The Alertness Medication Modafinil
Modafinil is a stimulant that keeps you awake and puts off the need for sleep. It has legitimate medical uses and is also used as a "lifestyle" drug. The side effect profile different from stimulants like methylphenidate (Ritalin) and dextroamphetamine. The physiological action is still not understood. It is different from traditional stimulants, but science has still not fully figured it out.
The chemical name for modafinil is 2-[(diphenylmethyl)sulfinyl]acetamide. The molecular formula is C15H15NO2S. The R enantiomer of modafinil, called armodafinil, is sold under the name Nuvigil. In a press release, the drug company Cephalon said armodafinil lasted longer than regular modafinil
Attention – vigilance – a sustained mental effort - is partly modulated by dopamine and norepinephrine. Stimulants that act on the brain can make us more vigilant. Objective studies have shown that normal people without ADHD experience an attention enhancement when they take Ritalin or modafinil. Response times decrease and problem-solving capacity increases.
Modafinil does not eliminate your need for sleep over the long runs.
It can help you perform better and forestall the effects of sleep deprivation
to some extent. Repeated studies have shown that the physiological need for sleep during
sleep deprivation can be reversed only by actual sleep. There is no
free lunch.
Before taking Modafinil, talk to your doctor about any medical conditions you may have.
Modafinil is FDA-approved for shift-word sleep disorder, narcolepsy, and a form of apnea called Obstructive Sleep Apnea Hypoventilation Syndrome. Doctors sometimes prescribe modafinil to treat other conditions "off-label". A recent Harvard Medical School study showed good results from tests using modafinil for alleviating the effects of overwork and jet lag.
Modafinil Dosages
Your doctor determines the right dosage for you. These are some typical doses: