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Modafinil has been used around the world by millions of people as a wakefulness promoting agent, medication to manage ADHD, a weight loss aid and as a smart drug. The benefits of this drug are alluring and hard to resist by anyone who has a drive to better themselves.
When deciding to start taking Modafinil individuals should carry out their due diligence and understand how to safely utilize this medication before starting a course.
A key question with using Modafinil for the first time is what dose should be used: 100mg, 200mg or 400mg per day? Determining the right Modafinil dosage level for you is important to derive the benefits while preventing side effects.
Alertness
Mental Acuity
Focus- Stimulates wakefulness in the brain
- Promotes mental acuity & processing
- Enhances focus, motivation & energy
Modafinil’s Story
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
Modafinil was originally developed in France by Lafon Laboratories during the late 1970’s. This compound was discovered based on the invention of a series of chemicals classified as benzhydryl sulfinyl.
Most importantly, this included the Modafinil precursor compound Adrafinil. It was this drug that was initially found to enhance wakefulness and alertness which then became offered in France as a treatment for narcolepsy in 1986.
Modafinil was only discovered later as the primary metabolite and active component of Adrafinil. With a few modifications, it was discovered that this newly identified drug had fewer side effects and greater potency than its precursor.
In the body Adrafinil acts as a prodrug of Modafinil – any Adrafinil that is consumed is converted into Modafinil in the liver. Adrafinil is not as potent as Modafinil though, as it is not entirely converted into this active metabolite; most of the Adrafinil is converted into the inactive modafinilic acid.
This resulted in Modafinil replacing Adrafinil as the clinical drug of choice as of 1994. Modafinil has been sold in the US since 1998, usually under the name of Provigil, marketed by the company Cephalon, Inc (the parent company of Lafon since 2001).
Despite the increased use of Modafinil vs Adrafinil within clinical practice, people will still buy Adrafinil as an alternative to Modafinil in countries such as the USA and UK since it does not require a prescription. Adrafinil is an unregulated, unscheduled compound in the US. It is legal to buy, own, and use it, however sales are somewhat limited due to FDA regulations surrounding the sale and labeling of unregulated compounds like Adrafinil.
FDA Approved Modafinil Uses
There are only three approved uses for Modafinil within the U.S. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved it to be used for treating narcolepsy, shift work sleep disorder, and also as an adjunct treatment for obstructive sleep apnea/hypopnea syndrome.
Narcolepsy is a sleep disorder that affects states of wakefulness and sleep. People with narcolepsy often experience excessive daytime sleepiness, and sometimes even fall asleep randomly during the day. Cataplexy is a related symptom of narcolepsy and refers to a sudden loss of muscle tone resulting in collapse but retained consciousness, often brought on by strong emotions or laughter.
In multiple double-blind placebo-controlled research studies, Modafinil has been seen to improve wakefulness and decrease excessive sleepiness in patients with narcolepsy. Additionally, a study found that a combination treatment of sodium oxybate (another traditional narcolepsy drug) and Modafinil together may be more effective at improving measures of wakefulness than either drug alone.
Shift work sleep disorder is a circadian rhythm (typical sleep/wake cycles tied to daylight and nighttime) sleep disorder that occurs when people are awake during normal sleep periods (i.e. nighttime). This is most commonly seen in people who work night shifts of various jobs, people who work rotating day and night shifts, and people who work very long shifts, such as doctors and nurses. Multiple studies have seen that Modafinil is able to improve wakefulness and decrease attention span lapses in people with this condition compared to placebo.
Obstructive sleep apnea/hypopnea is a condition in which the muscles of the mouth relax during sleep, causing the tongue to partially block the airway causing shallow breathing (hypopnea), or completely block the airway, casuing a momentary or sometimes sustained stopping of breathing (apnea). Sleep quality in people with sleep apnea/hypopnea is often poor, and they typically experience sleepiness during the day. Modafinil is used in these people as an adjunct treatment to help improve excessive daytime sleepiness.
A number of other conditions have been found to benefit from Modafinil dosages, but the FDA has thus far failed to recognize any of these additional benefits.
Study after study has demonstrated that Modafinil is useful in the treatment of adult and childhood attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and it carries a much lower risk of side effects, abuse, addiction or withdrawal compared to drugs such as Ritalin, or Adderall.
Some studies have compared Modafinil to traditional ADHD drugs such as dextromethorphan and found that Modafinil is as effective at improving scores on the DSM-IV ADHD Checklist, and both medications are proven more effective than placebo. Other studies have compared Modafinil to placebo alone, and found that Modafinil improves symptoms of ADHD above placebo.
In spite of this, in 2006 the FDA decided that this use of Modafinil would remain off-label and would not be approved in the U.S. There are some doctors who will prescribe Provigil for patients with ADHD, especially if they have had negative reactions with traditional amphetamine-derived stimulant drugs, however this use is strictly off-label and not all doctors are willing to prescribe it.
- Increases energy, wakefulness and motivation
- Boosts mental performance and focus
- Supports memory and cognition
Off-Label and Recreational Modafinil Use
Other conditions for which Modafinil may be effective in treating include certain psychiatric and neurodegenerative disorders. This can include the treatment of depression, bi-polar disorder, schizophrenia, Parkinson’s, and disease-related or medicine-influenced fatigue.
Modafinil has been observed to produce a stabilizing effect on the mood, causing positive thoughts, elevated confidence and well-being. The drug can also reduce anxiety symptoms and help control stress.
Provigil tablets are also being used in the treatment of atypical depression. This condition is marked by hypersomnia, over-eating, low energy, and rejection sensitivity. While this condition is actually fairly common and the preliminary research has been promising, more large-scale trials are needed.
On an experimental basis, there are also a lot of ‘off-label’ Modafinil uses. This includes helping to treat Alzheimer’s disease and other cognitive deficits. Multiple sclerosis induced fatigue is also being investigated, as is post-anesthesia grogginess, spasticity associated with cerebral palsy, age-induced sedation, and excessive daytime fatigue and napping.
Finally, a number of individuals have found success with taking Modafinil dosages for weight loss as this drug both may lead to higher caloric expenditure and it can reduce appetite by as much as 38% fewer calories consumed per day.
Despite the uses mentioned above, the main motive behind most “off-label” uses of Modafinil is as a smart drug or cognitive enhancer. This includes being able to improve certain aspects of working memory like digit span, digit manipulation, and pattern recognition.
One study even showed that Modafinil restored normal levels of learning ability in methamphetamine addicts and that this supplement also has some neuroprotective effects.
Taking a single dose of Modafinil in the morning can give individuals razor-sharp focus, eliminate any urge to procrastinate and stimulate high-productivity for most of the day.
The heightened state of wakefulness and alertness derived from this medication has even seen the U.S. Air Force approve Modafinil as the sole drug that can be utilized for sleep deprivation and fatigue management.
Modafinil Dosage
So how much Modafinil should you be taking in a day to derive the greatest level of positive effects?
Modafinil is typically sold in 100 mg or 200 mg tablets with the 200 mg option being more popular and more widely available.
The typical recommended dose for on-label uses is 200 mg, taken once per day, usually during the morning. It may be taken with or without food.
Some individuals recommend starting with a 100 mg dose for the first week so that individuals can become accustomed to the effects. It is also possible to take higher doses.
Up to 400 mg per day has been shown to be very well-tolerated. However, it is also unclear as to whether or not increasing the dose will have any additional positive benefits.
As Modafinil is only available legally as a prescription medication, discussion with your doctor or health care professional on proper dosages will occur when you are first prescribed this medication. For individuals who are unsure if the dosage they are using is correct for their needs either due to a lack of positive effects or because of adverse side effects, it is recommended to consult with your doctor.
There are no recommended dosage guidelines for off-label Modafinil uses. People who use Modafinil off-label say that they often follow the same dosage guidelines as prescription purposes. Most users take 200 mg per day, sometimes taking a lower dosage of 100 mg per day to start.
Best Way to Use Modafinil Doses
Using Modafinil is quite straightforward. For starters, it is considered to be very safe and generally well-tolerated. This is especially true in otherwise healthy adults (it should not be taken by children).
If you are using this supplement as a method to fight off shift work sleep disorder (i.e. excessive drowsiness due to irregular work schedule or hours), then consider taking the supplement one hour or so before work starts. Most user reviews state that it is almost impossible to fall asleep within 12 hours of taking this drug, so plan accordingly for when to take your dosages.
There are some who believe Modafinil should be dosed based on body weight, however there is little evidence to show that this is necessary for the average user.
Despite the fact that this drug is viewed as relatively safe, there have been a few potential side effects associated with its use. These include headache, nausea, nervousness, rhinitis, diarrhea, back pain, anxiety, insomnia, and dizziness.
In placebo-controlled studies, 8% (versus 3% of those who received the placebo) discontinued use due to an adverse reaction or side effect(s). Of these, headache was the most frequently cited reason. Generally, using the appropriate Modafinil dosage will not lead to side effects and dangerous reactions are extremely rare.
Some serious, rare skin and mucous membrane side effects have been noted with Modafinil usage in studies, specifically Stevens-Johnson syndrome, toxic epidermal necrolysis (TEN), and drug reaction with eosinophilia and systemic symptoms (DRESS). These reactions are quite rare, but should be addressed quickly if seen, as they often require hospitalization.
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- Saraf G, Viswanath B, Narayanaswamy JC, Holla B, Math SB. Modafinil for the treatment of antipsychotic-induced excessive daytime sedation: does it exacerbate tics? J Neuropsychiatry Clin Neurosci. 2013
- Boele FW, Douw L, de Groot M, van Thuijl HF, Cleijne W, Heimans JJ, Taphoorn MJ, Reijneveld JC, Klein M. The effect of modafinil on fatigue, cognitive functioning, and mood in primary brain tumor patients: a multicenter randomized controlled trial. Neuro Oncol. 2013
- Generali JA, Cada DJ. Modafinil: Parkinson disease-related somnolence. Hosp Pharm. 2014
- Fernández A, Mascayano F, Lips W, Painel A, Norambuena J, Madrid E. Effects of modafinil on attention performance, short-term memory and executive function in university students: a randomized trial. Medwave. 2015
- Scoriels L, Jones PB, Sahakian BJ. Modafinil effects on cognition and emotion in schizophrenia and its neurochemical modulation in the brain. Neuropharmacology. 2013
- Wang XF, Bi GH, He Y, Yang HJ, Gao JT, Okunola-Bakare OM, Slack RD, Gardner EL, Xi ZX, Newman AH. R-modafinil attenuates nicotine-taking and nicotine-seeking behavior in alcohol-preferring rats. Neuropsychopharmacology. 2015
- Gajewski M, Weinhouse G. The Use of Modafinil in the Intensive Care Unit. J Intensive Care Med. 2015
- Fernandes HA, Zanin KA, Patti CL, Wuo-Silva R, Carvalho RC, Fernandes-Santos L, Bittencourt LR, Tufik S, Frussa-Filho R. Inhibitory effects of modafinil on emotional memory in mice. Neuropharmacology. 2013
- Federici M, Latagliata EC, Rizzo FR, Ledonne A, Gu HH, Romigi A, Nisticò R, Puglisi-Allegra S, Mercuri NB. Electrophysiological and amperometric evidence that modafinil blocks the dopamine uptake transporter to induce behavioral activation. Neuroscience. 2013
- Galvin E, Boesjes H, Hol J, Ubben JF, Klein J, Verbrugge SJ. Modafinil reduces patient-reported tiredness after sedation/analgesia but does not improve patient psychomotor skills. Acta Anaesthesiol Scand. 2010
- OPR: HQ AFSOC/SGP. Air Force Special Operations Command Instruction 48-101. Aeromedical Special Operations. 2012
Article last updated on: April 16th, 2018 by Nootriment
29 Comments
I use modafinil 1/2 of a tablet (100mg) in the morning to combat the fatigue from MS in conjunction with a muscle relaxer. It has given me my life back. The original prescription was 100mg in the morning and at lunch, which for me, I found to be too much. I experimented until I came up with this dosage which works for me. (55yr old male engineer) My daily commute is 100 miles, and this really helps me through it.
I have been prescribed the same thing for my ms fatigue! I’ve been taking 200mg I’m the morning and it seems to be a major change in my napping and motivation! What a life changer!
I popped 600mg on my first time lmao
LMAO
One has to scroll down halfway down the page to get to the gist of the article: just how much Modafinil is the right dosage. The juice of the article can only be found in a couple of sentence (quote):
“The typical recommended dose is 200 mg, taken once per day, usually during the morning. It may be taken with or without food.
Some individuals recommend starting with a 100 mg dose for the first week so that individuals can become accustomed to the effects. It is also possible to take higher doses.
Up to 400 mg per day has been shown to be very well-tolerated. However, it is also unclear as to whether or not increasing the dose will have any additional positive benefits.”
Keep putting up articles like this, and I guarantee you’ll lose readers faster than Friendster shed members when Facebook was on the upswing.
Hi Chris,
Thanks for your feedback. We’re adding “Quick View” links to our articles at the moment so that it’s easier to jump to the information you’re looking for. I’m hoping to have them live across the site within a couple of months.
I’m guessing these should be live now, but I can’t find any.. how can I find those Quick view links?
I must be doing something wrong. I felt nothing from 200 mg, and with 400 mg I had a mild-at-best wakefulness enhancement that lasted little more than two hours. Afterwards I couldn’t avoid falling asleep.
Yeah I had blood/thyroid function tests, all normal. And yes, it was legit, bought from a pharmacy (it’s OTC here).
why are you using it of, what is your BMI??
I recently started taking Modafinil for chronic fatigue and am very happy with the results thus far. (I am a 42 yr old health female) My doctor first started me on Nuvigil, which is the brand name to Modafinil. She started me out at two, 50mg tablets in the morning and they worked wonderfully. Unfortunately, Nuvigil is very very expensive here in the US. I have great RX insurance and my co pay was $90.00 for 60 tablets. The pharmacist recommended the Modafinil 100mg. For the first week, my doctor wanted me to take 100mg in the morning but unfortunately I’m able to sleep right through that doseage. 100mg of the Modafinil is equivalent to 50mg of the brand name Nuvigil. Just yesterday, my doctor increased my doseage to 200mg in the morning. I just now took my new dosing so I don’t know if this will keep me awake. I certainly hope so because I cannot afford to go back on the Nuvigil but if that’s what it takes, I will definitely find a way to pay the high copayment.
queria saber onde compra empresa MODAFINIL??
William, I don’t think they allow the promotion of companies selling Modafinil. I would search online.
I started my first dose of modafinil at 7 a.m. this morning. Usually I become drowsy approaching noon hour and then throughout the remainder of the evening.. Almost Immediately after taking 1 tablet I noticed a burst of energy, I unknowingly skipped lunch because I didn’t have an appetite. I had a fish and vegetable dinner, a apple for dessert at 5 p.m. I also drank plenty of water throughout the day. Its now 6 p.m. and I haven’t felt one bit of fatigue or drowsiness. If I get a good night’s sleep tonight I will consider this the miracle drug of my life. Years prior to taking modafinil I suffered from sleep apnea, I found myself nodding off all times of the day and evening. Today was the first time in a very long time in my life I felt refreshed the entire workday. My dosage is 200 milligrams and I’m very excited about the results so far.
Is it common for this medication to make you sleepy. I take a lot of medications for back pain (all prescribed) and this morning I took my 200 mg pill and drank it with coffee. By the time 9:30am rolled around I was fighting to stay away and losing. I do not want to call in sick because I am not sick just really really tired. Help what should I try?
Modafinil is Fat soluble (And water insoluble). Try it with something like creamed coffee or bulletproof coffee. Or have it with a whole egg omelette (Extra butter helps). The point is to ensure you have adequate fat in the stomach for the modafinil to dissolve and absorb into the bloodstream.
Modafinil has been a wonder drug for the three months I have been taking it. I thanked my doctor for giving my life back to me. I take 100 mg with breakfast and 100 mg for lunch. I am usually able to stay awake all day and evening. I am sleeping dramatically better during the night than I used to. (I am still following my régimen for obstructive and central sleep apnea. )
I have sleep apnea and narcolepsy. Usually tired ALL the time. I started on 100mg Modafinil in the morning for 3 days to see how I handled it. First day was amazing. Not tired at all. Alert and not jumpy. No longer felt like I couldn’t wait to take a nap. Mild loss of appetite, not bad. Second day still good. Third day felt a little tired afternoon. Next day started normal dosage of 200mg. Worked good for about a week but gradually becoming less and less effective. I expected this though because I have a high tolerance, I can easily sleep on adderal and even the usual speedy illegal subs. I have an appointment with my Neurologist next week and will see what he suggests.
I have the same exact problem as you… most drugs don’t work well for me… Adderall does about nothing for me. I could pop 10 ambien and I’d be wide awake all night, and provigil doesn’t really work either. I also have a insanely high tolerance for alcohol (I can drink all of my friends under the table). I have wondered my whole adult life what I am that particularly different… Average height, maybe 20lbs over ideal weight but I think most people are. Anyone else experience this?
Jim,
Ambien leaves me awake all night too, can that crap! Just try 2 – 4 Benadryl
Marcus -maybe norepinephrine? that has been suggested to me, and I think I did read that you can build a tolerance to modafinil..
I take 2 x 200mg in the morning and then another 2 x 200mg around 4 – 6pm
Maybe if i made my joints weaker, i wouldn’t feel so tired
Same here, John… 2 200 mg tabs around 6 AM, so I can get up and drive, and either 1 200 mg tab around 3pm, or 2 200 mg tabs if I really need to be up until 9 or 10 pm. Yet I can go home, and fall out like a light in seconds at around 6 pm and have to struggle valiantly to stay awake. It seems to work better if you get up and around, and it works much better at 400 mg dose! No side effects except very loose bowels that can be urgent until they settle down. I could not live a normal life without this medication and I get no “high” or any desirable feelings or effects from it at all…wish it made me happier, more energy, etc. but you will not even feel it kick in. You must get UP the directions state! I can sleep right through it at night
Also, watch where you buy if your insurance won’t cover it. The first time, I was truly desperate and Rite Aid charged me 1,600 for 60 tabs…..Costco, the next time…. $ 87. for 90 tabs!!!!1
I took 1/2 pill (100 mg) the first time and I felt like I was on speed.
I finally got the pill down to 1/8 (25 mg) and I stay away 15 hours and feel good, no need to nap, no sleepyness, I actually have energy.
I have hypersomnia without long-sleep time. I have used both Provigil and Nuvigil which cut my two daily forced naps in half. Today Sleep Doc says I must get at least 7 hrs of sleep at night for her to continue prescribing the meds. Otherwise she will lose her “accreditation”.
Has anyone ever heard of this? I certainly cannot force myself to sleep longer if my brain waves say to “wake up”. It is common for folks my age…73…to sleep a little less than in protest times.
Again…first time in about 7 years I have heard this. Also says she cannot raise my dosage or she would lose her ‘accreditation’. How would ‘they’ even know what dosage she wrote or how many hours I sleep?
I’ve heard that most people use the drug Modafin 200mg – Modafinil by Alpha Pharma to reduce drowsiness. But I’m afraid that it has side effects. Should I buy it? Who knows how does it work
Lots of people take the drug Modafin is active substance acting on the human brain, preventing attacks of narcolepsy. It can stimulate brain activity, removing drowsiness. But it is not addictive. Remember that it is contraindicated in diseases of the heart, cirrhosis of the liver, allergies to any components of tablets with Modafinil, pregnancy and lactation. Also, do not combine the drug with alcohol and coffee. I can tell that I really didn’t want to sleep. But at one day I exceeded the dosage and my body temperature was very high. Therefore, before you’ll intake it, read the instructions.
It’s been really good reading these comments. At the moment I only take Modafinil occasionally, to help me get up and go to doctor’s appointments, or other important things that I absolutely must do. I’m a 70 year old female and have ‘post polio syndrome’. It’s a terrible condition that causes me a lot of pain. I take a lot of codeine and a lot of pregabalin, which help the pain, but make me very, very tired nearly all the time. Hence the Modafinil. I’m very happy to learn a few useful things, like it’s fat soluble but not water soluble; that it can help with sleep apnea, from which I suffer, and that I’d like probably survive if I needed a boost in the afternoon (occasionally). Usually I take one 200mg tablet in the morning and am usually really tired again by mid afternoon. I shall talk to my doctor about this. He knows I use it sometimes but it’s actually cheaper to buy online in Australia unless you have narcolepsy, which I don’t. And at one stage Chemist Wharehouse has a special if you had a script for 60 X 100mg. Great comments, thank you.
Prior to Modafinil, I repeatedly feel asleep while driving. Have not had the problem since. Being a stimulate, I am more focused and comfortable in dealing with others. Currently taking 300mg in morning. Does not work entire day. Any information about extended use Modafinil?