescription?
Another common question is whether it is legal to buy Armodafinil from an online pharmacy.
Because of its unregulated status in countries like Mexico and India, and the demand internationally for the drug is great, there are many online pharmacies based in these countries that sell Armodafinil legally without a prescription.
However, there a number of issues inherently involved when you buy Armodafinil online without a prescription from these sorts of online pharmacies.
The first issue with these sites is that once the product is imported to a country where Armodafinil is regulated as a prescription medication, it is under the jurisdiction of that country. While you technically may be able to buy Armodafinil online from these sites, it is not legal for you to import it.
When you shipment reaches the customs agents in your country, it could be searched. In some countries, if you have a prescription then your product may be released to you, but most people who are buying from these sites do not have a prescription. Also as described above, many countries do not allow for the importation of prescription drugs.
In most cases, your shipment will be seized, and you will lose your money because there there typically is no recourse for you to take. Additionally, you may face legal ramifications and be placed on drug enforcement agency watchlists.
Another major issue of buying from these unlicensed online pharmacies is that there is typically no guarantee of the safety of the product. The products are typically manufactured in places that do not follow Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP) which can lead to contamination of the product.
Additionally, these sites typically cannot provide any Certificate of Analysis of the product to prove its authenticity and purity, especially not a certificate from every batch of product they sell.
Overall, it is not recommended to buy products from international online pharmacies that do not require proof of prescription for prescription-only medications. Instead, many people will use a non-prescription alternative to try and experience similar nootropic effects as Nuvigil.
Non-Prescription Nootropic Alternatives
Because of the need for a prescription that is typically only given for sleep disorders, and the dangers of buying online without a prescription, many nootropic users elect to use non-prescription Nuvigil alternatives such as Adrafinil or one of the Racetams.
Adrafinil is the prodrug to Modafinil (it is converted by the body into Modafinil) and was the first incarnation discovered by the company which holds the patent for Armodafinil. Because it is a prodrug, a larger dose is needed for the beneficial effects to be experienced and there are some side effects which you should be aware of prior to using it.
Mild side effects include nausea and headache, while more rare, but serious side effects include an elevation of liver enzymes or serious skin rashes which require hospitalization. Most of the serious side effects occur in those who take Adrafinil continuously. Therefore it is recommended that Adrafinil only be taken on an occasional, as-needed basis.
Another non-prescription alternative that some people have found success using is one of the Racetam class. This family of compounds are all based off of the original nootropic, Piracetam, that was developed by Corneliu Giurgea in the 1960s.
Piracetam has been seen to have positive effects on Acetylcholine, a neurotransmitter that controls executive function and memory. The derivatives of Piracetam, including Phenylpiracetam, Pramiracetam, Oxiracetam, and Aniracetam, have all been seen to be more potent than their predecessor, and to typically have even greater cognitive effects.
Adrafinil and the Racetams are considered unregulated, unscheduled compounds in many countries such as the US, Canada, and the UK (Adrafinil is a prescription medication in Australia). You are free to buy and use these compounds without a prescription. They are available from a variety of specialized online nootropic stores.
Summary
Armodafinil is legal as a regulated, prescription-only drug in the USA, the UK, Canada and Australia. Residents of the UK and Australia are allowed to import small quantities for their personal use if they have a prescription for the drug. You should check with local authorities for any information about laws pertaining to import restrictions and requirements.
Adrafinil is an alternative which does not require a prescription and is unregulated at present. Adrafinil should be used with the regular supervision of a doctor in order to monitor for serious side effects. For those choosing Adrafinil, we recommend it be used only infrequently for those occasions when wakefulness is absolutely necessary and increased motivation needed.
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Article last updated on: April 13th, 2018 by Nootriment