What Does Modafinil Cost? Generic vs Non-Generic

Modafinil is a popular drug for students and success minded individuals because it works not only to promote better cognitive function but also is a great fatigue-buster and motivation enhancer. It is sold under the brand name Provigil in the U.S. and UK, Alertec in Canada and Modavigil in Australia.

Despite the research demonstrating Modafinil’s effectiveness, its use is limited in North America by the high price tag of a single dosage. The cost of Modafinil can be as high as $50 without insurance for an individual 200 mg pill.

Modafinil

Ergogenic Drug

Alertness

Mental Acuity

Focus

How It Works:

• Stimulates wakefulness centers in the brain
• Promotes mental acuity & processing speed
• Enhances focus, motivation & energy

Dosage:

Between 100 - 200 mg per day

Safety:

Some Reported Side Effects

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The Price of Modafinil

Modafinil prices are among the most expensive for equivalent drugs and the cost has been kept high due to a lack of generic alternatives. The drug has been under patent by the French pharmaceutical company Cephalon (formerly Lafon) since the late 1990s.

When their patent was scheduled to expire, Cephalon effectively used the court system to block generic production of Modafinil for an additional four years.

Today, generic versions are more available, but the significant price savings which generally accompany generic drugs is driven by a competitive market of suppliers. This lower-priced market is still developing at this time.

Provigil Costs

Provigil is the non-generic form of Modafinil in the USA. It is available in 100mg and 200mg tablets. Most doctors know the cost for Provigil can be prohibitive to many patients, whether they have insurance to defray the cost or not.

When your doctor is issuing a prescription for you, it is up to you to request the generic form of the drug. Because the generic form has only been available for about one year, some doctors remain unaware it has become available.

The cost for Modafinil can vary by hundreds of dollars from one pharmacy to the next. Cost conscious consumers do well by phoning the different pharmacies in their area to find out which has the best price.

As of October 2013, this is a representation of prices for Provigil at five US national pharmacies:

Based on these prices, one simple method you could use to save money would be to purchase the 200 mg tablets and then split them in half to make two 100 mg pills at a cost that is 25% lower.

In the US, insurance companies may not cover the cost of a non-generic drug, or, may require the patient to pay several thousand dollars in out-of-pocket expenses before insurance coverage kicks in.

If you have insurance coverage, contact them directly to find out what kind of coverage you may, or may not, have for Modafinil costs.

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Generic Modafinil Costs

The generic drug will simply be called Modafinil and should be readily available at all pharmacies which carry the brand name drug.

Although the formula for Provigil was never released, the active ingredient is Modafinil and as long as you are taking the same milligram dosage, the effects are reputed to be identical.

Rite Aid prices quoted here include their “membership” savings which means you need to have the proprietary keychain card available for scanning in order to be eligible for the prices quoted.

When comparing prices, consider that Costco’s price for the brand name drug was mediocre, at best, and yet they offer the generic Modafinil at a savings of $150 – $200 less per month (30 pills) than any of the other national pharmacies. This may have more to do with the Costco philosophy than with their profit margin.

Another option is to purchase generic Modafinil from international pharmacies based outside the US borders. A common point of origin for Modafinil is India where you can buy 200 mg Modafinil pills for as low as $2 each.

However, this is a risky proposition as there are fewer quality controls in place for offshore pharmacists and some suppliers have been known to ship fake products or tablets with a high concentration of impurities.

Another concern is that the US Customs Officials may inspect, delay or seize your shipment if they believe it is coming from an illegal source or if you do not provide proof of your prescription.

Many individuals have posted online complaining that they ordered Modafinil form an offshore pharmacy but never received the product they paid for.

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Can I Get Modafinil Without A Prescription?

Unfortunately, Modafinil is a scheduled drug and is not available, legally, without a prescription. There is a non-prescription alternative called Adrafinil, though, that is readily available for purchase online in both capsule and bulk powder forms.

Adrafinil is the precursor to Modafinil, the difference being that Adrafinil has to be metabolized in the liver before becoming Modafinil.

Because of this difference, larger doses are needed to produce the beneficial results, however, if purchased in bulk powder form, Adrafinil cost breaks down to less than fifty-cents per dose. This makes it much less expensive than the comparable Modafinil cost for the same dosage.

Adrafinil is a viable non-prescription alternative to Modafinil but because it must be converted by the liver, continuous use can result in damage or inflammation of the liver.

This risk is similar to if you were to use too much Ibuprofen or Tylenol. It is recommended Adrafinil be used infrequently for acute situations which require extra fatigue-busting focus, rather than for long periods of continuous use.

Summary

Modafinil is an expensive drug in both the brand name and generic forms. Comparing pharmacy prices can result in significant savings for a patient who is paying a good portion, or all, of the cost. Speak to your insurance provider to determine whether they offer some kind of pricing plan for brand name Provigil or for generic Modafinil costs.

The cost of this smart drug varies depending on whether you purchase it from a US based pharmacy or an international vendor, but qualities assurances will be lower if ordering from outside the USA.

An inexpensive alternative is Adrafinil, which is the precursor to Modafinil. Adrafinil can be purchased even if you do not have a prescription and comes in capsules or bulk powder for additional savings.

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$0.79

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$0.19

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$0.51

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$0.22

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$0.13

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$1.06