Modafinil Review
What Is Modafinil?
Modafinil, also known as Provigil, is medication that improves wakefulness. It helps patients with extreme sleepiness through motivating the brain. It works like amphetamines. It also increases the neurotransmitters in the brain
This drug received sanction from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration in 1998. This drug treats narcolepsy obstructive sleep apnea and shift work sleep disorder. Narcolepsy causes a persistent urge to sleep and is associated with the brain and spinal cord. Shift work disorder happens when the usual pattern of sleep gets interfered with. This arises due to the changes in the hours of work. Sleep apnea arises when the sleeping period is intermittent due to blockages in the airway. This therefore causes shallow breathing.
Reviews
This drug has received much praise in the market. Many individuals who put-in more hours that require high concentration use it. For example, Silicon Valley and Wall Street traders find this drug very useful. Modafinil has found recognition as a perceptive enhancer.
Individuals acclaim Modafinil as a drug thatbrings aboutvigilance, alertness, increases energy and focus to enable individuals to focus on intense work. Reviews claim that it does not affect sleeping patterns damagingly. It also does not lead to dependency in the long run. It is of great help with day-time sleepiness.
This drug has the attention of the market. It receives high rating from customer reviews as a solution for several mental conditions. The lowest rating it has is that of a seven out of ten in Drugs.com. It increases enthusiasm and motivation.
This drug also finds praise as a cure for fatigue, lack of confidence and communication challenges. Individuals get to accomplish tasks with less attention effort. It gives the drives to even complete difficult tasks
Dosages
The usual recommendation for Modafinil dosage is 200 milligrams intake every day. If more quantities get taken, the amount should not exceed 400 milligrams. The hours of intake should be morning or an hour before a shift at work. You can take it before or after meals.
Do not take it with drugs such asdiazepam, warfarin, imipramine, propranolol, phenytoin, desipramine, mephenytoin, carbamazepine, phenobarbital and rifampin. These drugs affect the effectiveness or toxicity of modafinil. Medication such as ketoconazole and itraconazole decrease the effectiveness of modafinil. Methylphenidate defers the operation of modafinil.
Avoid alcohol during intake of this drug. The impact of alcohol is however not known. Also avoid this drug when pregnant or breast feeding. Its effects on the child may be favourable or unfavourable. Moreover, it is not wise to take this medication if you are allergic to it.
Seek the doctor’s advice to know whether you should take this medication with conditions such as liver problem, chest pain, kidney disease, mental illness and a history of drug addiction.
Side Effects
Modafinil impacts the nervous system and your judgement. Therefore, take precaution when taking it to aid you with intense tasks. Do not engage in dangerous deeds before getting to understand the effects of this drug on your body. The following are some of the side effects of this drug:
— Peeling, Skin Rash And Blisters
— Swallowing Complication And Mouth Sores
— Trouble Breathing And Fever
— Swelling Legs
— Jaundice And Dark Urine
— Puffinessof The Face, Throat, Eyes, Tongue And Lips
There Are Also Severe Side Effects That Include:
— Suicidal Considerations And Depression
— Being More Talkative, Hallucinations And Unusual Behaviour
— Irregular Heartbeat And Chest Pain
— Headache And Dizziness
— Back Pain
— Upset Stomach And Diarrhoea
— Insomnia
— Suffocating Nose
Contact a doctor to seek advice about these side-effects.
Benefits
Intake of modafinil results in so many benefits. It helps those with medical conditions to live a normal life and further enhances the level of attention and focus for normal persons.
Sleeplessness Enhancer
It makes individuals to be more awake. It is a powerful wakefulness drug that has minimal side effects. It gives a more favourable feeling in comparison to caffeine or amphetamines. It also has a higher impact that lasts longer. It level of stress on the cardiac systems is less. It reduces the ability of the brain to perceive exhaustion. It also does not affect the ability to sleep.
Improves Reasoning Capacity
Modafinil helps with cognitive abilities that play a role in enhancing work, study and socialisation. It has the following effects:
— Enhances Concentration
— Better Focus
— Put You In A Good Mood
— Makes You More Extraverted
— Enhances Expressiveness And Artistry
— Increases Analytical Capacity
There are also added benefits that come with intake of this drug such as:
Weight Loss
Modafinil boost the energy levels and similarly suppresses appetite. You are also able to do engaging work-out.
Cerebral Palsy
Modafinil reduces spasticity and improves harmonisationwith spastic cerebral palsy.
Long-Term Effects
The long term effects of Modafinil are not known comprehensively.This medication is therefore in the Schedule IV controlled substances. It requires prescription before intake. Known treatment for this drug includes narcolepsy.
The effects such as cognitive enhancement are subjective. It improves concentration and mental sharpness that lasts for some time after ceasing to take the medication. Modafinil also works to enhance recreational reasoning capacity.
Short Term Effects
Modafinil has been beneficial to a number of individuals. It brings about convenience. This drug boosts the energy of an individual and the mode of which he can perform during the day.
Modafinil also results in physical rewards. It leads to optimal functioning of the body. This drug however has some short-term effects that are negative. Depending on the side effects, individuals should assess whether they are deriving more benefits from this medication.
The short-term advantages that arise from this drug include:
— It enhances the energy levels for a given period of time. The period of extension is however subjective. It wears off easily for some than others.
— Improper balance and quickness: Modafinil causes imbalance in movement and can even cause one to fall. A few individuals are unable to judge their sense of movement
Overall, individuals who use this drug find it more beneficial than harmful in the short run. Its effects as a performance enhancer and memory boost, makes it very likeable. Studies are still underway to establish the larger effects of this medication.
Modafinil History
Modafinil finds use in many diverse ways. Its high demand may have arisen over a short period of time, but this drug has been in the market for a very long time. It has been in existence since the 1970s. The person associated with its origin is a French chemist known as Michel Jouvet.
Jouvet focussed on sleep and did several studies on it. He used the technology and information of the 1950s to come up with a solution for sleep. He then unravelled the sleep stages. He studied the effects of sleep on the body. He admitted that sleep has certain complexities. He examined the sleep disorders. While working at a pharmaceutical company, he developed a cure for these disorders.
He developed several compounds, among which was Adrafinil. Adrafinil became a remedy for narcolepsy in the 1980s. Modafinil is a modification of Adrafinil that came to life in the 1990s. It reduced on some of the side effects of Adrafinil. It was open for prescription in 1994.
Modafinil Research
The original intent of Modafinil was for its use as a cure for sleep disorders and later as a mental enhancer. Modafinil is a combination of two isomers, R-modafinil and S-modafinil. The half-life of this drug is between 13 and 15 hours.
It results in high concentration that lasts up-to two days. The R-modafinil has higher value and a more rapid effect than the S-modafinil. Use of modafinil on cats affects their brain operation. Modafinil increases the extracellular levels of dopamine in the rat nuclear accumbens and prefrontal cortex. Similar effects on the dog include effects on the caudate nucleus.
It works to eliminate sleep in mice. It acts on the orexic neurons straight-away. It is both a sedative and relaxation drug. It reduces disturbances on the mood. It further affects self-monitoring. Modafinil has also been shown to increase confidence. It use before sleep affects the ability to sleep.
How This Affects the Brain
Modafinil affects the neurotransmitters and receptors. It motivates neural activities. It is a stimulant because of its properties and chemical structure. There are a number of theories on its operation of neurostimulation. One line of thought says that it hinders uptake and therefore enhances transmission of neurosynaptic impulses.
Modafinilupsurges the growth of other neurotransmitters like norepinephrine. It boosts the interaction and activity of Reticular Activating System neurons in the rhomb-encephalon.The neurons have an effect of arousal on the body.
It also greatly influences the RAS than other neuro-stimulators such as amphetamine and methylphenidate.
Final Thoughts On Modafinil
This drug is very helpful to a number of individuals. It helps people with attention disorders and sleep disorder. It finds use with students, entrepreneurs, executives and other workers. It has both short-term and long term benefits.
Modafinil is of great help in situations that demand intense concentration. Its ability to induce alertness and wakefulness is amazing. It also helps to beat weariness and progress through work with high energy. It helps you to achieve the perfection that the society demands. It helps both academically and with social life.