[lwptoc]
How many mg of Modafinil Should I take?
A friend recently asked me the same question – How many mg of Modafinil should I take? My reply was simply – it depends. Modafinil has been a popular drug for its benefits but you cannot rule out the fact that it could have major side effects as well
The reason why you are on this page reading this article is proof that you may be slightly concerned about the side effects of this medication that offers such benefits
While Modafinil is generally considered to be a safe drug we cannot completely ignore the ill-effects caused by Modafinil. From common headaches to serious skin rashes, modafinil has had its reputation for both being fairly safe as well as quite the dangerous pill for some individuals.
While major side effects like steve johnsons syndrome have been reported, there are only very few and rare such cases of SJS among modafinil users, regardless if you notice skin rashes within a week or two of continuous use of Modafinil, please make sure to consult your doctor immediately.
Steve Johnson’s Syndrome is reported to be rare but very serious skin condition which is mostly caused by the side effects of certain medications, not necessarily limited to Modafinil, But in this case Modafinil or Armodafinil
Dosage Instructions
While there are different strengths (mg) of Modafinil being sold online, we are going to only compare two of the most popular modafinil brands, modalert 200mg and Artvigil 150mg, refer the following table for dosage instructions for different conditions and uses.
| Uses | Modalert 200mg | Artvigil 150mg |
|---|---|---|
| For Studies or Cognitive health | 200mg once in the Morning | 150mg once in the Morning |
| Narcolepsy | 200mg Daily (increase dosage if required) | 150mg Daily (increase dosage if required) |
| Sleep Apnea | 200mg Once Daily | 150mg Once Daily |
| Shift work sleep disorder | 200mg 1-2 hours before work shift | 150 mg 1 hour before work shift |
The above Modafinil dosage instructions are for reference only, each person reacts differently to modafinil, there are several factors that come into play when considering dosage.
Understanding the half life of modafinil generic brands may help you in choosing the right product. Modafinil comes in various strengths (mg). Refer to the chart below to see which product may suit you best.
Half-Life
What is Modafinil half life? It is simply the time at which Modafinil is at half the concentration in your body after consumption, For example, Modalert 200mg half life is 15 hours, after 15 hours modafinil effect starts to wear off.
What this means is that 50% of Modafinil is still in your system until hour 30. While you may not notice or feel it, the drug is still in your system. It is during the first 15 hours that you feel more energetic and focussed. Please refer the following graph to understand Modalert half life
For example, if you consume 200mg of Modafinil at 0 hours and the half life of modafinil as depicted in this graph is 15 hours, you can see how Modafinil’s effect starts to wear off at hour 15 (50% at this point) and then wears off completely by hour 30.
The above chart is for representation purposes only, Modalert half life is known to be 12-15 hours, the actual half life of Modafinil or any drug varies from person to person, there are factors such as age, gender, diet, body weight and other factors that need to be considered.
Refer the following table to understand how Half-life of any drug works (not specific to Modafinil)
| Amount | Concentration | Elapsed Time |
| 200 mg | 100% | 0 hours |
| 100 mg | 50% | 15 hours |
| 50 mg | 25% | 30 hours (1.3 days) |
| 25 mg | 12.5% | 45 hours (1.9 days) |
| 12.5 mg | 6.25% | 60 hours (2.5 days) |
| 6.25 mg | 3.13% | 75 hours (3.1 days) |
| 3.125 mg | 1.56% | 90 hours (3.8 days) |
| 1.563 mg | 0.78% | 105 hours (4.4 days) |
| 0.781 mg (781.3 mcg) |
0.39% | 120 hours (5.0 days) |
| 0.391 mg (390.6 mcg) |
0.2% | 135 hours (5.6 days) |
| 0.195 mg (195.3 mcg) |
0.1% | 150 hours (6.3 days) |
| 0.098 mg (97.7 mcg) |
0.05% | 165 hours (6.9 days) |
The above table is not based on Modafinil but is a representation of a 200mg drug with a half life of 15 hours, this could mean that it is possible for modafinil to be in your system until 6 days from the day of dosing
If you look closely at the data at 90 hours or 3.8 days the concentration of Modafinil is at 1.56% and 3.125mg and then comes down to 0.098mg at 0.05% concentration at 165 hours or 6.9 days
Conclusion
It is best to consult a doctor to be sure about the dosage that is right for you, all info provided here is an estimate of what other users have reported is working well for them, it is not necessary that it should work for you.
The best way to start your modafinil dosage is by starting slow with a small dosage of 50 mg a day, try it for a week, and then start increasing it to 200 mg eventually if you do not see any major side effects.
Modafinil is not a recreational drug, it is rather a drug for productivity and is considered fairly safe for consumption. You should be fine with 100-200 mg of Modafinil a day.
References
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5940442/#__sec3title
