Modafinil has become a highly sought-after medication within the smart drug community due to its reputation for providing noticeably heightened cognitive abilities.
Smart drug users report that Modafinil affords them all the effects more subtle than, but similar to, other psychostimulants like Adderall without producing the unseemly jittery agitation most people experience with other central nervous system stimulants.
Most of these off-label users of Modafinil take it without a prescription by purchasing pills off friends or ordering it from online pharmacies. So where can individuals buy Modafinil without a prescription?
Even though there are people who take it while not having a prescription, it is important to remember that Modafnil is a regulated drug in nearly every developed country around the globe. In the U.S., for example, Modafinil is a Schedule IV prescription-only medication.
Currently, only India and Mexico are the major known exceptions to the prescription requirement, but that doesn’t mean importing medications from either of these locations is without inherent risks or problems. Is it possible to get Modafinil without a prescription? Or are there other alternatives?



- Stimulates wakefulness in the brain
- Promotes mental acuity & processing
- Enhances focus, motivation & energy
History and Approved Uses of Modafinil
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 by a French neurophysiologist in 1976 for Lafon Laboratories, which has since been bought out by the pharmaceutical company Cephalon. The discovery of Modafinil came about because of the previous discovery of Adrafinil.
Adfrafinil is one of a group of benzhydryl sulfinyl compounds that was discovered in 1974. In studies examining the mechanism of action of Adrafinil it was found that its active component was Modafinil. In the body Adrafinil is broken down in the liver into the active Modafinil and the inactive modafinilic acid.
Because it metabolizes into Modafinil in the body, Adrafinil is considered a pro-drug of Modafinil. Adrafinil is less potent than Modafinil, as only some of the Adrafinil is converted in to active Modafinil, and the rest is lost in the breakdown.
In the original animal studies on both Adrafinil and Modafinil, the Modafinil was seen to cause an increase in locomotor activity and hyperactivity. It has been determined that Modafinil is a eugeroic drug, meaning that it is a compound that promotes wakefulness and alertness. It has stimulating effects, but affects the body differently than traditional amphetamine stimulants.
Because of its wakefulness promoting properties, the first human clinical trials with Modafinil were using the drug as a treatment for narcolepsy. Narcolepsy is a sleep disorder that affects sleep and wakefulness states. People with narcolepsy have difficulty maintaining wakefulness, and can even fall asleep randomly throughout the day. They often experience excessive daytime sleepiness.
In many double-blind placebo controlled research studies done over the years, Modafinil has been seen to increase wakefulness in people with narcolepsy. Compared to placebo, Modafinil has been seen to significantly improve scores on various tests, including the Multiple Sleep Latency Test, the Maintenance of Wakefulness Test, and the self-administered Epworth Sleepiness Scale.
Since its initial use for narcolepsy sleep disorder, Modafinil has been tested for improving excessive sleepiness in shift-work sleep disorder and obstructive sleep apnea/hyopnea syndrome. Shift work sleep disorder (sometimes just called shift work disorder) is a sleep disorder that may occur when people work the late shift or over night shift, often on a rotating or intermittent schedule. People with the disorder typically feel excessive sleepiness when they are awake (typically at night, outside of normal daytime awake hours), and sometimes experience insomnia when trying to sleep during the day.
Sleep apnea/hypopnea is a medical condition in which the muscles supporting the tongue and/or soft palate involuntarily relax during sleep, and either partially obstruct the airway causing shallow breathing (hypopnea), or completely block the airway, causing breathing to stop (apnea). People with this condition often experience poor sleep quality during the night, and subsequent excessive daytime sleepiness. Modafinil has been used as an adjunct treatment to improve this symptom, along with traditional treatments to address the apnea-hypopnea issues.
In both conditions, multiple studies have shown that Modafinil works well as a wakefulness promoting drug. In a study on shift-work sleep disorder, it was seen that patients on Modafinil had fewer and shorter attention span lapses than patients on placebo when tested on the Psychomotor Vigilance Test. In studies on obstructive sleep apnea/hypopnea, daytime sleepiness and Epworth Sleepiness Scale scores are significant improved on Modafinil compared to placebo.
Modafinil has been approved as a prescription drug for the treatment of narcolepsy, shift work sleep disorder, and obstructive sleep apnea/hypopnea syndrome.
Off-Label Uses of Modafinil
There have been many off-label uses for Modafinil that have developed since its discovery. Because of its stimulating effects, it has been studied for attention-deficit disorder (ADD) and attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). It is also commonly used as a nootropic drug for improving memory, learning, concentration, and focus.
There have been many studies done comparing Modafinil to a placebo, or comparing Modafinil and traditional ADHD medications to each other and a placebo. In one study done with Modafinil and a conventional ADHD medication, dextroamphetamine (Dexedrine), it was found that compared to placebo, both active medications significantly improved scores on the DSM-IV ADHD Behavior Checklist for Adults. The researchers concluded that based on the improvements seen in patients on Modafinil, that the drug should be considered a viable alternative ADHD treatment.
Some doctors who are aware of all the research done on Modafinil for ADHD will in fact prescribe Modafinil off-label for their patients, most typically in situations where traditional amphetamine medications have had negative side effects. Off-label prescriptions are entirely legal, but are up to the discretion of individual doctors, and not all doctors are willing to prescribe Modafinl for off-label purposes.
Research on improving cognition in healthy individuals with Modafinil is somewhat lacking compared to other uses, however there have been some promising results from various studies. In a review of various studies done on Modafinil, it was found that across the studies, working and episodic memory was seen to be improved. Another review found that across research studies it was cognitive function was improved through greater executive function, especially when planning and executing complex or difficult tasks.
Legal Status of Modafinil
Every country has their own set of agencies and regulatory bodies governing the status of medications and nutritional supplements.
In the U.S. it is the Food and Drug Administration (FDA); in Canada it is Health Canada’s Health Products and Food Branch; in the United Kingdom it is the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA); and in Australia it is the Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA).
Some countries consider Modafinil a controlled substance, while others consider it simply a prescription-only drug. Even with a prescription, there are different laws regarding importation of the drug to fill your prescription.
For example, if an individual has a prescription and resides within Canada, Australia, and the UK, he/she is allowed to import small quantities for personal use. Residents in the U.S. are not allowed to do so, regardless of possession of prescription.
The safest means to gain access to Modafinil is by finding a doctor who is familiar with the off-label uses of the medication and then, working with her/him to find the specific therapeutic dose that is best for the individual.
Some 90% of Modafinil prescriptions written in the USA are estimated to be for off-label conditions like ADHD.
Working with a doctor not only the only legal method, but also offers the benefit of a having a professional who is familiar with the individual’s medical history. In addition, a doctor can monitor the individual for any potential side effects which may occur.

- Increases energy, wakefulness and motivation
- Boosts mental performance and focus
- Supports memory and cognition
Cost of Buying Modafinil
Once an individual has a prescription, he/she must contend with the high prices at which the drug is sold in developed nations. Unless the drug is prescribed to treat one of the approved medical diagnosis for its on-label use, patients find their insurance companies not willing to cover the cost of the medication. This can be rather expensive.
In the U.S., a month’s supply (30 tablets) of 100mg Modafinil tablets currently costs well over $700 for the brand name drug (Provigil) and over $400 for the generic version.
Even for individuals who have an insurance cost plan, the price for a single Modafinil dosage can be upwards of $10 per pill.
Due to its prescription-only status and its exorbitant cost, many people choose to find non-prescription, affordable alternatives to Modafinil.
How About Buying Online?
For people with a prescription who live in a country were import of prescription drugs is legal, there is the option to buy Modafinil online from a registered online pharmacy. Prices from online pharmacies are often significantly cheaper than from traditional brick-and-mortar stores. This is especially useful for drugs that are typically very expensive, such as Modafinil.
It is important to research prospective online pharmacies thoroughly. Make sure that they are registered with whatever governing body is in the country they are located in. Read reviews from other buyers on websites independent from the pharmacy site if possible.
In the UK, there are a few online pharmacies that can write you an online prescription for Modafinil if you are eligible. You will have to give your medical history and undergo an online consultation to determine if you are eligible for this prescription. If successful, you will be written a prescription and able to buy Modafinil from the General Pharmaceutical Council registered online pharmacies. This online prescription writing service is available for UK residents only.
There are some other online pharmacies based in Europe that say they will write online prescriptions for people from other countries. It is difficult to find registration information for many of these pharmacies however, and the legitimacy of these prescriptions is potentially suspect.
Some smart drug users turn to the online grey market for Modafinil by importing small quantities from India or Mexico without a prescription. There are offshore pharmacies that do sell this medication to buyers even without a prescription.
Although there are reports of users who have done so, it can be difficult to verify the quality of products or the companies selling them. There is a risk both financially and with regards to the products received. There is also the risk that the order will be seized at the border and refused entry, causing the buyer to lose money that was paid for the drug.
Modafinil Alternatives
An alternative to Modafinil is a substance called Adrafinil. Adrafinil is available without a prescription and can be purchased readily from established, reputable online nootropic shops.
In the U.S. and in most countries around the world, Adrafinil is not a controlled substance and can be purchased both online or over the counter. Adrafinil is metabolized into Modafinil by the liver, so the effects of the drug are delayed by about an hour during that conversion time, but otherwise, the effects are those of Modafinil.
Other smart drug users work to build stacks of Nootropics which often include one or more racetams, Choline (Citicoline or Alpha-GPC are good choices, B-vitamins and other nootropic and herbal supplements.
Although these do not work in the brain in the same way as Modafinil does, it is possible to achieve some of the benefits of the drug through other nootropics.
Summary
Modafinil is a prescription only drug in most countries. Two major notable exceptions are India and Mexico but if Modafinil is purchased without a prescription from one of these countries, individuals risk receiving a fake product or not receiving it at all.
The drug, Adrafinil, is a precursor to Modafinil and is available without a prescription. Adrafinil breaks down in the liver into Modafinil and can provide the same beneficial effects as the prescription drug at a fraction of the cost.
Adrafinil should not be used continuously because of its effects on the liver.
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Article last updated on: April 11th, 2018 by Nootriment
1 Comment
Quiero modafinil o aderal