Modafinil vs Adderall: Proven Facts (2023)

Adderall and modafinil are both central nervous system stimulants (psychostimulants). Both of these medications have similar properties and applications.
modafinil vs adderall
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Introduction

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All about Modafinil vs Adderall.

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Modafinil vs Adderall are both central nervous system stimulants (psychostimulants). Both of these medications have similar properties and applications.

They are used both in the treatment of narcolepsy and as covert study aids. The US Drug Enforcement Administration classifies both drugs as controlled substances. 

Though both of these medications can have similar effects on people, they are not the same. Their structural differences translate into vast differences in their addiction potential and risk of side effects. As a matter of fact, the effects felt and induced by both pills are very different from each other.

Let’s look at each medication separately to fully understand the differences between Modafinil vs Adderall.

Modafinil

Modafinil is a type of medication that acts on the central nervous system, which is sold under the brand name Provigil in the US. In other parts of the world, it is sold under various other brand names like Modalert, Modvigil, Vilafinil, Modawake, and Modaheal. and It is frequently referred to as a eugeroic medicine, which is a term for a medication that enhances alertness and wakefulness.

Modafinil falls under this category of medication. The Food and Drug Administration has given its blessing for the use of Modafinil as a treatment for daytime sleepiness in patients who suffer from a variety of diseases, including the following: 

  • Narcolepsy. A disorder where a person may experience sleep attacks during the day and during activities such as driving.
  • Shift Work Disorder. A formal disorder characterized by a disruption of normal sleeping hours brought on by working nights.
  • Obstructive Sleep Apnea. The excessive daytime sleepiness that can be a symptom of other medical disorders.

Adderall, on the other hand, is placed at a far higher level of control and severity than Modafinil. This is despite the fact that Modafinil is also a controlled medication. (Modafinil is considered to be a controlled substance that falls under the category of Schedule IV under US law.)

The distinction between Modafinil vs Adderall in terms of their official classification reflects the consensus among researchers and policymakers at the federal level — that Adderall is a substantially more harmful substance than Modafinil. 

All stimulant medicines have comparable modes of action in how they work. Because of this, even when prescription stimulants that are considered to be relatively mild like Modafinil are compared to stimulants that have a significant potential for abuse, like cocaine or methamphetamine, the findings indicate that there is a similar mechanism of action for these drugs. This is the case even when compared to other stimulants.

However, this is not always the case, and some sources will try to capitalize on this discovery by stating that comparable mechanisms of action indicate similar potentials for misuse. This is definitely untrue.

Adderall

Adderall, which is the brand name that this medicine goes under, is a combination of mainly two substances, amphetamine and dextroamphetamine.

In order to treat both narcolepsy and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), the FDA has authorized the use of this particular medication for qualified doctors to prescribe to patients when they see a need to.

Both of Adderall’s active components work by stimulating the central nervous system. It is hypothesized that Adderall works by boosting the intracellular concentration of the excitatory neurotransmitters — dopamine and norepinephrine, by releasing them from storage units in neurons and also by preventing the re-uptake of these neurotransmitters.

Excitatory neurotransmitters like dopamine and glutamate (which Modafinil supposedly increase) and inhibitory neurotransmitters like gamma-aminobutyric acid (which Modafinil supposedly decreases) are both thought to be affected by Modafinil (GABA). 

Over the years, different variations of Adderall have sprung up, namely the immediate-release and extended-release types. Both immediate-release Adderall (Adderall IR) and extended-release Adderall (Adderall XR) are available (Adderall XR) in most countries.

The half-life of immediate-release Adderall is around 4 to 6 hours, while the extended-release version of Adderall has a half-life of around 12 hours. 

It is worth noting that in the US, Adderall is considered to be a Schedule II drug. This is probably the reason why its potential for abuse and the occurrence of physical dependence, albeit rarely. is so widely believed to be significant.

adderall vs modafinil

Common Applications

Adderall is a stimulant that increases focus, alertness, and attentiveness. In extremely rare cases, Adderall can even induce euphoria and hallucinations when consumed in overly high doses.

The medication is frequently used to treat attention deficit hyperactive disorder, or ADHD. Adderall helps by inducing a sense of equanimity and calm in patients with ADHD, thus reducing symptoms such as hyperactivity, inattention, and impulsivity.

Patients who take it as directed report being able to handle multi-step tasks, organize their lives, and absorb information better.

In addition to ADHD, Adderall is also used to treat narcolepsy. The medicine’s ability to improve wakefulness may be beneficial to those who have difficulty staying awake during the day, or people who constantly feel drowsy throughout the day.

Now, moving on to Modafinil…

Modafinil is primarily used to treat sleep disorders. It increases alertness, wakefulness, and makes it more difficult for people to fall asleep while its effect is in force.

Modafinil, like Adderall, is used to treat narcolepsy as well. It also aids in the treatment of shift work sleep disorder and sleep apnea.

Modafinil does not directly treat obstructive sleep apnea in patients. It instead aids in the excessive daytime sleepiness that some patients may experience, by inducing wakefulness, hence making it harder to feel sleepy.

Side-Effects

When comparing Modafinil v Adderall, Modafinil has seemingly less side effects than Adderall. However, it does also have the potential to raise a person’s heart rate and blood pressure  by considerable amounts, and should not be taken by anyone with a history of heart valve problems like mitral valve prolapse or left ventricular hypertrophy.

According to studies done in a series of clinical trials, a third or less of the participants who used Modafinil got headaches, with an even smaller number experiencing some nausea.

Less than 10% of the participants in the clinical trials reported experiencing other adverse symptoms including rhinitis, nervousness and anxiety, back pain, insomnia, and gastrointestinal issues like diarrhea and indigestion. 

Both oral and implanted medications containing estrogen and progestogen can be rendered less effective by Modafinil because it blocks the enzymes responsible for converting these hormones into their active form. 

There have been extremely rare cases of Modafinil-related life-threatening rashes, including Stevens-Johnson Syndrome (SJS) and drug-induced hypersensitivity syndrome (DRESS). It’s likely that allergies cause the vast majority of reactions.

Modafinil has been available for almost 20 years, but its effects on the brain after chronic usage are still poorly understood. Problems with sleeping and future sleep ability, increased antisocial tendencies and emotion suppression, and withdrawal symptoms are all causes for concern. 

Because of this, Adderall can cause a wider variety of adverse reactions, and some persons may be more sensitive to its effects than others. Loss of appetite (36%), dry mouth (35%), transient increases in blood pressure (35%), sleeplessness (27%), headache (26%), and abdominal pain (24%) are the most frequently reported adverse effects. Sexual dysfunction, decreased growth in youngsters, increased heart rate, and anxiety are very often reported side effects. 

No matter how much of a stimulant is given to them, some people have an extreme sensitivity to them and end up with clouded thinking. People taking Adderall have reported experiencing psychotic symptoms like hearing voices, developing paranoia for no apparent cause, and experiencing mania. Adderall can make the symptoms of psychotic disorders and manic-depressive illnesses even worse. 

People with a history of substance abuse, glaucoma, an overactive thyroid, heart disease, or moderate to severe hypertension should also avoid its use. Adderall’s potential for creating tolerance and dependency, along with its abuse potential, is one of the drug’s major drawbacks. The abrupt discontinuation of Adderall can lead to withdrawal symptoms (symptoms include extreme tiredness, depression, and sleep disturbances). 

The increased misuse and dependence potential of Adderall led to its placement in Schedule II of prohibited substances, while Modafinil is in Schedule IV in the US.

Interaction with Alcohol

Both Modafinil vs Adderall have a negative interaction when combined with alcoholic beverages. Because of the stimulant nature of the drugs, they may compete with the depressive effects of alcohol, disguising signs of drinking too much without truly preventing the problem. At the end of the day, this can result in overdoses of alcohol, cardiac issues, and hostile conduct. 

Adderall has harmful interactions with a wide variety of drugs. MAO inhibitors, serotonergic medications, CYP2D6 inhibitors, proton pump inhibitors, and tricyclic antidepressants are not compatible with this medication and should not be taken together.

Modafinil has a negative interaction with birth control medications that involve hormones. As a result of its inhibitory impact, it has the potential to lessen the efficacy of birth control. It is also possible for it to have a negative interaction with warfarin, MAO inhibitors, CYP2C19 substrates, and CYP3A4/5 substrates.

Likelihood of Addiction

Due to its widespread availability and increased potency, Adderall has a strong potential for abuse. Consider additionally whether the medications produce physical dependence.

If a person is likely to acquire physical dependence on a substance, they may continue to abuse it for extended durations and ultimately develop an addiction. 

Adderall carries a high danger of addiction because it is so simple to grow hooked on the substance. When you take Adderall on a regular basis, your brain adapts to the elevated amounts of dopamine and other neurotransmitters.

When abruptly stopping Adderall use, you may feel physically unwell. Adderall withdrawal might manifest as drowsiness, anxiety, melancholy, irritability, and mental disorientation. It also generates intense cravings, making it extremely difficult to quit without the support of a drug rehabilitation program. 

In the meantime, Modafinil dependence is uncommon. Modafinil addiction has only been documented in a few cases.

This often occurs when a person consumes excessively high doses, such as around 12 times the average amount, for extraordinarily extended periods of time. There are certain desires associated with Modafinil withdrawal, but weariness and depression dominate.

Modafinil addiction is theoretically possible, however nearly no one in the world who uses, or have used the drug, has ever developed substance abuse disorder.

In fact, for long-time methamphetamine addicts, both Modafinil vs Adderall have been known to help them with easing off the harmful drugs and eventually breaking free from addiction.

Afterthoughts on Modafinil vs Adderall

Modafinil and Adderall are stimulants of the central nervous system with comparable mechanisms of action and clinical applications, but distinct misuse potentials.

Adderall is regarded as a significantly more dangerous potential substance of addiction than Modafinil. However, case studies reveal that Modafinil has the potential to be abused, particularly when taken in large quantities. 

Always consult your physician before taking substances like Modafinil or Adderall.

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