Modafinil was developed by Cephalon, Inc, a biopharmaceutical company which was established in 1987. The drug “modafinil” is branded as either Provigil or Alertec. The medication itself was approved in 1998, by FDA. It was developed to treat sleeping disorder, tiredness during day time and people suffering from problems such as narcolepsy and cataplexy (Abrupt loss of control over muscles in the body). The functioning of the drug is quite similar to other related products. Modafinil releases substances called monoamines and at the same time it increases the level of hypothalamic histamine. This makes modafinil a CNS (central nervous system) stimulant and a drug helping to remain awake with concentration and focus.

Purpose of Modafinil

The main purpose of modafinil is to treat problems such as, too much sleepiness related to narcolepsy, obstructive sleep, cataplexy, and shift work sleep disorder. There was a previous drug called, amphetamines, Modafinil is an improved version of that wakefulness drug. Modafinil does also possess less adverse effect than its former. The drug is intended to treat most problems related to sleepiness.

General Description of Modafinil

This drug is consumed orally and works similar to caffeine. Modafinil does primarily promote wakefulness but it does also treat other dilemmas related to sleepiness. It is considered as a treatment for depression, fatigue, Alzheimer disease and ADHD (attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder). The drug is thus, prescribed for individuals suffering from different forms of predicaments.

Modafinil Dosage

Modafinil comes mainly in two volumes/strengths. These are pills of 100mg and 200mg. It is recommended to consume an approximate of 200mg to 400 mg per dosage. The recommended 200mg is supposed to be as effective as a higher dosage unless other factors are interfering. Physicians who prescribe the drug will purport and advice its consumption in the morning. This can be with or without food.

Precautions before taking Modafinil

There are some precautionary measures that should necessarily be adopted. Foremost, one should contact a doctor for professional guidance. The physician will certainly be capable of giving proper guidance and instruction of the usages of the drug. As modafinil may provoke some slight side-effect, the physician could ideally highlight the symptoms while examining the medical history of the patient. People who have previously suffered from issues such as high blood pressure, irregular heart beat, kidney troubles and mental diseases should definitely cross-check compatibility. Other issues which can concurrently be harmful such as allergies, pregnancy and maybe angina must be evaluated in respect to modafinil intake. People who are consuming the drug for their first weeks should not perform any heavy duties, such as long hours of driving and working, as the side-effects are still uncertain.

Modafinil Side effects

Modafinil is considered based on research as a generally safe medication. There are, however, different levels of side-effects which can occur, those which are most common, less common and highly uncommon. The common side-effects that individuals consuming modafinil may be exposed to are nausea and headache. The rather less common adverse effects are insomnia, nervousness, anxiety, back pain, depression and dizziness. These are the most typical negative facets of modafinil.

The more extreme and rare side-effects are linked with long-term corrosion of health. These are anorexia, hypertension, chest pain, and alteration in the heart beat. At the continuum of negative consequence DRESS (Drug Rash with Eosinophilia and Systemic Symptoms) syndrome and most severely SJS (Stevens Johnson syndrome) can be caught.

The experience of any of these problematic issues requires immediate consultation with a doctor.

Modafinil interactions with other drugs

Modafinil is effective in executing its purpose. It is reckoned be one of the best performing wakefulness drugs. Despite its performance, the drug should not be consumed together with other various drugs. Deleterious consequences can be experienced due to cross-interaction of medicine. A list of some drugs that should be avoided during modafinil treatment has been identified below.

• Antibiotics
• Anti-depressants
• Hormonal contraceptives
• Anti-fungals
• Propranolol
• Cyclosporine

These are a few examples of drugs that should not be taken concurrently with modafinil.

Furthermore, modafinil will also have an impact on birth control pills. It is thus advised to adopt alternative contraceptives for birth control while consuming modafinil. The general effect that modafinil will have on other drugs is that it will either act as a catalyst; increasing the strength of other drugs, or it will decrease the effectiveness of other medicines.

Research has not yet, proven if any side-effects are derived from consuming modafinil simultaneously with alcohol.

General Modafinil Usage

The drug is used for both personal and occupational purposes. Occupations that are associated with high risk have been the most prone to try the medicine. The military of many countries has already adopted the use of ‘wakefulness’ pill. These include grand nations such as French, United Kingdom and the United State of America. The aim of the usage of the drug is to avoid various harmful issues that can be derived from sleepiness. For instance, during tedious helicopter flights, tiredness is a concern regarding the security of all passengers and the pilot, himself. An obstruction such as falling asleep could endanger several individuals. Equivalent risks are present during military scenarios where abrupt fights can emerge and sleep can be a major cause of failure. Modafinil is playing an important role in securing life of the beholder.

Nootropics, Smart Drugs, Smart Pills

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Coined in 1964 by Dr Corneliu E Giurgea, the term ‘nootropic’ refers to substances which are alleged to improve human cognitive abilities. Nootropics include drugs, nutrients and herbs. Do they actually work? That largely depends on which nootropic one uses, and ones own perspective. Some scientists and users swear by various types of nootropics, and various types of nootropic are used by the United States Military.

In most cases, nootropics are said to work in one of three fashions, either by stimulating production of neurochemicals in the brain, by increasing oxygen supply, or by stimulating nerve growth.

Some common nootropic drugs include:

• Cocaine
• Methamphetamine
• Ritalin
• Pemoline
• Adrafinil
• Armodafinil
• Carphedron
• Modafinil
• Nicotine
• Caffeine
• Theophylline

Commonly used nootropic herbs include:

• Ginko biloba
• Brahmi
• Eleuthero
• Ginko
• Ginseng
• Green Tea
• Lemon Balm
• Rosemary
• Sage
• Tumeric

From the innocuous to the highly controlled, nootropic substances run the gamut of ingestible materials.

Herbal nootropics have seen a surge in popularity over the last decade with many ‘energy’ drinks containing the herb Ginko Biloba. Ginko Biloba is the last remaining type of a non flowering species, and as such is regarded as being a living fossil. Studies have shown that Ginko Biloba can enhance powers of concentration in healthy individuals, though excessive consumption can cause poisoning in children. Ginko Biloba appears to increase concentration by enhancing blood flow and thereby increasing oxygen flow to the brain.

Caffeine and nicotine are also both widely used nootropic substances which also foster dependence. Most users will find nicotine withdrawal unpleasant, and even caffeine will lead to sometimes severe headaches if discontinued abruptly.

The so called ‘harder’ drugs such as methaphetamine and cocaine are also regarded as being highly addictive. Withdrawing from these substances is a painful process both psychologically and physically.

In spite of these issues, Amphetamines are often used by the military to enhance personnel performance in combat situations. Fighter pilots are actually often required to take ‘go pills’ (amphetamines) in order to keep them alert on long missions. Though these drugs are highly controlled substances amongst civilian populations, they are part of a military person’s required drug regimen and are referred to by the innocuous title ‘fatigue management tools’. The efficacy of these substances cannot be denied, however the consequences of addiction are severe.

If you are seeking to enhance your cognitive performance, nootropic agents may very well be the answer. The trick lies in discovering the right sort of nootropic for your needs.

Nootropics

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A stimulant nootropic, Modafinil acts as a wakefulness enhancer. Invented in the 1970′s in the French Pharmaceutical Company Lafon, Modafinil was originally intended to be a narcolepsy treatment. Though it is not approved for use in the USA for off label usage, it has proven to be an effective nootropic agent which significantly promotes alertness and concentration levels.

Modafinil is often used for the treatment of narcolepsy, fatigue, schitzophrenia, cocaine additction, depression and Parkinson’s disease.

What does Modafinil do?

Modafinil has two main effects on the human body. It increases the release of monoamines, which are neutrotransmitters. This enhances alertness and concentration. It also increases levels of hypothalamic histamine, which results in increased wakefulness.

Modafinil Side Effects

The side effects of Modafinil are relatively mild, with the most common side effects being headaches and nausea. There are also less common side effects which include anxiety, insomnia and dizziness. Far less likely, but much more seriously, the potential exists for users of Modafinil to experience chest pain, hypertension and even tachycardia.

In addition to these side effects, Modafinil may also reduce the efficacy of hormonal contraceptives.

Modafinil As A Doping Agent

Modafinil has received some attention in the media as a result of athletes allegedly using the drug as a doping agent. Some athletes in the United States faced disciplinary action after testing postive for the drug, claiming that it was not on the banned list at the time they were taking it. Authorities disagreed. Modafinil was officially banned before the start of the 2004 Summer Olympics.

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