What is this hype for Modafinil?

What is Modafinil used for?

As sleep disorders are becoming a common side effect of our modern lifestyle, developments are being made in the field of medical research to fight these disorders. Smart drugs (a form of nootropic) have been quite popular in this area for a long time now.

This blog post concerns about one such medication called Modafinil which is an oral prescription smart drug that helps to fight sleep disorders. It also comes with various other cognitive benefits.

Modafinil, a central nervous system stimulant, was discovered by Lafon Laboratories (France) in the 1970s in one of their regular experiments. It was initially used to treat narcolepsy and sleep apnea. Later, it was found to be beneficial for those suffering from shift work disorders too.

In such patients with excess sleepiness, this medication can help promote a particular sense of wakefulness without disturbing the regular sleeping patterns.

It also provides other cognitive benefits like-

•    First of all, it helps promote alertness in you. It makes you vigilant about what is going on in your surroundings.

•    There is a quicker and effective response-behavior which has been noticed by most users.

•    Secondly, it is a great mood enhancer that can make you feel positive and energetic at work.

•    It can also enhance your focus and attention by clearing the fogginess in the brain.

•    Moreover, it can improve reasoning skills and abilities in most cases. It helps increase your memory power.

•    Modafinil is also known to improve ADHD (attention deficit hyperactive disorder) symptoms in most cases.

You can also avail Modafinil online from any registered medical store of your preference. But make sure that the pharmacy is a trusted store and also, you have an approval from your doctor.

How does Modafinil work?

There is a chemical messenger called dopamine in our brain which is responsible for speech, movement, and behavior. Although the exact mechanism of Modafinil is not known, it is believed to bind to the dopamine reuptake pump and inhibit its reuptake into the nerves. As more dopamine is available in the brain pathways, we feel more active and energetic. These dopamine pathways are also responsible for reward-motivated behavior.

Apart from dopamine, it increases the levels of serotonin and norepinephrine in the brain elevating our mood. This is one reason why this medication is used in the treatment of major depressive disorders when the person has already built up a tolerance for other anti-depression medicines.

It is to be noted that individual results vary with their health condition and cognitive response.

Is Modafinil a controlled substance?

In the U.S. Modafinil comes under the list of Schedule IV drugs of the Controlled Substances Act due to its abuse.

This medication is an effective solution for fighting fatigue and boosting our brain’s performance, but many users are exploiting this particular benefit of Modafinil. More than the medical use of this smart drug, people are seen to be using it recreationally without adhering to the medical guidelines.

As a result, this drug can be overdosed without the supervision of a medical practitioner. This, in turn, leads to harmful side effects and health risks. One can become physically dependent and withdrawal from the drug becomes difficult. Withdrawal symptoms might also include nausea, insomnia, vomiting, visual hallucinations, nervousness and the like.

Taking into consideration all of these issues, this medication now comes under the purview of the Controlled Substance Act so as to prevent its misuse.

Modafinil's mechanism of action is quite different from other smart drugs. For effective and safe usage of this medication, one should strictly follow the instructions laid down by your trusted healthcare professional.