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Modafinil has taken over the drug landscape over the past couple of years. The wonder drug known to provide much-needed boosts to wakefulness is arguably one of the fastest rising pills going right now, but how long does it truly last when consumed? Today we will find this out!
Compared to most other medicines, Modafinil lasts just a little longer than your average pill. The effects can last between 16 and 22 hours. These numbers are solid but can tend to vary depending on a variety of different factors, including genetics/general health.
Why you might want to learn about the duration of Modafinil can also vary. Some wish to know simply out of curiosity, whereas others want to know what this pill does so that they can see if it’s for them. No matter the reason, you have found the right place as we go into great detail on Modafinil and the many applications of such a pill!
Modafinil is a pill that should be taken in moderation, we want you all to know that before we delve a little deeper. Abusing this pill can have serious ramifications on your general health, both mentally as well as physically so approach with caution. Now, without any further interruptions, let’s get into it!
What Modafinil is Used For
Those suffering from narcolepsy and many sleep conditions will find Modafinil incredibly helpful. Modafinil has also proven to be quite useful to those with attention defects also. Since this drug works directly with your cognitive functions, it has been known to cause some people somewhat severe side effects.
Students at universities have taken this pill to help them in their studies, as they find themselves more in touch with their classes. Studying for long periods of time is now coupled with Modafinil to help boost individuals learning with minimal downsides.
The drug has been known to have many occupational uses too. Various armed forces personnel use Modafinil and other amphetamines to help them remain focused when out in the field. Doctors have been known to consume Modafinil on occasion during later shifts that require more attentiveness.
The French government was one of the first to implement Modafinil into their forces. France was the country of origin for this drug, which makes it appropriate that they would be the first to send it out to their army — they found that their soldiers were a lot more focused as a result!
In Canada, Modafinil is used by astronauts on long term missions aboard the International Space Station. Since Modafinil is used to help fatigue, this only works in favor of the drugs ability to increase cognitive power outright.
Not only is Modafinil used to help you at work, but those with ADHD find that the drug is crucial in them going about their day to day life without stress/worry. Ritalin is a drug that is most commonly associated with Modafinil — a drug also used to treat those with attention deficits like ADHD.
You might have your own reasons for wanting to take the pill, but in our experience — and the countless studies that gloss over this product — work-related reasons are the main driving force behind consuming Modafinil and benefitting from its powers.
Where do you buy Modafinil?
There are plenty of avenues one can take to find Modafinil. Depending on where you live, most pharmacies have this drug stocked on their shelves. Most pharmacies ask that you have a prescription to purchase it over the counter. This is why — in our opinion — it is much more efficient to buy these pills online.
Online sources display plenty of information for you to look at as each brand of Modafinil works a little differently. If you happen to get your Modafinil from a pharmacy, then you likely have access to a more potent version of the pill. Online sources do supply cheaper versions, which does mean they are less potent when in your system.
If you do insist on purchasing these pills from an online vendor, try to find a reputable site to purchase from. There’s a lot of fake sites out there, so finding one you can trust will make the difference between safety and possible danger; use your common sense, and you’ll be fine.
How Modafinil Works
Modafinil works a little differently to some of your other attention-related drugs. Again, if you aren’t sure whether or not this pill is for you, consult your local doctor and run some tests, this will give you peace of mind knowing that you aren’t putting your body in serious harm when taking Modafinil.
Modafinil targets parts of the neurotransmitters within the brain, mainly in the areas that regulate sleep regularly. As of right now, the full power of this pill is unknown as there is very little research on Modafinil, all we know is that it works and has proven helpful to hundreds if not thousands.
Modafinil is not limited to helping those with sleeping issues. Those that live with ADHD and other motivation issues have found Modafinil to be very helpful. Modafinil allows individuals to be a lot more productive, therefore using their time more efficiently, therefore raising morale to an all-time high!
Those learning an alternate language have found the drug incredibly helpful in keeping them focused. Studies show that learning another language is one of the hardest feats to accomplish, which makes Modafinil key if one is struggling with focusing.
So how long does it last?
As we’ve already mentioned above, consuming Modafinil has various results. Most find that they are attentive for around 16-22 hours. Multiple factors will determine how long you are actually affected. If you are prone to illness, you might find that your body holds onto this drug for a lot longer. Allow us to go into more detail:
Phase 1. Absorption
Around 40-65% of Modafinil consumed goes straight into your bloodstream, how this is determined is going to depend entirely on your gastrointestinal tract. If you are someone who has chronic inflammatory issues, you might find that your body struggles to consume Modafinil compared to others.
Individuals suffering from even mild inflammatory states such as Celiac disease, IBD, or IBS may have a drastically lower absorption rate due to the issues that surround your intestinal tract. Again, this depends entirely on the individual in question, as these results are known to fluctuate.
In terms of a time frame, most people find that they begin to feel the effects of Modafinil within a 45 minute time period. If you are suffering from the issues outlined above, try taking the pill with food, you’ll find that you begin to feel something within 2 hours.
Phase 2. Onset of Effects
As soon as you’ve consumed the pill, somewhere around the 4-6 hour mark is when you should be able to feel it at its strongest. Once you have reached the summit, you’ll feel a gradual decline that usually drops within another 2 hours from this point.
There isn’t anything that one can do to help speed up this process. Your body will consume pills differently depending on physical factors — like the kinds we’ve mentioned already. Patience is key in making sure that your body goes through the motions naturally.
Phase 3. Half-Life of the Pill
By half-life we mean: how long before this drug is totally eliminated from an individuals bloodstream. Most don’t recognize the term half-life, which is strange considering how important it is to anyone finding stress in the drugs they are putting in their body.
It’s worth stating that half-life is not as simple as it seems. If the half-life for a pill is 10 hours, that does not then mean that it will be completely out of your body within 20 hours. All it means is that the dose you have in your body is cut in half every 10 hours.
For example, say you take a 500 mg dose of Modafinil, and the half-life is 10 hours, this then means that there will be 250 mg left once that 10 hours comes to a finish. At the next 10 hour mark there will be 125, then 62.5 and so on and so forth.
Modafinil takes an awfully long time for it to leave your system fully. You might not be able to feel the effects anymore, but that doesn’t mean that your body is free of this pill. Coffee has a half-life of only 5-6 hours, and Tylenol has a half-life of around 2-3 hours.
Although long, Modafinil’s half-life still isn’t as long as say Warfarin (a blood thinning pill), this drug has a half-life that can range from around 20-60 hours outright! Again, a number that will differ depending on the sort of person you are and the life you lead.
Why is half-life important?
Half-life is important for any number of reasons. Half-life puts into perspective how powerful these pills truly are. Not only that but knowing the half-life gives you an idea on the dosage that one should take and how often one should take their next pill (should the occasion arise).
Take for example Tylenol, a drug that one needs to take every couple of hours to get the best results possible. Modafinil, on the other hand, should only be taken once a day given just how strong it is in comparison; the duration of Modafinil is much longer also.
Say you take a 200 mg dosage of Modafinil, we would predict that your body would purge this drug fully out of your system within around 16-22 hours. We can successfully work this out thanks to using the half-life method as stated. Without the use of half-life, how would one ever know this?
Timeline of Use
Here’s an accurate display of Modafinil within your system:
- Onset: 45 minutes to 2 hours
- Time Until Peak Effects: 1–2 hours
- Peak Effects: 2–4 Hours
- Come Up Effects: 12–16 hours.
- Total Duration Of Effects: 16–22 hours.
Keep in mind that this is from a 200 mg dosage of Modafinil — a dosage recommended by medical professionals and the like. Those that exceed this dose will be running the risk of overdosing. Just a small amount of Modafinil is enough to help you. Modafinil is an incredibly potent pill, don’t overdo it.
How to Make the Pill Last Shorter
Contrary to disbelief, there’s a very simple way of shortening the recovery time of Modafinil within your bloodstream. Introducing: CYP450 inducers, enzymes that strike at your metabolism, helping flush any pill from your bloodstream quicker.
These enzymes will actually cause your metabolism to speed up, causing the Modafinil in your body to flush out a lot quicker. If your goal with taking Modafinil is to have lasting/longer effects, you might then want to avoid this enzyme as it makes the effects much shorter also once you’ve taken it.
Known examples of this enzyme include Andrographis, Damiana and dandelion root. Bitter tasting foods, in general, have a tendency to increase the power of your liver and therefore may cause your metabolism to kick in a lot sooner.
Conclusion
Modafinil remains within the body between 16-22 hours depending on the dosage. You usually need around 45 minutes to feel any of the effects of this pill. Between hours 2-3 is when the pill will be in full effect. The drug will then begin to dip in quality within the next 12 to 16 hours. However, it’s not too out of the ordinary for this pill to last 22 hours total, it’s entirely dependent on the individual in question.
It’s worth stating that although Modafinil is out of your system, it is still traceable in your system for the next 3 to 4 days. Consuming CYP450 inducers will cause your metabolism to speed up if you are wanting to purge the drug from your system sooner.