Does Modafinil Treat Sleep Disorders?

Modafinil belongs to a class of medications known as eugeroics that are used in the treatment of sleep disorders and for enhancing cognitive abilities. It is non-addictive and offers powerful effects that make a person feel energetic and focused for up to 12 to 15 hours. What’s more, it is available as a prescription drug and as an over-the-counter medication for various treatable ailments.

Here is all you need to know about modafinil for sleep disorders.

What Sleep Disorders Are Prescribed Modafinil For?

Modafinil is a wakefulness-promoting medication that reduces sleepiness and keeps you alert and awake. It is non-addictive compared to similar stimulants like coffee [1].

While the exact mechanism of how this substance works is not clear, it’s thought to bind to the dopamine transporter and inhibit the dopamine reuptake into neurons. By doing so, the dopamine levels, the hormone most associated with locomotion and mental alertness, are naturally increased in the brain, and you end up feeling fresh and energetic [2].

Modafinil is a safe and well-tolerated drug approved for medical use by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in 1998. It is an oral medication and is thus consumed in the form of pills in various doses. Some users also tend to snort the drug, but it is considered more effective to simply take a tablet orally on an empty stomach, with a substantial amount of water.

Generally, this drug is prescribed to treat excessive sleepiness due to the following sleep disorders:

• narcolepsy;

This is a chronic sleep disorder where the patient feels the frequent uncontrollable desire to sleep. It is important to mention that some countries only allow the consumption of modafinil to narcolepsy patients. To receive a modafinil prescription for treating narcolepsy, patients are required to meet three conditions – recurring naps, excessive daytime sleepiness, or lapses into a sleep that should frequent almost every day for at least three months or a cataplexy history. You must also have undergone a Multiple Sleep Latency Test and must have recorded a mean sleep latency of less than or exactly 8 minutes or a mean sleep latency without a history which is less or exactly 8 minutes and 2 or more sleep-onset rapid eye movements (REM periods).

Modafinil dosage for narcolepsy is 200 mg consumed once a day in the morning.

• obstructive sleep apnea;

This is a condition where a person experiences breathing problems during sleep and wakes up often to take a proper breath. This usually happens due to any obstruction in the upper airway. Modafinil dosage for obstructive sleep apnea is 200 mg orally once a day in the morning.

• shift work sleep disorder.

When a person follows an irregular sleep pattern due to shift work, their sleep rhythm gets affected, and they face sleep deprivation. They might develop a sleep disorder where their sleep feels insufficient and is irregular. Modafinil dosage for shift work sleep disorder is 200 mg orally once a day, approximately 1 hour prior to the start of the work shift.

Modafinil is often used off-label to combat the following medical conditions:

• attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD);
• chronic fatigue syndrome;
• Parkinson’s disease;
• depression, and others.

Another added advantage of modafinil is that besides being a wakefulness promoter, it is also observed to be an excellent nootropic. Nootropics are a class of drugs that can be safely used to enhance cognitive abilities.

With modafinil, you can feel more focused and concentrated and get a boost in learning and working abilities. Hence, this substance has gained huge popularity among top professionals and students who are looking to increase their productivity.

Modafinil has a half-life of around 12 to 15 hours, and its effects can be felt within 45 minutes to 1 hour after you consume the pill. What’s more, this nootropic has very few side effects. Some common ones are headaches, insomnia, and nausea. In rare cases, users may develop serious rashes.

It’s worth noting that this wakefulness-promoting agent can react with any other medications you might be currently taking. Hence, you need to be properly informed about possible dangerous drug combinations and the right dosage before you take them.

Modafinil is sold under different trade names depending on the region or the pharma company producing it. They include Provigil, Modiodal, Movigil, Modalert, Modanil, Resotyl, and Vigimax among others.

As with any medication, a proper prescription and doctor’s consultation are recommended before you choose to take modafinil for any purpose.

Is It Legal to Buy Nootropic in Online Pharmacies?

Using modafinil is 100% legal in most parts of the world to buy online. In countries like the US and the UK, a prescription is required for obtaining this cognitive enhancer, but possession is not considered illegal. Other countries like India and Mexico have allowed it to be a generic medication that can be bought without a prescription.

Hence, if your country’s laws permit it, it is completely legal to buy nootropics like modafinil online. Even when you have a prescription for modafinil, buying it from local pharmacies might cost you a lot, whereas online vendors can provide such pills cheaper with a price as low as $0.79 per pill. The latter might also be able to offer a better product variety, discounts for returning customers, and secured delivery, which can be a good option over expensive local stores.

Final Thoughts

Modafinil, in all of its glory, is simply a powerhouse nootropic that is very effective in treating uncontrollable sleepiness associated with certain sleep disorders. It is one of the most popular drugs prescribed to combat narcolepsy. It acts as a stimulant, and it can also increase the attention span and learning abilities of the person using it [3].

It has very few side effects and is generally safe to use, making it a popular choice both as a prescription drug and a generic nootropic medication. You can easily buy modafinil pills from online stores or local pharmacies.

Do get your physician’s recommendation on the dosage and usage details and order it from verified authentic vendors for safe treatment.

References:

1. Practical Use and Risk of Modafinil, a Novel Waking Drug. Published online Feb 22, 2012. Ncbi.nlm.nih.gov.
2. Mechanisms of modafinil: A Review of Current Research. Ncbi.nlm.nih.gov.
3. The Ultimate Modafinil Resource. Modafinil.org.