Modafinil vs Adderall

Structure

Modafinil vs Adderall: There is an ongoing debate what is more effective Modafinil or Adderall. Lets start with saying that these two are very different drugs despite being always compared while they also have their own similarities. While Modafinil is mainly a wakefulness promoting agent, Adderall on the other hand is classified as a psychostimulant, has side effects and is highly addictive

Modafinil – C15H15NO2S a wakefulness promoting agent, it is not a stimulant but has effects similar to a stimulant like adderall. Modafinil is a dopamine reuptake inhibitor, it stops the dopamine from being reabsorbed into the receiving nerve cells hence being unique in it’s properties of being a safer alternative to Adderall which can be very addictive.

Adderall – C9H13N on the other hand is classified as a stimulant and contains amphetamine and dextroamphetamine, specifically includes amphetamine aspartate, amphetamine sulfate, dextroamphetamine saccharate, and dextroamphetamine sulfate. Adderall has a high risk of abuse among youths and is also widely used as a party drug in the US. While adderall is prescribed for ADHD in both children and adults, the side effects and risks compared to modafinil far outweigh the benefits of using this drug

Usage

Modafinil vs Adderall is widely used among college or university students for studying, Modafinil is used by students appearing in competitive exams and has been known to have helped them achieve better results compared to their peers.

There has been an ongoing debate about the use of Modafinil in colleges and university campuses. Students who cannot afford them or are against performance enhancing drugs are at risk of missing out or under-performing compared to their peers using Modafinil. While it may not be fair to those students, colleges and universities really have no way to tackle this problem

Although Adderall is the go to drug for ADHD and is prescribed for students diagnosed with ADHD, Adderall is a prescription only medication and is a controlled substance under Schedule II in the US.  it is also used as a treatment for narcolepsy. it is known to have common side effects such as nausea, diarrhea and depression. Long term users of adderall tend to be at risk of getting dependent

Modafinil vs Adderall side effects

Side effects of Modafinil may include:

• Nausea
• Agitation
• Dry mouth
• Headache

Adderall Side effects:

• Weight loss
• Loss of appetite
• Constipation
• Trouble Sleeping
• Anxiety
• Dizziness
• High blood pressure
• Irritability

Modafinil vs Adderall benefits

Compared with Adderall, Modafinil is the preferred drug because it has all the benefits of adderall without the felling of euphoria. Although modafinil has not been approved by the FDA for the treatment of ADHD, reasons for which are not known, the USFDA disapproved the use of modafinil for the treatment of ADHD in 2006.

You can never get high on Modafinil, no matter how much you take, the structure and composition of this drug is in such a way that you will never feel high being on Modafinil. In-fact Modafinil is used to treat addiction in patients suffering from withdrawal symptoms of amphetamines, cocaine and other dopamine releasing drugs. Patients who were showing withdrawal symptoms from amphetamines when given Modafinil were observed to have reacted positive to the effects. The unique property of Modafinil of being a dopamine re-uptake inhibitor is what makes it an excellent drug to treat such patients because it blocks the dopamine from being reabsorbed into the receiving nerve cells, hence diminishing euphoria like feeling in the patient.

Cognitive enhancement, increased focus and concentration are some of the well known benefits of Modafinil. Promotes wakefulness in patients suffering from narcolepsy and obstructive sleep apnea. Recent studies conducted reveal that half life of Modafinil ranges from 8 to 12 hours and 10 to 15 hours on two different test groups

 

Addiction

Modafinil has been widely known to be non addictive although we cannot completely rule out the possibility of people getting hooked on any drug. Individual experiences and effects of these drugs may vary from person to person.

If we compare Modafinil vs Adderall, Adderall is known to be addictive and cause dependency on patients because of effects similar with meth. Patients who have used Adderall for a long time have known to have developed a tolerance and then dependence to this drug.

In some patients Adderall has been reported to have caused stroke, heart attack and liver failure and on others decreased sexual desire and erectile dysfunction. You really do not want to be popping Adderall and Viagra together, makes for a deadly combination.

Which is better? Modafinil or Adderall

Short Answer – Modafinil. While it totally depends on the use and purpose of these drugs, it is always recommended to consult your doctor before taking any medication. From Cyclists, military personnel world over, athletes and students using Modafinil to outperform the rest in the competition, whether it is to study or treatment or perform better, Modafinil is clearly the winner in the smart drug war

References

• Rare case of modafinil dependence. Raman Krishnan and Krishnan Vengadaragava chary – https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4319252/