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Modafinil is the most widely-used off-label nootropic smart drug in Canada. It is legally prescribed for the excessive daytime sleepiness caused by narcolepsy, shift-work sleep disorder, and obstructive sleep apnea/hypopnea syndrome.
Modafinil (Provigil, Alertec, Modalert) may sound like a wonder drug the first time you hear or read about it. Modafinil reviews state that this nootropic gives them increased energy during the day, leading to improved cognitive abilities and productivity.
It is a member of the eugeroic class of drugs used to promote a sense of wakefulness without any of the jittery nervousness or jaw-clenching which often accompanies amphetamine based stimulant use.
In addition, most users report an increased sense of motivation and drive, saying they are able to begin and complete projects with a steady unforced concentration and determination.
Is Modafinil all it is touted to be? Also, is it permitted to use Modafinil in Canada, and are there any legal requirements when purchasing it online?
Alertness
Mental Acuity
Focus- Stimulates wakefulness in the brain
- Promotes mental acuity & processing
- Enhances focus, motivation & energy
How Modafinil Works In the Body
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
Like so many of the neuro-enhancing drugs, Modafinil’s precise mechanism or mechanisms of action remain unclear. What is understood is the fact that the medication has an effect on a variety of neurotransmitters in the brain and central nervous system, including Dopamine, Epinephrine, Norepinephrine, Histamine, and Orexin (Hypocretin).
Modafinil has been seen to affect Dopamine levels in the brain. It appears Modafinil inhibits the actions of the Dopamine transporter, which leads to an increase in extracellular and synaptic concentrations of dopamine.
More recent research suggests that Modafinil also exerts an effect by acting as a weak Dopamine reuptake inhibitor. Modafinil was found to significantly act only on the dopamine transporter (DAT), thereby inhibiting the reuptake of Dopamine.
In accordance with this finding, it increases the user’s locomotor activity and extracellular Dopamine concentrations. This means that there will be a higher level of Dopamine receptor stimulation, leading to improvements in mood, drive, and ability to concentrate.
Another possible mechanism of action is that Modafinil activates the glutamatergic circuits in the brain, while at the same time, inhibiting GABAergic neurotransmission. This explains why users are better able to learn and perform various mental tasks when taking academic or work performance tests after taking Modafinil.
In research, Modafinil has been seen to modulate action of the Orexin system. Orexin (also called Hypocretin), is a neuropeptide that acts in the brain to regulate wakefulness, arousal, and appetite. Modafinil strongly activates Orexin neurons in the brain.
Related to the effects Modafinil has on Orexin, it also affects Histamine. Orexin has been seen to stimulate the release of Histamine in the brain. Modafinil promotes a natural sense of wakefulness in the user by elevating hypothalamic Histamine levels. Rodent studies show it increases Histamine release in the brain.
It is currently thought that Modafinil’s primary action is most likely related to its effects on Dopamine, Orexin, and Histamine, however as stated before, its exact mechanism of action is still unknown. It is likely that many more mechanisms are activated by Modafinil.
The History of Modafinil
Modafinil was first discovered by a French scientist working for the pharmaceutical company Lafon Laboratories in 1976. The discovery of this wakefulness promoting compound came about because of the previous development of a related compound, Adrafinil.
Adrafinil is one of a series of benzhydryl sulfinyl compounds that were developed in 1974. Testing that was done to determine the mechanism of action of Adrafinil helped discover the compound Modafinil.
When Adrafinil is metabolized in the liver, it is broken down in to its component parts, namely modafinilic acid and Modafinil. Modafinil was found to be the primary active compound in Adrafinil that causes its effects.
Both Adrafinil and Modafinil are classified as eugeroics because they are compounds with wakefulness promoting effects. Due to results of animal testing that showed increased locomotor activity and alertness, the first human tests on Modafinil were for the sleep disorder narcolepsy. Adrafinil was also previously tested and approved for prescription use for narcolepsy in France in 1986.
On-Label Uses of Modafinil in Canada
Narcolepsy is a sleep disorder that affects a person’s ability to maintain an awake state. People with narcolepsy struggle to stay awake during the day and experience excessive daytime sleepiness, regardless of the quantity and quality of sleep they get at night. Some narcoleptics fall asleep randomly multiple times per day.
In many different double-blind placebo-controlled research trials, when compared to a placebo, Modafinil is significantly better at improving wakefulness and reducing excessive daytime sleepiness in people with narcolepsy.
Modafinil has been seen to improve scores on a variety of sleep tests including the Epworth Sleepiness Scale, the Multiple Sleep Latency test, and the Maintenance of Wakefulness test.
Modafinil has been approved as a Schedule I prescription drug in Canada by the regulatory agency Health Canada. It is officially approved to treat narcolepsy, as well as two other excessive sleepiness related sleep disorders, shift-work sleep disorder and obstructive sleep apnea/hypopnea syndrome.
Shift-work sleep disorder (SWSD) is a circadian rhythm disorder that can affect people who work late night or overnight shifts at their jobs. Because these people are awake during normal sleep hours (nighttime), and sleeping during normal awake hours (daytime), they can develop this sleep disorder where they they experience excessive sleepiness when awake, and sometimes insomnia when trying to sleep.
Obstructive sleep apnea/hypopnea syndrome (OSAHS) is a medical condition that causes temporary partial or complete blockage of the upper airway. This leads to labored breathing or the temporary stopping of breathing during sleep. These breathing episodes can occur many times per night, causing poor sleep quality and excessive sleepiness the following day.
The most common treatment for OSAHS is wearing a machine during sleep that manually keeps the airway open; this is known as a continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) machine. Even with this treatment for the condition, some people still experience residual sleepiness during the day.
While the cause of the excessive sleepiness is very different with both of these conditions, as seen in patients with narcolepsy, the wakefulness promoting effects of Modafinil have been seen to decrease excessive sleepiness in multiple studies done on people with either SWSD or OSAHS.
In one study, people with SWSD were given either a placebo or Modafinil an hour before they started a night work shift. It was seen that compared to placebo, Modafinil significantly improved wakefulness and improved work performance and attention as measured by the Psychomotor Vigilance Test.
In studies on people with OSAHS who have been using CPAP at night but still reporting excessive sleepiness during the day, it has been seen that compared to a placebo, Modafinil significantly improves daytime sleepiness, with significantly greater changes from baseline in patient scores on the patient administered Epworth Sleepiness Scale.
- Increases energy, wakefulness and motivation
- Boosts mental performance and focus
- Supports memory and cognition
Popular Canadian Off-Label Uses
While only officially approved for the above sleep disorders, there are many different popular off-label uses of Modafinil.
While Canadian physicians are subject to strict rules about when they can prescribe this drug, some people do receive prescriptions for Modafinil based on other needs. It has been used off-label for purposes ranging from ADHD, schizophrenia, multiple sclerosis, cocaine or methamphetamine addiction, weight loss, cognitive enhancement, and chronic fatigue.
One of the most popular off-label uses of Modafinil is for managing the symptoms of attention-deficit disorder (ADD) and attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). There have been many different clinical trials done with all ages of patients, from adults to pediatric patients, and it has been seen many times that compared to placebo, Modafinil is significantly better at improving scores on a variety of ADHD tests.
Modafinil has even been tested against a traditional ADHD medication, dextroamphetamine (Dexedrine), to prove its efficacy. The two active medications were tested against a placebo, as well as against each other. It was found that both Modafinil and dextroamphetamine significantly improved scores on DSM-IV ADHD Behavior Checklist for Adults compared to placebo. Modafinil was seen to cause a similar improvement in scores compared to dextroamphetamine, leading the researchers to suggest that it should be considered a viable treatment alternative to traditional ADHD drugs.
The most popular off-label use of Modafinil is taking the drug as a smart drug, or nootropic cognitive enhancer. A wide range of people from university students to high-powered business people have used the drug to give themselves a cognitive boost when needed.
Users have reported that Modafinil helps improve concentration, focus, memory, and learning ability. Students have reported using it while studying late in to the night and before a big test to improve their performance, while others have reported using it to help them prepare and deliver work presentations.
In one study on sleep-deprived military subjects, better performance was seen in objective measures of logical reasoning, reaction time, and short-term memory in subjects given Modafinil compared to subjects given placebo. Another research study on non-sleep deprived subjects found that patients who were given Modafinil had reduced fatigue levels, faster reaction times, improved motivation levels, and enhanced vigilance compared to patients given a placebo.
In one randomized double-blind, between-subjects research trial, patients were given either placebo or Modafinil and then asked to complete a series of neuropsychological tests of memory and attention. It was seen that compared to the placebo patients, Modafinil patients had improved scores on a digit span memory test and a visual pattern recognition memory test, as well as a spatial planning task, and a stop-signal reaction time test.
Can I Get Modafinil in Canada?
Many Canadians are interested in buying Modafinil to help them increase their productivity and mental performance. Canada regulates all approved drugs and assigns a Drug Identification Number to each of them.
Modafinil, sold under the brand name Alertec in Canada, is an approved and regulated drug which is listed on the Prescription Drug List (which replaced Schedule F of the Food and Drug Regulations) as a Schedule I prescription-only medication.
In Canada, Modafinil is not listed in the Controlled Drug and Substances Act. That means possession of Modafinil in Canada is legal and not subject to any legislative restrictions. However, this drug is considered a Schedule I medication which means that a prescription is required for legal purchase.
Doctors typically only prescribe Modafinil for patients who have been diagnosed with narcolepsy, obstructive sleep apnea/hypopnea syndrome, or shift work sleep disorder.
Some doctors will write off-label prescriptions depending on their patients’ needs, however finding a doctor to write a prescription like this can be difficult. When used for an off-label purpose, many insurance companies will not cover the cost of Modafinil even with a doctor’s prescription.
If you want to use Modafinil in Canada with a prescription, but the high price of brand name pills prevents you, you may decide to look into the possibility of purchasing a generic formulation from an online pharmacy. Generic Modafinil pills bought from online pharmacies in Canada are much cheaper than the trade name Alertec version sold through physical Canadian pharmacies.
There are a number of issues with trying to buy generic Modafinil from these online pharmacies when you do not have a prescription. First of all, any legitimate online pharmacy would require a prescription, the same as a regular pharmacy, so people trying to buy without a prescription would have to turn to pharmacies on the “grey market.”
While some of these offshore pharmacies may permit you to buy Modafinil without a prescription, this leads to two distinct issues. The first is that you are not able to be sure that the product you may get is actually Modafinil at all, and if it is, then what the purity of the product is, as there are not typically stringent quality control procedures in place at these places. Second, actually receiving the products you buy is a gamble.
While bringing Modafinil back into Canada in your luggage following a trip abroad can be considered legal with a prescription, Canadians are not allowed to import prescription drugs through the mail (as outlined in Memorandum D19-9-1 The Administration of Health Canada Acts and Regulations Relating to Certain Controlled, Prohibited or Regulated Goods).
Therefore, even with a prescription for Modafinil, you are technically not allowed to legally import the medication. Though some Canadian residents report successfully importing small quantities, doing so leaves you open to having your package seized by customs officials.
You also leave yourself open to possible legal issues, especially in a case where you do not have a prescription, though we are currently unaware of any reports of this happening. At this time it is not recommended to import Modafinil to Canada with or without a prescription.
Interested individuals who consistently experience cognitive dysfunction, a lack of clarity in thought, and wakefulness issues should consult their doctor to see if Modafinil could be prescribed. There is also the possibility of Modafinil alternatives for people who are unable to get a prescription and are interested in experiencing some of Modafinil’s nootropic effects.
The Adrafinil Option
The researcher who initially discovered Modafinil was Michel Jouvet who was working at Lafon Laboratories in France. His original discovery was the precursor to Modafinil, which is called Adrafinil.
As discussed previously, when Adrafinil is taken into the human body, it is metabolized into Modafinil. Lafon Laboratories originally studied using Adrafinil for the purpose of treating narcolepsy and a few other specific neurological conditions, the same as Modafinil when it was discovered later.
Eventually, they were able to synthesize the metabolite Modafinil directly, thus negating the need for further production of Adrafinil. After the development of Modafinil, they ceased production of Adrafinil altogether.
Adrafinil is still available, though it is no longer manufactured by the French laboratory. You can buy Adrafinil without a prescription almost anywhere in the world, whereas Modafinil requires a prescription.
Due to relatively easy access, many users choose to purchase Adrafinil instead of Modafinil in Canada. Adrafinil also tends to be as much as 75% cheaper than the equivalent dosage of Modafinil.
Both Modafinil and Adrafinil have side effects which range from mild to very serious. It is not recommended to use either of these drugs with any frequency unless you are monitored regularly by your doctor.
It is recommended to find a doctor who is familiar with Adrafinil or Modafinil, and their potential side effects, and to work with them regularly to make sure your experience is a positive one. In particular, frequent or continuous use of Adrafinil, over any period of time, may result in elevated liver enzymes. This can be detected through regular exams and blood work performed by your doctor.
In the most extreme cases, Modafinil can cause something called Stevens-Johnson Syndrome or Toxic Epidermal Necrolysis which are rare and possibly life-threatening skin rash conditions. This is usually a sign of some other sort of physiological issue and only forms after a long period of consistent use of Modafinil.
Modafinil in Canada Conclusion
Canadian residents are required to have a prescription in order to buy and use Modafinil. It is most often prescribed for those with narcolepsy, those who do shift work, or those with other sleep disorders. An alternative to Modafinil is Adrafinil, which is the precursor to Modafinil.
Neither drug is recommended for extended periods of time or regular use without the direct supervision of a medical professional. Both Modafinil and Adrafinil are useful at promoting wakefulness, increasing motivation and reducing fatigue.
If you want to purchase Modafinil in Canada, you should speak to your doctor to determine whether you qualify for a prescription.
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Article last updated on: April 10th, 2018 by Nootriment