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Modafinil and Armodafinil are both popular nootropics that are primarily used to enhance wakefulness, focus, and cognition while temporarily banishing fatigue and sleepiness. Over the last few years, demands have increased even leading to the surfacing of generic forms such as Modvigil.
Both produce almost identical effects, but there are also a few significant differences between the two supplements. These differences will help decide which one of these drugs is right for you. In this article, I will explore everything you need to know about Modafinil and Armodafinil.
Introducing Eugeroic
Both modafinil and adrafinil are considered eugeroics, or wakefulness-enhancing agents. A eugeroic is a type of compound that improves alertness and wakefulness by developing long-lasting mental arousal. How both drugs achieve their effects is what sets them apart from traditional stimulants such as amphetamines or caffeine. Instead of targeting the entire nervous system, the eugeroics affect particular neurotransmitters in the brain. Some prefer the milder version of Modalert, the underrated Waklert 150mg.
Adrafinil and modafinil work more gradually, provide smoother energy, and wear off more gently than other stimulants because of their effects are not based on increasing overall psychomotor activity. This eliminates the euphoric effects and feelings of anxiety typically associated with amphetamines.
Eugeroics works well in fighting various sleep disorders, and they are exceptionally active cognitive enhancers. Adrafinil and modafinil can treat conditions without messing up your regular sleep patterns because of their smoothness. They have become a popular smart drug option for anyone needing to perform at peak cognitive levels while staying awake and energized for long periods. Adrafinil and modafinil are widely used off-label stimulant by shift workers, students, and others to perform at their day jobs.
Extensive study has confirmed that both modafinil and adrafinil have powerful nootropic capabilities, improve mood, and memory in sleep-deprived and non-fatigued people. Eugeroics can effectively prevent excessive daytime sleepiness without interfering with regular sleep patterns or giving rise to hyperactivity, so they are efficient for the treatment of sleep disorders like narcolepsy, shift work syndrome and obstructive sleep apnea.
Research indicates that both adrafinil and modafinil present a minimal risk for tolerance and addiction that is characteristic with the long-term use of stimulants.
Modafinil and adrafinil have few side effects. The most common ones include headaches, anxiety, insomnia, indigestion, and a dry mouth. These side effects are all usually brief and temporary. Abnormal heart rhythm and blood pressure fluctuations may also occur. However, if these side effects worsen or persist over time, the user is advised to seek medical advice.
Adrafinil And Modafinil: How They’re The Same
Adrafinil is also called the precursor to modafinil because adrafinil is metabolized in the liver once administered, where it is transformed into the active metabolite, which is modafinil, with the remainder metabolized to the inactive modafinilic acid. As you can see, this means that both have the same effects and benefits and work nearly the same way. Now, let’s go over the benefits and similarities of these nootropics.
Mechanisms of Action
Both modafinil and adrafinil act on the hypothalamus and amygdala regions of the brain to increase wakefulness. This action also elevates norepinephrine and histamine levels, contributing to alertness, as well as increases the availability of glutamate. This glutamate is a neurotransmitter which cells use to communicate with each other.
The improved communication translates to better cognitive functionality, better focus, memory, and executive function. Adrafinil and modafinil achieve their effects through the increase in the amount of dopamine available for use in the brain. Dopamine is a neurotransmitter, is typically associated with creating pleasure responses, elevating mood, and increasing alertness.
The way in which eugeroics like adrafinil and modafinil make more dopamine available differs from traditional stimulants. Amphetamines and the like produce more dopamine by stimulating dopamine release but eugeroics on the other hand block the neural receptors to increase dopamine availability.
This indirect method is a lot less intrusive and more gradual in nature on the dopaminergic system and is believed to make modafinil and adrafinil considerably less potentially addictive than traditional stimulants.
Benefits and effects
Both adrafinil and modafinil are effective stimulants that increase alertness, promote wakefulness, inhibiting the drive to sleep, reducing the perception of tiredness and delaying the onset of fatigue. The two are more effective than methamphetamine, a potent stimulant drug that inhibits the urge to sleep. Compared to other stimulants, they also don’t result in extreme sleepiness or typical crashes after you stop taking them.
Eugeroics have been shown to create measurable improvement in a wide array of cognitive abilities, ranging from improving spatial and episodic memory to increase working memory and fluid intelligence, executive function, pattern recognition, and performance tasks that require higher-level thinking. New research suggests that adrafinil and modafinil may have neuroprotectant properties that contribute to overall brain health and clinical trials confirm that eugeroics improve mood in both non-fatigued and sleep-deprived subjects.
Adrafinil And Modafinil: The Differences
Even though adrafinil and modafinil are closely related to each other, there are significant differences between both. Anyone considering taking any of these drugs should be aware of these differences. Here are a few notable differences:
Dosage and Potency
Adrafinil metabolized into modafinil, but not all of the adrafinil is fully converted to modafinil. Some amount of it changes into an inactive compound known as modafinilic acid. This makes modafinil much more effective than adrafinil, which means lower doses of modafinil are required to achieve the same level of effectiveness. For example, Adrafinil average dose is 300 mg to 600 mg, though doses of up to 1200 mg daily are sometimes reported while a standard therapeutic dosage of modafinil ranges from 100 mg to 200 mg. It is also possible to take higher doses. Up to 400 mg per day, this has shown to be well tolerated but not common.
Onset, Half-life, and Duration of Effectiveness
The liver process adrafinil to become modafinil before it takes effect. Modafinil is at peak levels in the blood bloodstream within 60-90 minutes after taking, while adrafinil takes an additional hour to reach peak levels. The half-life of the two is also different with modafinil lasting up to 14 and 16 hours while adrafinil half-life is about five hours. This means you can consume adrafinil in the afternoon and still get a great night of sleep, but that’s not possible with Modafinil.
Toxicity
Toxicity is where adrafinil has a disadvantage over modafinil. Adrafinil has some potential for toxicity with prolonged use, which can result in an elevated level of liver enzymes. Actual reports of liver toxicity associated with long-term use and high-dosage of adrafinil use are rare.
Legal status
The legal status is another crucial difference between adrafinil and modafinil. The World Anti-Doping Association has banned the two eugeroics as performance-enhancing drugs. In the United States, the FDA categorizes Modafinil as Schedule IV prescription drugs. It is 100% legal to own and use both of these drugs as long as you have a prescription from a doctor. These drugs are also prescription-only in many other countries, including the United Kingdom, Canada, and most European nations. If you are looking to use Modafinil or Armodafinil for an off-label purpose, you can purchase both drugs online from international pharmaceutical companies.
Cost
Cost is also a significant factor. The price of modafinil can be a real burden for prescription buyers. Depending on which pharmacy you use, adrafinil costs less than modafinil. In the US, for example, modafinil can cost over $300 for a 20-tablet prescription while adrafinil is available at a fraction cost of modafinil.
Adrafinil And Modafinil: Which Is Right For You?
Modafinil is the right choice for you if you have a condition, which your physician prescribed this smart drug. However, adrafinil is a better option for all other users, for several reasons from a purely practical standpoint.
Adrafinil can be legally purchased without a prescription because they are unregulated while Modafinil is classified as Schedule IV prescription substance and buying it without a prescription is illegal in the US, Canada, and most other nations worldwide. It’s prohibitive for users who are interested in the nootropic benefits of modafinil and adrafinil rather than the treatment of a sleep disorder.
You can replace modafinil usage with adrafinil. Adrafinil is a better choice for off-label users; it’s easier to schedule doses into your weekly routine on days when you don’t take Modafinil, and it won’t interrupt your regular sleep patterns. However, as adrafinil converts to Modafinil in the body, it’s imperative to monitor usage of this smart drug, too.
Summing It Up
Ultimately, adrafinil and modafinil are safe, well tolerated and very efficient options that are nearly identical in the results they provide. Both modafinil or adrafinil fit the bill if you’re on the hunt for a nootropic that will let you perform at peak mental capacity and keep you awake for hours without messing with your normal sleep cycle. You can legally purchase adrafinil without a prescription at a fraction of the cost of modafinil.
If you’re looking for 5-6 hours of intense focus now and then, Adrafinil can offer just that – without the adverse sleep side effects of Modafinil. If you plan to get the most out of your smart drug, then Modafinil is the only option. Buying any of these drugs from an online pharmacy not only reduced the amount of time away from work but saves money.