Modafinil ADHD | What You MUST Know

Interested in modafinil for ADHD management?

You’re not alone. This mild stimulant drug may help people with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) to be more productive, focused, and calm — without the side effects of other ADHD treatments.

However, it’s important to understand the existing research on modafinil for ADHD, the potential side effects of modafinil and how other people with ADHD have fared using modafinil.

Here’s our guide to modafinil for ADHD.

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What is Modafinil?

Modafinil is a prescription wakefulness medication for sleep disorders, specifically narcolepsy, sleep apnea and shift work sleep disorder. It’s a eugeroic agent, which means that it provides stimulant effects that help keep people awake and alert — making it a good fit for people with sleep disorders [1].

However, researchers have also found that modafinil is useful for many other conditions — like addiction, depression and ADHD. In fact, most modafinil prescriptions are for off-label uses — which means that they are written for conditions other than sleep disorders [2, 3].

Modafinil was first discovered in the mid-1970s in France and became available there as a prescription drug in 1994. Since then, it’s become available around the world in both brand name and generic versions. Branded modafinil — known as Provigil — is owned by Cephalon Labs [4].

The standard prescription dose for sleep disorders is 200 mg per day, which provides lasting alertness. Modafinil may also offer some other cognitive effects, like improved memory, better focus and concentration and better task performance and decision-making. For this reason, modafinil is also widely used as a nootropic — or a cognition booster [5].

Modafinil Side Effects and Safety

Like any medication, modafinil does have some side effects.

Among nootropics research circles, the most commonly reported side effects seem to be headache and insomnia.

Typically, insomnia and sleep loss while on modafinil can be minimized by taking it as early as possible in the morning. This allows time for the drug to metabolize fully and work its way out of the system by bedtime.

With modafinil headaches, drinking adequate fluids may help — or reducing the dose of modafinil.

However, according to the U.S. National Library of Medicine, these side effects are also associated with modafinil [6]:

• “headache
• dizziness
• difficulty falling asleep or staying asleep
• drowsiness
• nausea
• diarrhea
• constipation
• gas
• heartburn
• loss of appetite
• unusual tastes
• dry mouth
• excessive thirst
• nosebleed
• flushing
• sweating
• tight muscles or difficulty moving
• back pain
• confusion
• uncontrollable shaking of a part of your body
  burning, tingling, or numbness of the skin
• difficulty seeing or eye pain”

Additionally, the U.S. National Library of Medicine also details potentially severe effects of modafinil:

• “rash
• blisters
• peeling skin
• mouth sores
• hives
• itching
• hoarseness
• difficulty breathing or swallowing
• swelling of the face, throat, tongue, lips, eyes, hands, feet, ankles, or lower legs
• chest pain
• fast, pounding, or irregular heartbeat
• frenzied, abnormally excited mood
• hallucinating (seeing things or hearing voices that do not exist)
• anxiety
• depression
• thinking about killing or harming yourself”

These side effects appear to be rare, but it’s important to be aware of them regardless.

Modafinil use may also be linked to a potentially fatal side effect called Stevens Johnson Syndrome. This link was theorized as a hypothetical possibility after a participant in a modafinil trial developed a skin rash similar to the one characteristic of the condition, but there has since been at least one case of Stevens Johnson Syndrome linked to armodafinil — which is very similar in structure and function to modafinil [7].

Unless prescribed by a doctor, modafinil should not be administered to children under the age of 18, pregnant women, or breastfeeding women.

Additionally, people with existing health conditions or who are taking other prescription medications should consult their doctor about potential interactions. Modafinil should also not be combined with alcohol, drugs, or excessive amounts of caffeine.

Modafinil for ADHD

ADHD is characterized by an inability to focus or stay on task, hyperactivity or restlessness and impulsivity. It presents in all ages, from young children up to adults, and it can significantly affect productivity, school performance, job performance and quality of life [8].

While modafinil is not currently Food and Drug Administration-approved for ADHD, physicians may prescribe it for off-label use. Additionally, some research suggests that modafinil may be a better choice for ADHD than current commonly-used prescription stimulants for the condition.

While it seems counterintuitive that stimulants would be prescribed for a disorder with the word “hyperactivity” in its name, they are actually extremely helpful for ADHD. Stimulants increase dopamine levels, which “stimulates” the ADHD brain to increased levels of focus, concentration and calmness while reducing hyperactivity.

Modafinil, with its mild stimulant effects, therefore may be a great alternative to more powerful stimulant medications like Ritalin or Adderall — especially for people with mild ADHD.

In fact, according to American Addiction Centers, modafinil [9]:

• “May be significantly more effective in treating the symptoms of ADHD than placebo.
• May have comparable efficacy for treating ADHD to methylphenidate (e.g., Ritalin, Concerta) and fewer side effects.
• May have comparable efficacy for treating ADHD compared to dextroamphetamine (one of the ingredients in Adderall).”

A 2006 review of modafinil for ADHD notes that modafinil is more powerful for ADHD than placebo, particularly in children and adolescents. In the studies investigated in this review, the most common side effects were insomnia, headache and reduced appetite. However, most side effects were easily manageable and minor [10, 11].

These researchers also note that modafinil may be a better alternative to more powerful stimulants — not only because of its milder side effects — but also because it is less habit-forming [10].

Regardless, the development of Sparlon — the film-coated version of modafinil especially for ADHD in children — was discontinued by Cephalon Labs in 2006 after the Food and Drug Administration notified them that the drug would not be approved due to a possible link to Stevens Johnson Syndrome [12].

For this reason, FDA-approval of modafinil for ADHD appears to be off the table for now, but ADHD remains one of the most common off-label uses for modafinil [3].

An Effective Treatment for Atypical ADHD

Many adults with ADHD remain interested in modafinil for treatment and management of the condition, and those who have been able to procure a prescription report massive success.

Some individuals report that consistent use of modafinil has massively increased their focus and allowed them to get more done in work, school and household management tasks like cleaning or folding laundry. However, many individuals have also stressed the importance of getting enough sleep while taking modafinil (at least 7-8 hours per night) to optimize their cognitive performance.

Effective dosages that individuals report online range from 50 mg up to 400 mg per day, depending on the severity of their symptoms and other medications they’ve tried.

While some people report that modafinil didn’t help their ADHD, most people report positive effects.

Modafinil and ADHD | Verdict

Modafinil is a prescription wakefulness agent designed for use in people with sleep disorders like narcolepsy. However, it may also be useful for people with ADHD because it not only increases alertness and wakefulness, but also improves focus, concentration and task performance.

Clinical trials noted that modafinil was successful for ADHD treatment in children with ADHD, however, FDA approval was discontinued due to a possible link with Stevens Johnson Syndrome, a severe side effect.

The most common side effects related to modafinil include headache, loss of appetite and insomnia — all of which appeared to be relatively mild and easy to manage in most cases reported in the literature.

Regardless, many adults with ADHD still prefer modafinil because it has fewer side effects than stronger stimulants that are more commonly prescribed for ADHD. ADHD is also one of the most common reasons that off-label modafinil prescriptions are given by doctors.

While modafinil may not work for everyone with ADHD, it may be worth considering — especially for people who want to avoid stronger medications.