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Is Provigil recreational use an inherently risky activity with dangerous side effects? Or is this new smart drug a viable mind enhancer which can safely integrate into daily life?
Most Provigil users claim the latter. They say this wonder drug makes studying, reading, designing, programming, and working easier and more enjoyable than ever before.
As the recreational use of Provigil (Modafinil) soars, we are starting to learn more about how this drug works.
At the same time, grey market offshore websites are springing up to answer the new demand, offering this drug to the public without requiring prescriptions.
Are these pills and the websites that sell them safe? Here’s what we know so far about the world’s most famous “smart drug.”
Alertness
Mental Acuity
Focus- Stimulates wakefulness in the brain
- Promotes mental acuity & processing
- Enhances focus, motivation & energy
New Popularity of Provigil Recreational Use
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
Provigil was a relatively obscure pharmaceutical for the first two decades of its existence.
Originally just known as the generic name Modafinil, the drug was first developed in France, and introduced to America in the 1990s as a narcolepsy treatment.
Soon after, it was often prescribed for another sleep disorder, namely shift-work sleep disorder. It was around this time that users started to note the intense cognitive benefits of the drug that came alongside its wakeful properties.
Word spread that users were able to concentrate upon detail-oriented tasks for hours on end without any distraction. Thoughts felt sharper and faster. Provigil quickly gained a reputation as an intelligence boosting wonder drug.
After being profiled on television and depicted in the fictional film “Limitless,” wherein Bradley Cooper’s character consumes a Provigil-like smart drug called NZT 48 and achieves super intelligence, Provigil recreational use skyrocketed.
It is now a common fixture on college campuses and is widely used in many high intensity professions. Other people enjoy Provigil as it makes mundane household tasks easy to focus upon and achieve.
Provigil Effects in the Brain
Provigil, in the form of its main active component Modafinil, increases activity of several neurotransmitter systems in the brain. While it is not known exactly how it does this, the simultaneous release of CNS histamines, orexins, and increased dopamine levels is involved.
These natural chemicals stimulate rapid responses in the body, resulting in a heightened state of mental alertness, acuity and drive.
All of these reactions synergistically create Provigil’s many positive mental effects. The drug can not only help you be more productive and successful in your daily life, it also has powerful mood enhancing qualities that can counteract depression and cause almost euphoric sensations.
While originally harnessed for improving certain serious sleep disorders, these effects have generated a lot of interest in taking Modafinil as a recreational drug or for so-called “lifestyle purposes”.
Modafinil History
Modafinil was originally developed in the mid 1970s by Lafon Laboratories, a French pharmaceutical corporation. Cephalon Inc bought out Lafon, and to this day makes the most popular and common name brand version of Modafinil, Provigil.
Modafinil was actually discovered due to testing on another related compound, Adrafinil. Adrafinil is one of a series of benzhydryl sulfinyl compounds that was first discovered in 1974. Testing done on Adrafinil classified it as a eugeroic agent, or wakefulness-promoting drug. It was approved as a treatment for narcolepsy in France in 1986.
Research studies done on Adrafinil to determine its mechanism of action helped to discover Modafinil. It was found that when Adrafinil was consumed it was broken down in the liver into the inactive modafinilic acid, and the active Modafinil. Modafinil is the primary active compound in Adrafinil, from which it derives its effects.
After Modafinil was discovered as the active component of Adrafinil, more research went into being able to synthesize this compound on its own.
As was to be expected, Modafinil displayed all of the same effects as Adrafinil did before it in lab and animal testing. In initial animal tests, Modafinil, like Adrafinil before it, showed increased locomotor activity (i.e. walking, running, swimming) and vigilance. Because of these effects, and because of the previous research done on Adrafinil, Modafinil was first tested as a treatment for the sleep disorder narcolepsy in human patients.
- Increases energy, wakefulness and motivation
- Boosts mental performance and focus
- Supports memory and cognition
Provigil and Narcolepsy
Narcolepsy is a serious sleep disorder that affects a person’s ability to maintain a wakeful state. People with this disorder can fall asleep randomly without warning multiple times per day, and experience excessive daytime sleepiness that is not dependent on the quality of sleep they have at night.
It is believed that one of the primary causes of narcolepsy is decreased orexin producing neurons in the brain. These neuropeptides work in the brain to regulate appetite, arousal, and wakefulness.
In research, Modafinil has been seen to have a positive effect on these neurotransmitters, and may help to increase the activity of the remaining orexin neurons in the brains of narcoleptics. Positive effects on histamine are also believed to play a role in Modafinil’s wakefulness effects.
In multiple double-blind placebo-controlled clinical research trials, when compared to a placebo, Modafinil has been seen to significantly reduce excessive sleepiness in people with narcolepsy.
Patients given Provigial who then use the self-administered Epworth Sleepiness Scale to measure their levels of sleepiness have reported significantly better scores than patients on placebo. Latency to sleep scores as measured by the Maintenance of Wakefulness Test have been seen to improve as well.
Modafinil has been seen to be such a successful treatment for narcolepsy that it has been used as a baseline to test novel narcolepsy drugs against. Both sodium oxybate and pitolisant are newer narcolepsy drugs that have been tested against Modafinil to prove their efficacy.
Provigil for Other Sleep Disorders
As mentioned above, Shift-work sleep disorder is another prescribed use for Provigil. This sleep disorder is tied to the body’s circadian rhythm, which is the daily approximately 24-hour sleep and wake cycle that human beings are programmed for. Humans are diurnal, meaning we are typically awake during the day and sleep at night.
Due to work shifts late at night, overnight, or extended shifts, some people have a shifted circadian rhythm. Some people adjust to this new rhythm fine and do not experience any or only experience passing disturbances to their sleep and energy levels when awake. Others experience excessive sleepiness when awake, and can experience insomnia when trying to sleep, and these people are typically diagnosed with shift-work sleep disorder.
Multiple studies have shown that Provigil is effective at improving wakefulness and decreasing excessive sleepiness in patients with this sleep disorder. One study gave patients with a placebo or a dosage of Modafinil an hour before a work shift. They were tested during their shift using the Psychomotor Vigilance test. It was found that the Modafinil patients had fewer and less frequent attention lapses compared to the placebo patients during their work shift.
Obstructive sleep apnea/hypopnea syndrome (OSAHS) is a medical condition that refers to breathing being shallow/labored (hypopnea), or completely stopping (apnea) when sleeping. This occurs because the muscles supporting the tongue, soft palate, and the uvula involuntarily relax during sleep, causing either a partial or complete blockage of the airway.
People with this condition often experience excessive daytime sleepiness. Modafinil is used as an adjunct treatment to address this side effect of this condition. It has been seen in studies that compared to a placebo, Provigil is significantly better at reducing excessive sleepiness as measured on the Epworth Sleepiness Scale in people with OSAHS.
Common Off-Label Prescription Provigil Uses
Narcolepsy, shift-work sleep disorder, and obstructive sleep apnea/hypopnea syndrome are the only on-label approved uses of Provigil. Any other uses are considered off-label.
There are a few off-label uses that have some significant research behind them that some doctors will in fact prescribe Modafinil for off-label. The main prescribed off-label uses of Modafinil are for disease-related fatigue and for ADD/ADHD.
Fatigue is a side effect that is related to a many different diseases including depression, multiple sclerosis, fibromyalgia, and Parkinson’s disease. Similarly to its original uses for sleep disorders, Provigil helps improve wakefulness and reduce excessive sleepiness in people with disease-related fatigue.
One joint study conducted by the Universities of Cambridge and East London and King’s College London found that Modafinil showed beneficial effects on fatigue and sleepiness in patients with depression. Additionally, Modafinil used in conjunction with traditional antidepressants reduced the severity of depression more effectively than antidepressants alone.
One study compared Modafinil to a placebo in reducing fatigue in patients with multiple sclerosis. The efficacy of the treatments were self-evaluated using the fatigue severity scale, modified fatigue impact scale, visual analogue scale for fatigue, and the Epworth Sleepiness Scale. Significant improvements were seen on all three fatigue scale and the sleepiness scale when patients were given Modafinil versus the placebo.
One of the most prescribed off-label uses of Provigil is for attention-deficit disorder (ADD) and attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). Users have said that the drug helps them maintain concentration and a highly focused state, as well as improving attention and memory.
There have been many double-blind placebo-controlled studies comparing Modafinil to a placebo. In all cases, when compared to results when taking a placebo, significant improvements have been seen on a variety of tests of ADHD symptoms when taking Provigil, including ADHD Rating Scale-IV School and Home Versions, Conners Rating Scales, and the DSM-IV ADHD Behavior Checklist.
Some studies have even compared Modafinil to conventional amphetamine-based stimulant ADHD medications. One study compared Modafinil to dextroamphetamine (Dexedrine), and compared both active drugs to a placebo.
A battery of memory and attention tests were administered during each testing phase, including the DSM-IV ADHD Behavior Checklist for Adults, the controlled oral word association test (COWAT), the Stroop test, and the digit span test. Significant improvements were seen on the DSM-IV ADHD Behavior Checklist when taking both active medications compared to results on placebo.
The researchers concluded that since Provigil was able to show significantly better results than the placebo, and that were similar to the conventional medication, that Provigil should be considered a viable alternative treatment for ADHD.
Doctors who are up-to-date on their research of alternative ADHD treatments will sometimes prescribe Modafinil to their patients, especially in cases where traditional medications such as Adderall and Ritalin have not been as effective as wanted, or in cases where they have caused serious side effects.
Traditional stimulants are known to cause cardiovascular issues such as heart arrhythmias and spontaneous changes in blood pressure. Provigil does carry the risk of heart palpitations and a sometimes elevated heartrate, but any cardiovascular side effects with Provigil are often much more mild than those routinely seen with traditional stimulants.
The Rise of Recreational Provigil Uses
The most popular use of Provigil that the drug is very rarely prescribed for is as a cognitive enhancing substance. A large variety of people from university students to high-powered executives have reported using Provigil as a nootropic drug to increase their attention span, memory, learning capabilities, concentration, and motivation.
A review paper that compiled results from many different studies done on Modafinil use for cognition found that across multiple studies, one trending result that emerged was that Modafinil improved memory, specifically working memory and episodic memory.
Another review found that Modafinil was also seen to improve executive function (i.e. decision making, critical reasoning, planning, abstract thought), especially when planning and completing complex or and/or difficult tasks and tests.
One study on healthy male volunteers who had been sleep deprived found that Modafinil was effective at sustaining/restoring objective performance and alertness to pre-sleep deprivation levels with few adverse effects. Results like these are why Modafinil is used extensively in military personnel to enhance alertness and cognitive function during late and long shifts and under other sleep deprived circumstances.
One randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled between-subjects research study compared the results of a variety of neuropsychological attention and memory tests of healthy male participants when taking a placebo and when taking Modafinil. It was seen that compared to the placebo, Modafinil significantly enhanced performance on a spatial planning test, a stop-signal reaction time test, a test of digit span, and a visual pattern recognition memory test.
In addition to these improvements in results, there was also observed a slowing in response to certain tests: a decision-making task, a delayed matching to sample test, and the spatial planning task. The researchers concluded that this delay allowed for a reduction in impulsive responding, allowing for a slightly delayed, but more accurate response rate. The researchers suggested that in addition to the results seen in their healthy participants, this reduction in impulsivity may be beneficial for improving symptoms of ADHD.
Side Effects For Provigil Users
Of course, the big question surrounding Provigil recreational use is the possibility of short and long-term side effects, abuse, addiction, and withdrawal.
The good news is, Provigil does not have the dopamine-spiking qualities which make other somewhat similar “energy pills” such as amphetamines and ADHD medication like Adderall so dangerously addictive.
The prevalence of Provigil abuse is very low, and there are no significant physical withdrawal symptoms. Some users report frustration with returning to normal cognitive speed and focus in the absence of Provigil, but this wears off within a few days.
Headaches are also frequently mentioned as a light side effect, but they do not seem to be severe and rarely prevent enjoyment of Provigil’s benefits.
There have been some rare, but serious skin reactions linked to Modafinil use, including Stevens-Johnson syndrome, drug reaction with eosinophilia and systemic symptoms (DRESS), and toxic epidermal necrolysis (TEN). While Modafinil has not been definitively determined to be the cause of these conditions in cases reported where people were taking the drug, it is believed to be a likely cause, and caution should be taken.
If you develop a fever, flu-like symptoms (such as headache, fatigue, sore throat, cough, etc.), a red or purple spreading rash, and/or blisters, it is advised to stop taking Provigil and speak with your doctor immediately, or go to an emergency room.
Is Recreational Use of Provigil Legal?
Despite the proliferation of Provigil use for cognitive enhancement in recent years, it is still classified as a prescription-only treatment for extreme sleep disorders. It is a Schedule IV controlled substance in the United States.
As such, it cannot be purchased legally without a prescription. Many doctors will not prescribe a drug for anything other than its originally intended use, with good reason. Without proper study and supervision, it is impossible to know how individuals will respond to these unintended treatments.
As mentioned previously, some doctors may write a prescription for Provigil for ADHD. However, finding a doctor who will can be difficult. As well, even in these cases where a prescription is given, many insurance companies typically won’t cover any off-label uses.
For these reasons, offshore pharmacies which are not subject to U.S. laws have become more prevalent among those seeking Provigil for off-label uses. Unfortunately, these pharmacies have no oversight by the FDA and are free to sell any pills under any name.
Marketed as Provigil analogues, some of their products, such as Modalert and Modvigil, have not been tested and their true contents are unknown. Taking these pills constitutes a substantial health risk.
In many cases, the pills are confiscated by U.S. Customs before they every reach their destination, making these websites a potential financial risk as well.
One great side effect of the Provigil recreational use craze is a flurry of public interest in brain-boosting nootropic supplements and the world of brain-hacking in general. These cognitive enhancers work with brain chemistry to produce a broad range of energetic, optimizing effects.
Nootropic supplements do not require prescriptions, are legal and safe, and are typically easy to procure through U.S.-based nootropic online vendors. The most popular Provigil alternative is Adrafinil. This compound is actually the direct pre-cursor to Modafinil (generic Provigil).
Once it has been processed by the liver into Modafinil, the compound generates all of the same effects that are associated with Provigil. Extra care needs to be taken with timing and dosage, as the liver must work harder to create Modafinil, but taken occasionally, this nootropic is one way to experience Provigil’s recreational effects legally and without a prescription.
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Article last updated on: April 12th, 2018 by Nootriment