Tomas Thorne
Finding the best Armodafinil dosage for your cognitive enhancement needs is no easy task.
Unlike Modafinil, which has been extensively studied in medical research and used by hundreds of thousands of smart drug users worldwide, the information on Armodafinil dosing is somewhat lacking.
Even when you search up something like “Armodafinil maximum dosage” on Google, the search results aren’t too promising.
So what is the best Armodafinil dosage to take if you’re looking for a slight boost of focus, or amping up your productivity to extreme levels?
What Armodafinil side effects should you be aware of? And is there such a thing as too much Armodafinil dosing?
This comprehensive guide will answer all of those questions and equip you with the knowledge you need!
I am not a doctor. Nor am I a lawyer. This article was strictly created for your entertainment. There is no advice here. Always consult a medical professional before consuming any smart drugs or pharmaceutical drugs – like Modafinil. Please read my disclaimer.
What is Armodafinil?
Before we talk about the right Armodafinil dosage to take, let’s discuss what Armodafinil is and why the smart drug is starting to attract the attention of serious nootropic users.
Armodafinil (brand name: Nuvigil) is a wakefulness-promoting agent that was approved by the FDA in 2007 to treat the excessive daytime sleepiness in three medical conditions [1]:
- Narcolepsy
- Obstructive sleep apnea
- Shift work sleep disorder
It is the “R” enantiomer of Modafinil, a compound consisting of two molecules that are non-superimposable mirror images (i.e. both molecules are mirror images of each other).
Armodafinil was manufactured by Cephalon, the same pharmaceutical company that produced Modafinil. There was a good reason why the “R” enantiomer was isolated and marketed as a separate drug [2]:
“Pharmacokinetic studies have shown that R-modafinil has a half-life of 10–14 hours compared with 3–4 hours for S-modafinil
In addition, the elimination of S-modafinil has been reported to be three times faster than R-modafinil.
As a result of the differences in half-life and rate of clearance, the chronic use of modafinil results in significant differences in circulating levels of the two enantiomers.
Thus, the proportion of R-modafinil can be as much as three times greater than the circulating levels of S-modafinil”
But just like Modafinil, Armodafinil has been used off-label by healthy non-sleep-deprived individuals looking for a boost in mental performance.
Benefits such as increased productivity heightened focus, and the ability to effortlessly work all night for 10-12 hours were highly sought out.
Some users swear by Armodafinil as the “superior” version of Modafinil due to its unique properties!
Armodafinil Side Effects and Safety Concerns
There are some Armodafinil side effects you should know about before taking your very first dose.
The most common ones include [3]:
- Nausea
- Headache
- Dizziness
- Diarrhea
- Dry mouth
- Anxiety
However, these side effects of Armodafinil are very mild in nature and rarely happen if you are using the smart drug appropriately.
In one study involving Armodafinil use for a year at doses between 50 mg and 250 mg, Armodafinil was demonstrated to be both effective and well-tolerated with a minimal occurrence of mild side effects [4].
There are some side effects such as irregular heartbeat and mania, but these severe outcomes are far less likely to occur. Nevertheless, any user experiencing either one should discontinue Armodafinil use immediately and seek emergency help from a licensed physician.
Armodafinil Dosage Guide | The Basics
When it comes to choosing the right Armodafinil dose, you need to be honest and self-aware of your needs.
For anyone reading this who has successfully used Modafinil in the past, a good rule of thumb is that 200 mg of Modafinil is equivalent to 150 mg of Armodafinil with respect to the duration and degree of any cognition-boosting effects.
So if you know what Modafinil dosing schedule (amount and frequency) works best for you, some simple math will tell you the right Armodafinil dosing regimen to follow.
However, those who are new to the world of nootropics will have to do some experimentation.
Some studies start patients off with Armodafinil dosing at 150 mg once per day and up the dose to 250 mg, significantly reducing fatigue without any noticeable change in the frequency of unwanted side effects [5].
However, this does not necessarily mean that more is better.
One 2006 study in patients who suffered from excessive daytime sleepiness due to narcolepsy found that an Armodafinil dose of 150 mg was equally as effective as 250 mg for improving wakefulness, enhancing memory, and lowering fatigue [6].
No changes in side effect frequency or severity were reported with either dose, which goes to show that the maximum dosage of Armodafinil is not always the most optimal choice.
The perfect Armodafinil dosage is entirely individual to the user and their smart drug needs.
Standard Prescription Armodafinil Dose?
If you are struggling to find the right Armodafinil dose, your best bet would be to start at the standard prescription dose for Armodafinil and either increase or decrease the dosage over time.
When you get a prescription for Armodafinil, you will typically buy it from the pharmacy as Nuvigil. It will come in various forms [7]:
50 mg: Each round, white to off-white tablet is debossed with “C” on one side and “205” on the other.
150mg: Each oval, white to off-white tablet is debossed with “C” on one side and “215” on the other.
250mg: Each oval, white to off-white tablet is debossed with “C” on one side and “225” on the other
Depending on the on-label condition you are treating, there are some guidelines that doctors typically follow [8]:
Obstructive Sleep Apnea or Narcolepsy: 150 mg to 250 mg once a day in the morning.
Shift work disorder: 150 mg once a day, taken approximately one hour prior to start of the work shift.
In the clinical studies referenced thus far, an Armodafinil dose of 150-250 mg is typically used.
But in the context of using Armodafinil off-label as a smart drug, the suggested dose by the majority of test subjects is 150 mg.
Overall, everything points back to a standard 150 mg Armodafinil dosage being absolutely ideal for most users’ needs, especially those seeking benefits like improved focus and better memory recall.
Dosing Guidelines (75 mg, 150 mg, 225 mg, 300 mg)
Before we dive into our recommended Armodafinil dosing guidelines, we want to be clear about one thing: Determining your Armodafinil dosage should NOT be difficult.
For 90% of users, you’ll want to stick with the recommended 150 mg dose. This is standard Armodafinil dosing for nootropic purposes and it will offer you 8-12 hours of unadulterated concentration.
If you’re looking for an enhanced or lessened cognitive effect, here are some other Armodafinil dosage recommendations:
– 75 mg –
This would be a great place to start for smart drug beginners or anybody who has a history of high sensitivity to stimulants.
All you would have to do is take a standard 150 mg tablet of Armodafinil, split it down the middle and simply take one half.
While 75 mg Armodafinil isn’t too strong, our test subjects have noticed a solid cognitive benefit for 6-7 hours before the “high” wore off.
Therefore, for users who want to enhance their focus for a shorter period of time, or are unsure if a standard Armodafinil dose will manifest side effects, a 75 mg dose of Armodafinil is a solid choice.
– 150 mg –
This is the standard Armodafinil dosage for both medical purposes and cognition-enhancing purposes.
It is often said that an Armodafinil dose of 150 mg is equivalent to 200 mg of Modafinil in terms of efficacy and safety.
This comparison has been supported in scientific studies involving adults who suffer from excessive daytime sleepiness due to shift work sleep disorder [9].
– 225 mg –
This Armodafinil dose could easily be consumed by using 1 and a half tablets of 150 mg Armodafinil.
As we have stated earlier in this article, there is simply no point in taking a higher Armodafinil dosage if the standard prescription dose works well and provides no unwanted side effects.
However, some of the studies we have quoted use Armodafinil doses of 250 mg and found them to be equally effective.
Nevertheless, it remains as an option for users who want 12+ hours of focus and feel a significant difference with a higher Armodafinil dosage.
– 300 mg –
For the majority of test subjects we have spoken to, an Armodafinil dose of 300 mg is simply too strong.
The enhancement in cognition may be overwhelming for some users, and can possibly lead to side effects such as insomnia and irritability.
Unless you are someone who is “big” (think +200 lbs, 6 feet tall) and happens to rapidly metabolize Armodafinil faster than the average user, we do not recommend this Armodafinil dose.
If you decide to use 300 mg of Armodafinil, make sure it is done at a frequency of no more than two times per week. Your doses should be at least 3 days apart from each other to help regulate your sleep-wake cycle.
Microdosing Armodafinil
Some users swear by microdosing Armodafinil, which involves taking anything lower than 50% of the standard prescription dose.
Finding the right Armodafinil microdose will require some experimentation on your part, as there are no studies in existence pertaining to a minuscule Armodafinil dose taken over time for enhancing cognition.
One Reddit user found that 150 mg Armodafinil led to significant side effects such as an upset stomach, anxiety, and worsened social interaction.
What he did was take gradually smaller doses of Armodafinil until he found one that allowed him to experience the full benefits of the smart drug [10]:
75 mg: Some side effects
37.5 mg: Some anxiety came about at 1-2 hours following ingestion, social interaction is unchanged compared to placebo
18.75 mg: Increased mental focus without any side effects, coffee works syngertistically at this Armodafinil dose
One advantage of microdosing Armodafinil is that you can use the smart drug more often, as much as 6-7 days per week, without developing any tolerance or withdrawal.
For readers who wish to microdose Armodafinil, we recommend the following protocol to find an Armodafinil dose that provides your desired focus-enhancing effects without experiencing any undesirable side effects…
Start at 75 mg Armodafinil three times a week (ex. Monday, Wednesday, Friday) for your very first week.
If you don’t experience any side effects and wanted a greater boost in cognition, increase the Armodafinil dose to 150 mg for the next week and see how that feels.
If you do experience unwanted side effects, reduce the Armodafinil dose to 37.5 mg for the next week and monitor how you react to it.
Depending on your individual biochemistry, you will either gradually decrease or increase the Armodafinil dosage until you hit your “sweet spot.”
Once you find it, make a note of the Armodafinil dose you stopped at and continue to stick with it for as long as you need.
Lethal Dosage?
Many scientists attempted to find a “lethal” Armodafinil dosage before it was released to the market. This is how they can safely make dosing recommendations to doctors who prescribe Armodafinil to their patients.
What they will look for is an “LD50” number, which defines the dosage at which 50% of patients taking the drug in question end up dying.
So is there a maximum dosage of Armodafinil that is proven to be dangerous for the human body?
It turns out we have to rely on the safety data for Modafinil in order to find the answer [11]:
“There were no overdoses reported in the NUVIGIL clinical studies. Symptoms of NUVIGIL overdose are likely to be similar to those of modafinil.
Overdose in modafinil clinical trials included excitation or agitation, insomnia, and slight or moderate elevations in hemodynamic parameters”
According to the medical literature, Modafinil alone has yet to result in any fatalities [12]:
“No life-threatening effects have taken place in clinical trials involving the administration of 1000mg to 1600mg of modafinil per day for 7 to 21 consecutive days.
Intentional acute overdoses of 4500mg and 4000mg in two adult subjects and an accidental ingestion of 800mg by a three-year-old child did not result in any life-threatening effects or death”
Even doses of up to 12 GRAMS of Modafinil (12,000 mg) proved to be non-fatal, and the worst cases of Modafinil overdosage ended up involving several other drugs taken at the same time [13].
In short, it appears that it’s virtually impossible to overdose on Armodafinil and die. This appears to be especially true when taking Armodafinil at a typical dosage of 150 mg a day.
Armodafinil Dosing | The Verdict
So what is the ideal Armodafinil dosage if you want to safely experience laser focus for several hours at a time?
For the majority of uses, the standard Armodafinil dose of 150 mg is absolutely ideal.
Stimulant-sensitive individuals and smart drug beginners may find an Armodafinil microdose of 75 mg (or lower) to be ideal for shorter periods of intense productivity.
At the end of the day, you will have to experiment and find the Armodafinil dosing protocol that works best for you.
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