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As popularity of the latest smart drugs rise, it’s natural that fears about Provigil abuse, addiction and withdrawal dangers should take center stage.
The benefits of Provigil, also known as generic name Modafinil, are well-known. It can enhance mental performance, reasoning and learning and create intense, lasting concentration free from distraction.
But as a relatively new drug, there have not yet been extensive formal studies about safety and addiction. How much does Provigil have in common with amphetamines and the cognitive-focusing drugs from previous eras, like Ritalin and Adderall?
Will you experience withdrawal when you stop taking it? Does your body develop a tolerance to the effects of Provigil?
Before you experiment with this mind enhancer, it’s important to get the facts. Here’s what we know so far about the potential dangers of the abuse of Provigil.
Alertness
Mental Acuity
Focus- 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 in France in 1976. A neurophysiologist working for Lafon Laboratories, which was later bought by the current owner, Cephalon, who still make the most popular name brand version of Modafinil, Provigil.
The discovery of Modafinil came about from the earlier development of the benzhydryl sulfinyl compound Adrafinil. Adrafinil is one of a series of compounds that was developed in 1974. It was determined to be a eugeroic drug, or a wakefulness-promoting agent.
During research studies to determine how Adrafinil works in the body, Modafinil was discovered. It was found that Modafinil is the primary active compound in Adrafinil. Adrafinil is therefore considered a pro-drug of Modafinil, meaning that it metabolizes in the body into the active Modafinil.
Adrafinil was first approved in humans to treat the sleep disorder narcolepsy, and therefore this was the first human use for Modafinil as well. Narcolepsy is a sleep disorder that affects the ability to maintain a wakeful state during the day. People with narcolepsy often experience excessive daytime sleepiness (even if they had good quality sleep the night before), and can frequently and randomly fall asleep throughout the day.
As a wakefulness-promoting drug like Adrafinil before it, Modafinil has been extensively studied as a treatment for narcolepsy. Many double-blind placebo-controlled research studies have been done using Modafinil for narcolepsy, and have found that compared to a placebo, Modafinil is significantly better at reducing the number of daytime sleep episodes, as well as periods of severe sleepiness, as noted in patient sleep logs.
Provigil has been used as a prescription treatment for the excessive sleepiness associated with narcolepsy since 1994 in France, and since 1998 in the United States. Since that time it has also been approved for use for other sleep disorders, namely shift-work sleep disorder, and obstructive sleep apnea/hypopnea syndrome.
Shift-work sleep disorder is a disorder that may occur when normal circadian rhythms are disrupted. Circadian rhythms are the body’s normal hormonal and behavioral responses to changes in daylight; humans are diurnal, meaning they typically are awake during the day and asleep at night.
Working a very late or overnight work shift, or working very extended shifts as is sometimes seen in healthcare workers like nurses and doctors can cause shift-work sleep disorder to occur. People with this disorder often experience excessive sleepiness when they are awake (during the nighttime), and can also experience insomnia when trying to sleep (during the daytime). It has been seen that this disorder will resolve itself if the person is able to return to a normal sleep pattern, but that is not always possible.
Provigil has been successfully used as a treatment for improving the excessive sleepiness associated with shift-work sleep disorder. A study found that workers given a dose of Modafinil before a work shift has fewer attention lapses as measured by the Psychomotor Vigilance test compared to workers given a placebo before work. The workers did report that Modafinil did not completely remove their sleepiness however, and even better treatment options should still be researched.
Obstructive sleep apnea/hypopnea syndrome (OSAHS) is a medical condition where breathing during sleep is involuntarily either partially or completely obstructed. The muscles holding the tongue and soft palate of the mouth in place involuntarily relax during sleep, causing either a partial blockage of the airway and shallow breathing (hypopnea), or complete blockage and a cessation of breathing (apnea).
People with this condition often have multiple breathing trouble episodes a night, which typically leads to poor quality sleep overall. Most people with OSAHS consequently experience excessive daytime sleepiness.
The most common treatment for apnea/hypopnea itself is to wear a continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) machine while sleeping to help keep the airways clear. Some people still experience sleepiness in the day however, and Modafinil has been used as an adjunct treatment to relieve this side effect of the condition.
In multiple double-blind placebo-controlled studies, it has been found that compared to a placebo, Modafinil is significantly better at improving daytime sleepiness in OSAHS patients, as scored on the self-administered Epworth Sleepiness Scale.
- Increases energy, wakefulness and motivation
- Boosts mental performance and focus
- Supports memory and cognition
The Rise of Alternative Off-Label Modafinil Uses
Provigil is only officially approved for the sleep disorders discussed in the previous section. Any other uses are technically considered “off-label,” as compared to the approved, on-label uses. It is estimated that as much as 90% of all prescriptions written for Modafinil are in fact for off-label uses.
Some off-label uses of Modafinil are for a purpose closely related to its approved uses. Many different diseases, conditions, and treatments cause fatigue, including Parkinson’s disease, depression, chronic fatigue syndrome, multiple sclerosis, fibromyalgia, and cancer.
In research studies, Modafinil has been seen to improve fatigue in a number of diseases, namely depression and multiple sclerosis. While the theory behind it lends credence to the hypothesis that Modafinil could improve fatigue caused by a large variety of diseases and conditions, more research should be conducted to prove this, and potentially get it approved as an official use.
One of the conditions for which Modafinil is most commonly prescribed is attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). Because of its stimulant-like effects, many people with ADHD will take Modafinil to help improve their focus and concentration. In research, patients have reported feeling more alert, attentive, and energetic while on Modafinil as compared to a placebo.
There have been many studies done using Modafinil for ADHD in children, adolescents, and adults alike. Results have shown that Modafinil reduces symptoms of ADHD more significantly than a placebo in many different trials.
Multiple similarly designed randomized double-blind placebo-controlled clinical research trials in children with ADHD have found that compared to a placebo, Modafinil significantly reduces symptoms of ADHD and improves scores on various ADHD tests, including Teacher and Parent ADHD Rating Scale-IV, ADHD Rating Scale-IV School and Home Versions, and the Test of Variables of Attention for ADHD.
In adult based trials, results have been similar, showing that Modafinil significantly improves scores on various tests when compared to a placebo. Trials have also been done comparing Modafinil not only to a placebo, but also against traditional ADHD amphetamine based medications.
One randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, three-phase crossover trial compared Modafinil to dextroamphetamine (Dexedrine), and compared both active medications to a placebo. Patients were given each of three treatments (Modafinil, dextroamphetamine, and placebo) for two weeks and then switched to another treatment until each patient had had all three treatments.
It was found that while on the Modafinil and dextroamphetamine treatments, scores on the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders – 4th edition ADHD Behavior Checklist were significantly improved, while trend significance levels of improvement were seen on the Controlled Oral Word Association Test (COWAT) were also seen.
The researchers found that Modafinil improved scores in a similar manner to the conventional medication. They suggested that more research was still needed to confirm their results, but that Modafinil should be considered as a viable alternative treatment for ADHD.
Reviews of other similar research has come to a similar conclusion and suggests that Provigil could be a successful new treatment option for patients with ADHD. While it has not been approved as an official use of the drugs, there are some doctors who are up to date on their scientific research who will in fact prescribe Modafinil off-label to patients for ADHD.
This seems to most commonly be the case where standard ADHD medications have not been successful at reducing symptoms of the condition, or have been poorly tolerated.
Why Do People Take Provigil?
If there was a “magic pill” that made you feel smarter, more articulate, and better equipped to perform complex and demanding mental tasks, would you take it? Well that’s exactly how Provigil has been portrayed in popular culture lately.
The recent Hollywood movie “Limitless” presented a fictionalized account of the drug (known in the movie by the name “NZT 48”), which granted whoever took it superhuman intelligence. While this story was clearly exaggerated, it generated immediate and intense public interest in its real-word counterpart, Provigil.
Provigil and its generic version Modafinil started to be discussed as nootropic mind-boosting agents. In a similar vein to its effects for people with ADHD, in recent history Modafinil has been used fairly extensively as a Nootropic cognitive enhancement drug.
Now, the drug is popularly used on college campuses and in high-stress professions that require exacting attention to detail, like finance, writing and programming. Users say that Modafinil provides hours of unshakable concentration upon tasks and learning, with very few downsides, if any. Many say that the benefits of this drug include enhanced focus and concentration, as well as improved memory and recall.
While the research on Provigil use for cognition is not as extensive as for sleep disorders and ADHD, there is a still a fairly substantial body of evidence on using Modafinil as a nootropic drug. Reviews of the current research available have shown trends across research studies relating to cognitive enhancement, namely that Modafinil has been seen to improve some aspects of memory (specifically working and episodic memory), as well as enhancing executive function, especially when planning and executing complex mental exercises.
With all of the hype and excitement over the drug, Provigil abuse, addiction and withdrawal dangers have also started to be featured more in the mainstream press, though at this time fears appear to be unfounded.
Is Provigil A Controlled Substance?
Provigil is classified as a Schedule IV narcotic by the FDA (Food and Drug Administration) and therefore is illegal to buy without a prescription.
Some people conflate this status with a history or potential of Provigil abuse, but that is not the case. Schedule IV drugs are classified as having a low abuse potential. Ambien is another Schedule IV drug.
However, prescriptions for Provigil are hard to come by, as they are typically reserved for patients who have been diagnosed with sleep disorders.
While there are some doctors who will prescribe Modafinil for certain off-label conditions such as for ADHD, many doctors are reluctant to prescribe medications to healthy patients for one of the most common off-label uses, as a nootroic drug focus booster. This is the primary reason for the difficulty of getting a prescription – not fears of Provigil abuse, addiction, and withdrawal dangers.
Is Provigil Withdrawal Severe?
Users who have been on a Provigil regimen for more than several weeks and then stopped reported no physical withdrawal dangers.
This could be because Provigil seems to derive its power by releasing CNS histamines in the brain. The agents create targeted stimulation of various key neurotransmitters, which cause Provigil’s effects of wakefulness and alert thoughts.
Without the stimulatory chemical spiking of rising and falling dopamine levels, there is little possibility of addiction and its related withdrawal. There is some headache associated with Provigil use, but that seems to be common at any dosage, over any period of time, and is not a function of Provigil abuse.
The main withdrawal symptom noted in regular Provigil users is the often frustrating return to normal cognitive function after stopping taking the drug.
In comparison to how thoughts and concentration felt while taking Provigil, the return to routine thinking can be a let-down and feel slow. This sensation wears off within a few days.
Provigil Health Risks vs Ritalin and Adderall
Provigil’s exact chemical mechanisms of action are still unknown. It has been seen in multiple research studies that Modafinil affects levels, transport, and signalling of various neurotransmitters in the brain, including Histamine (as previously discussed), Serotonin, Dopamine, Epinephrine (Adrenaline), Norepinephrine (Noradrenaline), and Hypocretin (Orexin).
While we still do not know the exact way that Modafinil exerts its stimulating effects we do know it is not an amphetamine, and while it may affect Dopamine and Norepinephrine, it does not appear to work by unnaturally spiking levels of these neurotransmitters, as many conventional stimulant medications do. As such, it does not have the hallmarks of potential dependency and various health risks.
One of the most common serious side effects associated with amphetamine, phenethylamine, and piperidine based stimulants is blood pressure and heart complications. Provigil does not appear to carry the same potential damage to the heart that these medications do.
Too large of dosages, or extended use of traditional stimulants have been seen to cause cardiovascular issues including fast, pounding heartbeat (tachycardia); heart arrhythmia (irregular heartbeart); and erratic elevations in blood pressure.
Adderall and Ritalin are stimulants known to create rapid heart rate and arrhythmia, side effects which Provigil does not typically exhibit. As it does have stimulant-like effects, Provigil has been reported to sometimes cause high blood pressure and heart palpitations in a small percentage of users (between 1-10%), but the severity of effects is not considered equal to traditional amphetamine based stimulants.
Modafinil Side Effects
While it does not carry the same cardiovascular risks as traditional stimulants, there are some side effects to be aware of. Most people who take Provigil may experience some of these mild side effects, especially when they first begin taking the medication and their body is adjusting.
Some of the most commonly reported mild side effects include:
- headache
- nausea
- nervousness
- anxiety
- heartburn
- indigestion
- vomiting
- diarrhea
- back pain
- rhinitis (inflammation of the nasal mucosa, causing stuffy and/or runny nose)
Sometimes these side effects are dosage dependent, and taking a lower dosage may eliminate or lessen the severity of common side effects.
There are a few serious but rare side effects that are possibly caused by Modafinil, specifically certain skin and mucous membrane reactions. While no confirmed cases have occurred in research studies, and it has not been definitively shown that Modafinil was in fact the cause of cases of these conditions, some cases have been reported in people taking this drug, and it is important to be aware of the risk.
Stevens-Johnson syndrome, Toxic Epidermal Necrolysis (TEN), and Drug Reaction with Eosinophilia and Systemic Symptoms (DRESS) are potential conditions that may occur with Provigil use. If you experience a fever, flu-like symptoms, and/or a red spreading, blistering rash, than stop taking Provigil and speak with your doctor immediately.
How to Avoid Provigil Abuse, Addiction, and Withdrawal Dangers
The best way to avoid Provigil abuse, addiction and withdrawal dangers, as with all supplements and prescription drugs, is to take them as directed by a doctor.
However, in the case of Provigil, the predominance of its consumption for off-label uses often precludes a doctor’s oversight. Users are left to monitor their own benefits and side effects.
Provigil’s lack of addictive qualities and physical withdrawal seems to make it easy to cease taking at will. There have been very few reports of Provigil addiction.
Still, if you have fears about possible Provigil abuse, or have a history of substance abuse, it might be a good idea to look into some other natural nootropic solutions that present absolutely no danger and are not scheduled controlled substances.
Many of these nootropics, such as cholinergics and Racetams, provide some degree of cognitive-boosting benefits as Provigil. And without any prescription necessary, these nootropics will be easier, and cheaper, to acquire and sample.
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Article last updated on: April 12th, 2018 by Nootriment