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What are the differences between the smart drugs Modafinil vs Ritalin?
The more well-known Ritalin is a psychostimulant most widely prescribed for hyperactive mental disorders such as those associated with attention-deficit disorder (ADD) and attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD).
Recently, Modafinil has received a reputation as one of the most effective of all the cognitive enhancement smart drugs. Reviews have claimed to give users highly enhanced cognitive abilities and a sense of control.
Many people who have been prescribed Ritalin have long complained of its serious unwanted side effects and the blunt quality of its mental benefits. It is thought that Modafinil may provide benefits for ADD and ADHD without the same risk of side effects.
Is Modafinil a safe and effective way to treat the same conditions like ADD and ADHD, or is it an over-hyped fad? Furthermore, are the online channels through which most people try Modafinil legal and trustworthy?
Let’s take a look at the pros and cons of Ritalin vs Modafinil, and the potential hazards of buying these drugs online.
Alertness
Mental Acuity
Focus- Stimulates wakefulness in the brain
- Promotes mental acuity & processing
- Enhances focus, motivation & energy
Who Is Ritalin Intended For?
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
Ritalin (Methylphenidate) is a prescription medication, categorized as a Schedule II prescription drug by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in the United States. It has been given this schedule because it is a drug with a high potential for abuse and physical and/or psychological dependence.
This drug is intended to address symptoms of ADHD, and can quell the hyperactive mind and short attention span associated with the disorder.
As a strong stimulant, Ritalin is sometimes also prescribed for people who have trouble staying awake, such as individuals with narcolepsy. For these two reasons, people sometimes compare Modafinil vs Ritalin, as they can address some of the same imbalances.
Unlike Modafinil, Ritalin achieves its wakefulness effects by aiding the re-uptake of Dopamine and Norepinephrine. These powerful neurotransmitters create spikes of energy and suppress erratic emotions.
These spikes can easily lead to dependency for Ritalin users, the majority of which are children who have been diagnosed with ADHD. Similar concerns have been raised about the amphetamine based drug Adderall XR.
How Modafinil Works
Modafinil was first discovered by scientists at the French pharmaceutical company Lafon Laboratories in 1976. This discovery came about due to testing on another related compound, Adrafinil.
Adrafinil is one of a group of benzhydryl sulfinyl compounds that were developed by Lafon in 1974. Testing to determine Adrafinil’s mechanism of action in the body led to the discovery of Modafinil.
When ingested, Adrafinil travels through the bloodstream and to the liver, where it is metabolized into its component parts, the inactive modafinilic acid, and the active Modafinil. Modafinil was determined to be the primary active constituent of Adrafinil, and the effects of Adrafinil are due to Modafinil.
Both Adrafinil and Modafinil are categorized as eurgeroics, or wakefulness promoting compounds. The exact mechanism of action of Modafinil is still unknown, however it has been observed to interact with a number of neurotransmitters and neurochemicals in the brain, including Norepinephrine, Dopamine, Orexin, and Histamine.
Modafinil has been seen to act as a Dopamine transport inhibitor, and a Dopamine reuptake inhibitor. This leads to more circulating Dopamine, which may account for some of the cognitive effects reported with Modafinil.
One theory of how Modafinil causes wakefulness is through its effects on the neuropeptide Orexin and the neurotransmitter Histamine. These compounds both are involved in the regulation of wakefulness, appetite control, and arousal.
Modafinil has been seen to activate Orexin-secreting neurons and Orexin neurons. The increase in Orexin stimulates the release of Histamine in the hypothalamus. Together these two compounds are thought to cause many of Modafinil’s effects.
- Increases energy, wakefulness and motivation
- Boosts mental performance and focus
- Supports memory and cognition
Why is Modafinil Prescribed?
Because of the alertness and stimulant-like effects seen in animal trials and with Adrafinil trials, Modafinil was first tested in humans trials to promote wakefulness in patients who had been diagnosed with the sleep disorder narcolepsy.
Many double-blind placebo controlled clinical trials showed that Modafinil was significantly better at improving wakefulness and reducing excessive daytime sleepiness in narcoleptics than a placebo.
It was marketed under the name Provigil and approved in France in 1994, and in the US in 1998. Modafinil is categorized as a Schedule IV prescription drug in the United States. It has been given this schedule because it is believed to have a low potential for abuse or risk of dependence.
Modafinil has also now been approved to treat shift-work sleep disorder (SWSD), and as an adjunct treatment for obstructive sleep apnea/hypopnea syndrome (OSAHS).
It has been shown to improve work performance and improve wakefulness in people with SWSD during their nighttime work shifts. It has also been used successfully to reduce the excessive daytime sleepiness that is sometimes still present in people who are receiving treatment for their OSAHS.
Modafinil is considered a prescription drug in many other countries around the world, including the United Kingdom, Australia, Canada, Germany, Finland, Sweden, and Italy. In most of these places it is approved for use for the previously mentioned sleep disorders. In some countries it is also approved to treat idiopathic hypersomnia, another sleep disorder that is similar to narcolepsy, but often less severe.
Modafinil for ADHD
The approved uses of Modafinil described above are the only recognized on-label uses. Any other use of the drug is considered off-label.
Even though the majority of current Modafinil users take the drug for its effects on cognitive abilities, the on label use has been strictly attributed for patients with sleep disorders. It wasn’t until the last decade that Modafinil was recognized to improve cognitive focus and productivity.
Modafinil’s effects on patients with attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder are well documented. Many different double-blind placebo controlled studies have shown that Modafinil significantly improves scores on ADHD tests over placebo.
In one study, patients with ADHD were given either a placebo or Modafinil. It was seen that compared to placebo patients, patients who received Modafinil has significantly reduced scores on the ADHD Rating Scale-IV School and Home Versions, which indicated a significant improvement of their symptoms. They also showed improvement on the Clinical Global Impressions-Improvement scale.
Modafinil has also been tested against some traditional ADHD medications. In one study, Modafinil was tested against a placebo as well as dextroamphetamine (Dexedrine). It was seen that both active drugs showed significant improvements on the DSM-IV ADHD Behavior Checklist for Adults compared to placebo. The level of improvement between the two was considered quite similar, and the scientists suggested that Modafinil could be considered a viable alternative to dextroamphetamine.
While it is not an approved use of Modafinil, using the drug for ADHD is one of its most common off-label uses. There are some doctors who have kept up to date with research and are willing to prescribe Modafinil for their patients with ADHD. This is most often done in cases where there may have been a bad reaction with traditional treatments, or they did not work as well as wanted.
Price and Legality of Modafinil vs Ritalin
As far as Modafinil vs Ritalin legality goes, both medicines are legal, but both will require prescriptions to buy in the U.S.
Getting a prescription for Ritalin if you have ADHD can be very simple, as it is an approved medication for this condition. Getting a prescription for Modafinil for ADHD can be more difficult.
Unfortunately, most doctors will typically not issue a prescription for Modafinil without a diagnosis of a severe sleep disorder. As mentioned before, there are some doctors who will write these off-label prescriptions, but they can be hard to come by.
However, even for individuals who are able to get a prescription for off-label ADHD treatment, they often run into issues being able to pay for the drug. Most insurance companies are not willing to cover off-label prescriptions, leaving people to foot the bill for this expensive drug on their own.
Modafinil (brand name – Provigil) are typically very expensive. A 30-day supply of Modafinil 100 mg tablets in the U.S. can run as high as $1,000.
While online coupons and discounts can bring the cost of generic Modafinil down, it can still be as much as a few hundred dollars a month. This is not a monthly expense that most people can manage without the help of medical insurance.
In contrast, a 30-60 day supply of Ritalin is far cheaper, averaging $85. Additionally, most Ritalin use is covered by insurance.
Because it is hard to get a prescription for and even with a prescription it is often very expensive, many people attempt to buy Modafinil online from overseas pharmacies.
While is is a prescription drug in many places in the world, in some countries such as China, India and Mexico, it is considered an over-the-counter drug that can be sold without a prescription which is why international online pharmacies often sell the drug.
This is the only way to get Modafinil without a prescription and at a lower price, despite this going through online retailers carry various risks such as: fraudulent, impure product, and package seizures at U.S. Customs.
There seems to be less of an illicit online market for Ritalin, as the drug is far more common. So in this comparison of Modafinil vs Ritalin, the results are a wash.
One better option is to shop stores in the U.S. which offer legal nootropic alternatives to Modafinil.
Legal Alternatives Without Prescription
No matter where individuals lie on the Modafinil vs Ritalin debate, without a prescription it is very difficult to sample the effects of either medication.
While some students may be tempted to buy Ritalin or Modafinil from a friend with a valid prescription, the risks are simply not worth it.
One alternative that works for many people is legal Adrafinil. As described before, this compound is the pre-cursor to Modafinil in the body. The liver metabolizes Adrafinil directly into Modafinil, resulting in all of the same benefits.
Adrafinil carries many of the same benefits of Modafinil – it is non-addictive, produces sharp thoughts and intense concentration. Adrafinil requires no prescription, and can be purchased safely and legally from reputable U.S. nootropic sites.
For sale at a fraction of the price of both Ritalin and Modafinil, this alternative can be purchased without a prescription at various U.S. nootropic websites.
Before purchasing Adrafinil, individuals should read into the potential side effects associated with this drug though. It is thought that due to how it is processed in the liver that Adrafinil could cause a buildup of toxic liver enzymes if used on a regular basis.
Another nootropic option that some people use is one of the Racetam family of compounds. This group are all based off of the original nootropic Piracetam that was first developed in Belgium in the 1960s.
Piracetam has been observed to have positive effects on Acetylcholine, a neurotransmitter in the brain that has effects on memory, learning ability, and executive function.
The other most common Racetams – Oxiracetam, Aniracetam, Pramiracetam, Phenylpiracetam – are all more potent than their parent compound Piracetam and have additional nootropic effects.
The Racetams, like Adrafinil, are unscheduled, unregulated compounds that are available without a prescription. FDA laws restrict the sale of these kinds of compounds in the US, but they are available from a variety of reputable nootropic stores online.
Consider using one of these alternatives, or some of the other options mentioned in the article linked here, instead of risking your money and health buying Modafinil from an international online pharmacy without a prescription.
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Article last updated on: April 11th, 2018 by Nootriment
2 Comments
I really need to further my studies but my biggest problem is lack of concentration that is I at times read but when it comes to the exam time i cant remember/recall all that i read.what is the best solution to my problem and which brain booster should i take?I really need your help please.
Ritalin does not aid in the re-uptake process of dopamine and norepinephrine, it inhibits it. It’s an NDRI Norepinephrine dopamine re-uptake inhibitor.
This statement is incorrenct, “Unlike Modafinil, Ritalin achieves its wakefulness effects by aiding the re-uptake of Dopamine and Norepinephrine. These powerful neurotransmitters create spikes of energy and suppress erratic emotions.”