Modafinil and Vyvanse | What You MUST Know

In researching nootropics, it’s likely that most researchers and subjects have come across the medications modafinil and Vyvanse.

These two medications are both used to treat ADHD and sleep disorders, but they may also carry some powerful nootropic (brain enhancing) effects.

This article reviews what you need to know about modafinil and Vyvanse.

---

What is Modafinil?

Modafinil is a prescription wakefulness agent that is approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration to help increase alertness in people with sleep disorders. The most common sleep disorders it’s used for are sleep apnea, shift work sleep disorder, and narcolepsy. [1]

However, it also has a number of off label uses. It may help with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, depression, and fatigue that is secondary to other medical conditions. [2]

It’s also a nootropic agent, meaning that it provides cognitive benefits — such as boosted memory, focus, alertness, task performance, and more. [3]

---

What is Vyvanse?

Vyvanse is the trade name for a drug called lisdexamfetamine. It’s a prescription medication that is approved for use for ADHD and binge eating disorder. [4]

Vyvanse is a type of amphetamine, so there is a high risk of dependence with Vyvanse use — and it’s quite powerful. [4]

It works by increasing circulating levels of dopamine and norepinephrine in the brain, which helps improve focus and alertness. [5]

Although it’s a stimulant, it improves focus in people with ADHD, allowing them to concentrate on one task at a time. [5]

---

---

Mechanisms of Action

Modafinil is a stimulant that works by inhibiting dopamine reuptake by the nerves. This allows for increased levels of dopamine to circulate in the brain. Dopamine has stimulating, focus-improving effects that can help people with sleep disorders stay awake and help people with ADHD improve their concentration. [6]

Vyvanse is a stimulant also, but it’s classified as an amphetamine (like Adderall). It increases circulating levels of both dopamine and norepinephrine in the brain. Norepinephrine has highly stimulating properties, making Vyvanse a more powerful stimulant. [5]

---

Modafinil vs. Vyvanse | Comparison

Although they are different in many ways, modafinil and Vyvanse have some similarities. Here are the major things that these two drugs have in common:

• Certain uses. Both modafinil and Vyvanse are used for ADHD. While ADHD is considered an off-label use for modafinil, it’s an approved use for Vyvanse.
• Main effects. Modafinil and Vyvanse are both stimulants that may increase energy, alertness, focus, and concentration.
• Prescription status. In the United States, modafinil and Vyvanse are both prescription drugs. To legally possess them, individuals require a valid prescription from a healthcare provider.

---

Direct Comparison Studies

Several studies have been conducted comparing modafinil, Vyvanse, and other drugs — mostly for the treatment of ADHD.

In adults with ADHD in one trial, Vyvanse and other amphetamines appeared to be effective, while modafinil was similar to placebo. Another review of studies had similar findings regarding modafinil. [7, 8]

Another large review found positive, but small, effects on ADHD from all included medications in the study when compared to a placebo — including modafinil, Vyvanse, and several others. [9]

---

Side Effects

This table includes the side effects that may arise from modafinil and Vyvanse use, taken directly from the U.S. National Library of Medicine database: [1, 4]

Modafinil side effects “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”

Vyvanse side effects “sleepiness dizziness headache dry mouth constipation diarrhea nausea weight loss”

Additionally, both of these medications may cause severe side effects. If subjects experience any of these, medical attention should be sought as soon as possible — or immediately if the side effect is severe:

Severe modafinil side effects “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”

Severe Vyvanse side effects “slow or difficult speech weakness or numbness of an arm or leg seizures hallucinating (seeing things or hearing voices that do not exist) believing things that are not true feeling unusually suspicious of others mood swings motor or verbal tics hives rash swelling of the eyes, face, tongue, lips, or mouth blurred vision or other vision problems paleness or blue color of fingers or toes numbness, pain, or sensitivity to temperature in the fingers or toes unexplained wounds appearing on fingers or toes”

Additionally, there is one minor drug interaction between modafinil and Vyvanse when they are used together. In studies, researchers noted that the combination of 200 mg modafinil with ADHD drugs similar to Vyvanse caused a delay in the absorption of modafinil by approximately 60 minutes [10].

Additionally, neither of these medications should be used in combination with alcohol or illicit drugs. It’s important that a physician assesses subjects for other prescription drugs or medical conditions that may be affected by modafinil and Vyvanse, as well.

---

---

Our Experience

Based on what we’ve seen, experiences with modafinil and Vyvanse are mixed. While some people who have tried both prefer Vyvanse, others prefer modafinil.

Vyvanse is more powerful than modafinil, but also carries with it the risk of being habit-forming.

On the other hand, modafinil doesn’t carry this same habit-forming potential (as far as we know according to existing research), but many researchers report that the effects are weak or nonexistent.

However, many people are perfectly happy with the increase in focus and energy they get from modafinil.

It all depends on your unique body chemistry and how you handle these medications. It’s worth discussing your concerns and questions about modafinil vs. Vyvanse with your prescribing physician, too.

---

Common Uses

Here are some of the common uses of both modafinil and Vyvanse:

• ADHD. Both modafinil and Vyvanse are used for ADHD treatment and management. They affect dopamine levels in the body, and increased levels of dopamine — interestingly enough — provide a calming effect for people with ADHD, allowing them to focus. This is despite the fact that, for people without ADHD, stimulants like modafinil and Vyvanse are not likely to be calming. ADHD is an off label use of modafinil.
• Sleep disorders. On the other hand, modafinil is approved by the FDA for use in sleep disorders, like narcolepsy, shift work sleep disorder, and sleep apnea. Vyvanse can also be used to help promote wakefulness in people with these conditions, however, this is considered an off label use of Vyvanse.
• Binge eating. Vyvanse is also used to treat binge eating disorder because it reduces appetite. A common side effect of modafinil is also appetite reduction, however, it’s not used to treat binge eating.
• Cognition. Finally, both Vyvanse and modafinil have nootropic properties, meaning they may improve cognition, focus, concentration, alertness, decision making, task performance, or other similar factors.

Physicians may also prescribe these medications for other off label uses, such as fatigue related to other conditions or mood disorders.

---

Main Differences

• Addictive potential. Vyvanse is powerful and potentially habit-forming. It’s an amphetamine, and this class of drugs is well known for their addictive potential. Although there has been one case report of possible modafinil dependence, modafinil doesn’t appear to be nearly as addictive as Vyvanse. [4, 11]
• Uses. Modafinil and Vyvanse, although similar in function, are approved for different conditions. Modafinil is approved for sleep disorders, and Vyvanse is approved for ADHD. However, both of these medications may be prescribed for either of these conditions. Additionally, Vyvanse may also be used for binge eating disorder treatment.
• Side effects. As detailed in the tables above, the side effects of modafinil and Vyvanse differ slightly. Based on anecdotal reports as well as research, modafinil tends to have more mild side effects, while the stronger Vyvanse may have more noticeable side effects.
• Potency. Generally, Vyvanse is considered to be much stronger than modafinil. Amphetamines are a powerful class of medications, which is why they are typically only prescribed in very narrow instances — like for ADHD.
• Drug class and mechanism of action. Although modafinil and Vyvanse are both considered stimulants, they are actually from two different classes of drugs. Modafinil is a eugeroic, and Vyvanse is an amphetamine. Additionally, while both involve dopamine, Vyvanse also involves norepinephrine in its mechanism of action.

---

What’s Best for You?

If you are interested in taking modafinil or Vyvanse, it’s important to first have a conversation with your healthcare provider.

Generally, modafinil is preferred for its nootropic effects because it’s not habit forming.

However, Vyvanse may work better for you if you have ADHD.

Again, though, it’s best to discuss these options with a healthcare provider so that you can have expert guidance regarding these two medications.

---

Modafinil vs. Vyvanse | Verdict

Modafinil and Vyvanse are two similar drugs, but they have some key differences.

For nootropics researchers, modafinil is our recommendation. Vyvanse is an amphetamine, so it has an increased risk for more severe side effects and may cause dependency.

On the other hand, modafinil has a very low risk of dependency but is still a popular nootropic among researchers. Additionally, it offers a host of cognitive benefits.

These are a few reasons why modafinil is our favorite nootropic.

---