Modafinil is medically prescribed to treat sleep disorders such as narcolepsy, but healthy individuals also use it off-label to promote wakefulness. This is known as “smart drug” use.
Modafinil inhibits dopamine reuptake through its interaction with the dopamine transporter and increases histamine, norepinephrine, and 5-HT levels in the brain, leading to wakefulness.
Benefits
Modafinil Australia Online is a wakefulness-promoting drug and is medically prescribed in most countries to treat sleep disorders such as narcolepsy. It is also commonly used for non-medical purposes such as improving concentration or focus during study, boosting energy levels, or counteracting the effects of jet lag.
Research indicates that modafinil improves cognitive performance in healthy subjects when not sleep-deprived, improving arithmetic and spatial planning memory as well as a delay-dependent enhancement of working memory without a speed-accuracy trade-off (Turner et al, 2003). It enhances verbal and visual recognition memory and SSRT and improves decision making, but does not appear to influence perceptual or reasoning tasks.
It appears to work by enhancing several neurotransmitters in the brain including dopamine, serotonin, histamine, and glutamate. Its wake-promoting effects compare favorably with stimulants like amphetamine and methylphenidate, but are more subtle and do not produce the highs associated with these drugs. It is also better tolerated, with a lower risk of side effects and less liability for abuse or dependence.
Modafinil and armodafinil should not be taken by pregnant women, since they are associated with a risk of congenital malformations in developing babies. The drugs are also fetotoxic in animal studies and can cause growth restriction, miscarriage, and other harm to fetuses. As a result, the manufacturers of Provigil and Nuvigil have been asked to establish pregnancy registries and doctors are advised to recommend that patients avoid becoming pregnant while taking these medications.
Side effects
Modafinil is generally well-tolerated in clinical trials, but some people may experience side effects such as headache or nausea. These side effects are usually mild and go away after a few weeks of taking the drug. You should also tell your doctor if you have any cardiovascular problems or mental health issues, as long-term sleep disruption has been linked to these conditions.
Modafinil belongs to a class of medications called wakefulness-promoting agents and is primarily used to treat sleep disorders like narcolepsy. However, it has also been found to boost cognitive function in healthy individuals. This has sparked an ethical debate about whether it is right to market a pharmaceutical drug that improves cognition in people who are not sleep-deprived.
Several small studies suggest that modafinil has cognitive-enhancing effects that are independent of its wakefulness-promoting properties. These include the ability to stay awake for longer, increased attention span, and better memory. However, these studies are small and the results were mixed.
Both modafinil and armodafinil (Waklert 150 mg) are Schedule IV controlled substances, meaning they have a low potential for abuse and addiction. It is possible to become dependent on these drugs, but the risk is low compared to other stimulants such as amphetamines. Modafinil and armodafinil can interact with several other medications, including antidepressants, narcotics, barbiturates, and anticholinergics. It is important to tell your doctor about all of your medications before taking them.
Dosage
Modafinil and armodafinil are both in a class of medications called wakefulness-promoting agents. They are used to treat excessive sleepiness caused by narcolepsy (a condition that causes daytime sleepiness), shift work sleep disorder (difficulty sleeping during scheduled waking hours in people who work night or rotating shifts), and obstructive sleep apnea/hypopnea syndrome (a group of disorders characterized by repetitive shallow breathing, episodes of not breathing, and choking during sleep).
A single oral dose of modafinil is well absorbed and rapidly reaches a high plasma concentration within 2-4 h. Plasma concentrations of the active enantiomer, armodafinil, are reached more slowly. The enantiomers are equipotent in behavioral effects but differ slightly in pharmacokinetics (reviewed by Hellriegel and Arora, 2001).
Several studies have shown that a single dose of modafinil increases wakefulness in normal subjects. It also improves vigilance during simulated night-shift work and attenuates performance disruptions during a simulated nap in individuals with multiple sclerosis. Modafinil enhances extracellular dopamine levels in the nucleus accumbens and stimulates locus coeruleus neurons to increase the release of epinephrine, norepinephrine, and dopamine. These effects are attributed to the indirect actions of modafinil on adrenergic receptors (Hall et al, 2003; Murillo-Rodriguez et al, 2007).
Postmarketing surveys and medical literature have not identified any cases of addiction or craving for wake-promoting drugs. However, the arousal effect of modafinil may be tempting for some to use to stay awake longer than is safe, and there have been reports of individuals abusing the medication by taking higher doses than prescribed to achieve this purpose.
Precautions
Modafinil and armodafinil are both drugs that are used to promote wakefulness in patients with sleep disorders. However, they differ in chemical structure and pharmacokinetics. These differences should be weighed against clinical needs and individual health requirements to determine which drug is best for each patient.
Both medications can have serious side effects, including rash. In severe cases, rash can be life-threatening and must be treated immediately. Both medications can interact with other medications, so be sure to tell your doctor about all prescription and over-the-counter medicines, vitamins, supplements, and herbs you are taking.
Armodafinil is the enantiopure form of modafinil and was approved by the FDA in June 2007. It is used to improve wakefulness in adults with narcolepsy, obstructive sleep apnea, or shift work disorder. It has been shown to improve driving simulator performance in narcolepsy and to reduce excessive daytime sleepiness in patients with obstructive sleep apnea and narcolepsy.
It is important to avoid alcohol while on this medication. It can increase the severity of some of the side effects. It is also not recommend to take this medication if you have an underlying health condition. It can increase the risk of heart attack and other cardiovascular problems. It can also interfere with the absorption of certain vitamins and minerals. Modafinil may also reduce the effectiveness of hormonal birth control (pills, rings, implants, and injections) and should not be take with these types of birth control. Read More Blog…
