1
3.89
7
Modafinil is a drug that is more and more being recognized for its powerful mood-enhancing capabilities.
It was initially approved by the FDA to treat serious sleep related issues including obstructive sleep apnea, shift work sleep disorder, and narcolepsy.
However, positive reviews from users have led to a growing number of off-label prescriptions for depression and anxiety. What are Modafinil’s anti-anxiety benefits and effects and how can this medicine be used to treat nervousness, stress and panic attacks?
Alertness
Mental Acuity
Focus- Stimulates wakefulness in the brain
- Promotes mental acuity & processing
- Enhances focus, motivation & energy
Modafinil Medication Overview
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 first developed in France in 1976 by Michel Jouvet, a neurophysiologist and experimental medicine professor. Modafinil was first discovered after the development of several benzhydryl sulfinyl compounds, including Adrafinil.
While Adrafinl’s mechanism of action was being studied, Modafinil was discovered as its active compound that causes effects in the body. Adrafinil is technically the prodrug of Modafinil, because when Adrafinil is consumed it is metabolized into Modafinil, its active component, and modafinilic acid, an inactive component.
Since animal trials with Modafinil showed this drug had stimulant-like effects and caused increased locomotor activity and wakefulness, some of the first human trials on this drug were testing its effectiveness for narcolepsy.
Narcolepsy is a sleep and wakefulness disorder which causes excessive daytime sleepiness and some people will instantly and randomly fall asleep throughout the day.
In multiple double-blind placebo-controlled clinical trials Modafinil has been seen to significantly reduce excessive sleepiness and improve wakefulness in patients with narcolepsy compared to treatment with placebo. One study suggested that a combination treatment of Modafinil and another traditional narcolepsy medication sodium oxybate may be even more effective than either drug alone.
Another sleep disorder that Modafinil has been extensively studied for is shift-work sleep disorder. This circadian rhythm disorder can occur in people who either consistently or intermittently work either late/overnight shifts or very long shifts that overlap with normal sleep times (i.e. nighttime).
In studies, Modafinil has been seen to reduce attention lapses and improve wakefulness/decrease some excessive sleepiness when compared to placebo. One study found that patients treated with Modafinil still reported that they had some excessive daytime sleepiness, and the researchers concluded that even better treatment methods need to be developed and researched.
Modafinil has also been used as an adjunct treatment for improving wakefulness in patients with obstructive sleep apnea/hypopnea syndrome. This medical condition occurs when the muscles in the mouth relax during the night, allowing the tongue and soft palate to either partially or fully block the airway. Breathing can become labored and shallow (hypopnea), or can even temporarily stop if the airway is totally blocked (apnea).
Sleep quality is often decreased in people with sleep apnea due to multiple periods of breathing cessation and possible waking. In research studies Modafinil has been seen to significantly improve wakefulness compared to placebo in patients with sleep apnea/hypopnea.
Modafinil has been used clinically since the early to mid 1980’s, and it has been approved as a drug for the treatment of narcolepsy and shift-work sleep disorder, and as an adjunct treatment for obstructive sleep apnea.
Modafinil is classified by the FDA as a regulated Schedule IV drug and is legally available via prescription only. Modafinil is a prescription drug in most countries around the world, although some people say they can buy Modafinil over the counter without a doctor prescription in a select few countries in the Middle East and Latin America. There are a number of sources where people buy Modafinil online from online pharmacies, although the legality and safety of the products is unregulated.
Within the U.S., the most common brand name of Modafinil is Provigil, which is marketed by a company called Cephalon (which bought the original developing company, Lafon Laboratories).
Generic versions of Modafinil have also been available in the U.S. since 2012. Brands such as Modalert, Modapro and Modiodal can be found in other countries.
The Science of Modafinil’s Effects
What are the main effects of Modafinil and how could these mechanisms lead to the anxiety relief reported by so many users? Though there have been a lot of studies into Modafinil, it is still unclear what the precise mechanisms of action this drug uses.
However, we do know that it is able to raise levels of hypothalamic Histamine. This chemical in the brain helps to promote a state of mental wakefulness and vigilance without leading to unsafe Central Nervous System stimulation.
The fact that Modafinil (or Provigil) does not carry the side effects of classic amphetamine-like stimulants is why this drug has become so widely used for treating conditions that are associated with low energy levels.
Another mechanism of action displayed by Modafinil is that it affects the Dopamine system within the brain. This compound is believed to inhibit the actions of the Dopamine transporter enzymes within the synaptic cleft.
Inhibition of Dopamine transporter enzymes increases extra-cellular concentrations of this mood-brightening neurotransmitter. In other words, it is able to increase the amount of Dopamine in the areas around neural receptors that control mood and promote feelings of well-being.
Modafinil is able to do this in a way that avoids a Dopamine spike and crash, unlike the drug Adderall.
- Increases energy, wakefulness and motivation
- Boosts mental performance and focus
- Supports memory and cognition
Does Modafinil Reduce Anxiety?
The effect that Modafinil has on Dopamine is also responsible for its ability to reduce levels of anxiety. Some evidence suggests that Modafinil may increase Serotonin activity as well, though other reports dispute these claims.
Both Dopamine and Seratonin can influence how we feel and help to foster positive thoughts, confidence and drive. Many users report that taking a small dosage eliminates anxiety for an entire day and helps them to experience a calm, centered sense of focus and motivation.
Modafinil seems to make the brain less susceptible to over-excitement which leads to anxiousness and panic attacks. Modafinil has also been found to promote sociability, making it an effective remedy for individuals with social anxiety.
Modafinil is particularly helpful in reducing performance anxiety before giving a big speech or before a job interview. Users have reported that it allows your brain to work without feeing the constant hesitation that nagging thoughts can produce.
Individuals take Modafinil in professional environments to enable them to feel more relaxed and outgoing, and to keep their mental energy sharp. It allows you to turn off the negative thought circuits in your brain so you are completely focused on whatever you are doing in the moment.
Here one user reports their experiences using Modafinil for anxiety :
“I too suffer and have suffered from anxiety in all its wonderful iterations (GAD, OCD, panic disorder, hypochondria, etc.) but have actually found that modafinil is sort of anxiety-reducing. Not in a sleepy way, either. […] after tapering off [Xanax] and starting mod my anxiety has diminished. […] Though it’s debatable, I think mod may help with executive function somewhat, so it’s easier to talk yourself out of anxiety and bad moods. If you combine it with too much caffeine, however, it might cause a slight hypomania that’s not as easy to talk yourself out of […]”
While there are many other user reviews reporting similar experiences, there are also some that report the opposite. Some user reviews do caution that Modafinil may in fact exacerbate anxiety in some people (anxiety is one of the possible side effects in people without any previous anxiety disorder). One user writes:
“Firstly, my anxiety went through the roof. I had heart palpitations and even chest pain at work. Initially I took Xanax to treat this and within about two weeks it went away. This is a well known side-effect of Modafinil in anxious people, and believe me when I tell you it’s severe, but also transient.”
Other users have reported similar experiences, with their anxiety first becoming worse before they felt positive effects from the Modafinil. Others have reported that it never got better for them and that they had to cease Modafinil use.
One user mentions that like most side effects experienced with Modafinil, the proper dosage may play a role in experiencing anxiety as a side effect:
“I cannot imagine mod helping with anxiety. I noticed that when I first took mod, I definitely felt anxiety. It was more than I wanted to deal with. This was my mistake for taking too high of a dose, even though it was only 200mg. I think the important thing here is to get your dose right. For me, I have finally narrowed it down to just 50-75mg as a single dose. This is the optimal dose for me and does just enough for me to focus throughout the day and allows me to sleep without any issues at night. I don’t however, have any anxiety issues to begin with….only when taking higher doses of mod.”
Overall, personal physiology and potentially the dosage may play a role in determining if using Modafinil for anxiety if successful or not. There has not been any scientific research has been done using Modafinil for anxiety at this point in time, and this could be a good area for future research studies to be conducted.
Additional Reported Modafinil Benefits
Individuals who use Modafinil for one reason often find that this medication has a wide range of extended benefits. The primary benefit is helping individuals to stay awake and not feel tired even if they have experienced sleep deprivation or have been diagnosed with other sleep conditions.
People who suffer from narcolepsy find relief with this treatment and are able to live a normal everyday life. It also helps to keep people awake who work during the night or frequently change shifts.
Want to lose weight? A number of studies have shown that Modafinil is also capable of producing an appetite reducing effect, even on people who are maintaining a healthy weight. When using a Modafinil dose of 200 mg per day, this effect resulted in an 18% decrease in total caloric intake. With a 400 mg Modafinil dose, this effect was a 38% decrease. This effect seems to be similar to that caused by amphetamines. However, this supplement does not significantly increase heart rate.
Modafinil is also considered to be helpful in treating cocaine addiction. Modafinil’s mechanism of action is largely opposite to the symptoms of cocaine withdrawal, and it might be able to counteract these issues.
One double-blind placebo-controlled study compared Modafinil to the SSRI escitalopram in long-term high-dose cocaine users. It was found that the Modafinil improved performance on measures of working memory, sustained attention, and reduced impulsivity, while the escitalopram was not seen to modulate performance on any measures of cognition.
Other individuals say that Modafinil helps them to overcome their attention-deficit disorder (ADD) and attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) without the same risk of side effects as drugs like Ritalin and Adderall pose.
In research trials, Modafinil has been seen to significantly improve scores compared to placebo on various tests including the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders IV ADHD Checklist, the Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder Rating Scale-IV (ADHD-RS-IV) School and Home Versions, and the Clinical Global Impressions-Improvement scale (CGI-I).
To get the best anti-anxiety effects from Modafinil, most experts recommend a dosage of 100 mg – 200 mg per day. This should normally be taken in the morning, either with or without food.
The effects of Modafinil for anxiety and depression relief will last all day long from a single dose. Taking it later in the day is not recommended because it may make it impossible to fall asleep and lead to exacerbation of anxiety, stress and nervousness.
If you are unable to find Modafinil for sale online in your country, you can buy Adrafinil which is a legal non-prescription alternative that is converted to Modafinil in the liver upon ingestion.
<
Free shipping
- Ishizuka T, Murotani T, Yamatodani A. Action of modafinil through histaminergic and orexinergic neurons. Vitam Horm. 2012
- Kalechstein AD, Mahoney JJ 3rd, Yoon JH, Bennett R, De la Garza R 2nd. Modafinil, but not escitalopram, improves working memory and sustained attention in long-term, high-dose cocaine users. Neuropharmacology. 2013
- Hester R, Lee N, Pennay A, Nielsen S, Ferris J. The effects of modafinil treatment on neuropsychological and attentional bias performance during 7-day inpatient withdrawal from methamphetamine dependence. Exp Clin Psychopharmacol. 2010
- Ferraro L, Antonelli T, Beggiato S, Cristina Tomasini M, Fuxe K, Tanganelli S. The vigilance promoting drug modafinil modulates serotonin transmission in the rat prefrontal cortex and dorsal raphe nucleus. Possible relevance for its postulated antidepressant activity. Mini Rev Med Chem. 2013
- Grady S, Aeschbach D, Wright KP Jr, Czeisler CA. Effect of modafinil on impairments in neurobehavioral performance and learning associated with extended wakefulness and circadian misalignment. Neuropsychopharmacology. 2010
- Kim D. Practical use and risk of modafinil, a novel waking drug. Environ Health Toxicol. 2012
Article last updated on: April 16th, 2018 by Nootriment
1 Comment
Adrafinil DOES NOT compare at ALL. It’s weak, dirty and potentially risky (liver problems)…waste of money…
I say shoot for Nuvigil or Armadafinil (Wakalert)! ************ and ************ are reliable, legit vendors (do some research)