Armodafinil versus modafinil | What is the difference?

When it comes to the battle of Armodafinil versus modafinilWho emerges as the clear winner?

Both smart drugs seem to have a very similar name, but this does not necessarily mean that they have the same properties.

However, the differences between the two nootropics can be so subtle to the point that the choice of nootropic doesn't really matter.

Which leaves us stuck with several questions...

What are the differences between Modafinil and Armodafinil in terms of their effectiveness? Does one last longer than the other? What about the side effects that come with it?

Is there a significant price difference in the comparison between modafinil and armodafinil? Or are we only concerned about a difference of a few cents?

This definitive guide was written with the sole purpose of answering all those questions:

By the time you're done reading, you'll know everything there is to know about the Armodafinil vs. Modafinil debate. And which nootropic might be best for you.

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What is modafinil?

Most people already know about modafinil, but in case this is the first time you're hearing about this smart drug, we'll briefly bring you up to speed.

Modafinil is a Schedule IV prescription drug that was manufactured by Cephalon before it was purchased by Teva Pharmaceuticals. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved modafinil in 1998 under the brand name "Provigil" to treat excessive daytime sleepiness in the following conditions [1]:

• Narcolepsy
• Obstructive sleep apnea
• Sleep disorder in shift work

In doing so, Modafinil has helped millions of sleep-deprived people experience a better quality of life and function during the day without feeling fatigued.

But Modafinil is most famous for its off-label use as a cognitive enhancer. And after several years of people with high-achieving careers using the drug in this way (students, entrepreneurs, CEOs, surgeons, etc.), scientists have begun to investigate it even further [2]:

"...clinical studies have also documented beneficial effects of [Modafinil] on cognitive performance in human subjects who have been experimentally sleep deprived."

"...[Modafinil] appears to also improve cognitive performance in healthy adults who are not sleep deprived."

"Evidence of improved working memory, impulse control, vigilance and sustained attention has also been reported in healthy volunteers"

The main effect of modafinil involves the promotion of wakefulness and alertness, which is why it is classified as "eugeroic."

But in the battle between Armodafinil and Modafinil, we have to properly present the other side...

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What is armodafinil?

Armodafinil, like Modafinil, is also a non-narcotic prescription medication that falls on Schedule IV and was manufactured by Cephalon.It was approved by the FDA in 2007 under the brand name "Nuvigil" to treat the exact same problem as Modafinil and for the same three medical conditions.3].

Armodafinil is better known as the R-(-) enantiomer of modafinil, as modafinil is technically a racemic compound consisting of two separate enantiomers: the R-(-) enantiomer and the S-(+) enantiomer.

Since Cephalon's patent for Modafinil expired in 2015, they lost their exclusive rights to manufacture and sell the drug. So Cephalon needed a new drug to stay profitable. They also did not want to lose their dominance in the market among the sleep-deprived population [4].

After rigorous testing, the R-(-) enantiomer of Modafinil was found to possess the same properties as Modafinil itself.

Except it stays in your system much longer and some believe it is more powerful. This is a common tactic used in the pharmaceutical industry to maintain market dominance [5]:

"The chiral switch (the replacement of a racemic drug by a single enantiomer in the market) can confer an advantage in maintaining a high market share even in the face of generic competition"

Armodafinil has also been studied for its fatigue-reducing effects, and some studies show great promise for this modafinil derivative [6].

So what does this mean for the battle between Provigil and Nuvigil? Do you experience no difference if you take any of the medications?

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Armodafinil versus modafinil

Whether you want to compare Nuvigil to Provigil or Armodafinil to Modafinil, it doesn't really matter.

There are many more similarities between the two medications than there are differences. The differences are primarily relevant to smart, experienced drug users, like us, looking to further optimize their cognitive enhancement.

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Similarities

Provigil and Nuvigil are surprisingly similar when comparing the two. In fact, it will be much more difficult to find real differences between the two pharmaceutical drugs.

• Same pharmacological mechanism of action

When it comes to Modafinil versus Armodafinil, its exact mechanism of action in promoting wakefulness is still unknown to this day.

However, it appears that both central nervous system (CNS) stimulants work in the same way. They stimulate localized regions of the brain rather than broadly activating the brain itself.7]:

“Both armodafinil and modafinil block dopamine reuptake by binding to the dopamine transporter and increasing dopamine concentrations in certain brain regions. However, dopamine receptor antagonists (e.g., haloperidol) and dopamine inhibitors Dopamine synthesis (e.g., a-methyl-p-tyrosine) does not block the action of modafinil.

It is worth noting that, unlike amphetamines and other traditional stimulants, there is a very low potential for dependence and abuse associated with armodafinil or modafinil.

• Affected by food intake

While taking food along with your dose of Modafinil or Armodafinil will likely delay the onset of their effects by 1 to 2 hours, the overall bioavailability of both medications remains unchanged.8, 9].

In other words, when it comes to Armodafinil versus Modafinil, you can expect the effects to “kick in” faster when you take either of the smart medications without food.

• Same terminal half-life

The half-life of a drug can be defined as the time it takes for its concentration in the body to be reduced by 50%. Whether you are taking Armodafinil or Modafinil, the terminal half-life is essentially the same, 13 to 15 hours [10]:

“Despite similar half-lives, plasma concentrations after administration of armodafinil are higher at the end of the day than those after administration of modafinil on a milligram-for-milligram basis.

The different pharmacokinetic profile of armodafinil may result in better daytime wakefulness in patients with SSc compared to modafinil.”

We will expand on this finding later in the “Differences” section.

• Effectiveness in treating your prescribed conditions

There is no contest in the debate between Modafinil and Armodafinil as to how well they can treat the conditions for which they were prescribed.

A double-blind randomized clinical trial conducted at multiple centers in 2011 found that they were equally effective in reducing excessive sleepiness caused by shift work sleep disorder.11]:

“Both modafinil and armodafinil significantly improved mean degrees of sleepiness compared to baseline (P < 0.0001). Response rates with armodafinil (72.12%) and modafinil (74.29%) were comparable (P = 0.76). The incidence of adverse events was comparable.

…The study did not demonstrate any difference in the efficacy and safety of armodafinil 150 mg and modafinil 200 mg.”

A 2016 meta-analysis involving the use of Modafinil or Armodafinil also demonstrated equal effectiveness of both medications in reducing daytime sleepiness in patients diagnosed with obstructive sleep apnea.12].

Both medications clearly worked, had minimal side effects, and were well tolerated by patients.

• Improved focus, cognition and productivity

Lastly, and most importantly, armodafinil and modafinil appear to provide the same cognition-enhancing effects. These are the most common effects reported by countless test subjects [13]:

• Improved short-term memory
• Greater focus
• Greater confidence (i.e. more motivated)
• Higher alert levels
• Longer attention span

The only real competition in the armodafinil vs. modafinil discussion is which smart drug provides more of these effects and which lasts longer. This tends to be very subjective and totally dependent on the individual user.

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Differences

This is where the Nuvigil vs Provigil debate gets interesting, as enthusiasts will argue endlessly about the differences between the two.

However, as you are about to discover, the differences between Modafinil and Armodafinil are not very significant in number or scope.

• Chemical structure

As we said above, Modafinil is what is known as a "racemic" mixture of two separate compounds.14]:

R-(-)-modafinil and S-(+)-modafinil are what are known as "enantiomers". They have the same atoms and the same 3D structure, but both molecules are non-superimposable mirror images of each other in the third dimension.

This is what we mean in simpler terms: your hands are enantiomers of each other. Although both are almost identical in structure, you cannot have the same "hand" if you try to place your left hand on top of your right hand.

Modafinil contains both enantiomers.Armodafinil, on the other hand, is purely composed of the "R" enantiomer. That is why it is commonly known as an “enantiopure” compound (and hence the name “Armodafinil” is pronounced “R-Modafinil”).

And while it may not seem like a big deal, these two enantiomers interact with the body's enzymes in similar, yet different, ways.

• Pharmacokinetic properties

Remember the article we cited earlier that claimed that armodafinil can improve wakefulness?

That's where the conversation between Provigil and Nuvigil starts to get interesting.

If you compare both enantiomers of Modafinil, the properties are quite different from each other:

• The R-enantiomer has a half-life of 10 to 14 hours, while the S-enantiomer has a half-life of 3 to 4 hours.15].
• The S-enantiomer has a lifespan three times shorter than the R-enantiomer and is also eliminated 3 times faster than the R-enantiomer.16].
• The R-enantiomer has three times higher affinity for the dopamine transporter than the S-enantiomer and is therefore 3 times more effective at inhibiting dopamine uptake.14].

Additionally, it is worth noting that the R-enantiomer is biologically active (i.e., exerts its effects), while the S-enantiomer is biologically inactive.

It should be noted that this does not contradict what we said previously about the half-life of both drugs. While the effective half-lives of modafinil and armodafinil are virtually similar, the enantiomers themselves have significantly different half-lives.

And because armodafinil stays in the body longer, it has a longer-lasting effect. Some researchers suggest that wakefulness effects are stronger with Armodafinil than with Modafinil [17]:

"Relative to modafinil 200 mg, armodafinil 200 mg showed a comparable peak plasma concentration with higher concentrations between 6 and 14 hours after drug administration, and improved wakefulness and sustained attention for a longer time after dosing" .

Note that a higher dose of armodafinil was used, as The accepted rule of thumb is that 200 mg of modafinil is equivalent to 150 mg of armodafinil..

• Dosing regimen

He ideal modafinil dosage and the ideal dose of armodafinil they are not the same.

However, the best dosage to experience cognitive improvement with either medication is similar to that used for the prescribed conditions:

For Provigil (i.e. Modafinil), 200 mg once daily in the morning is the recommended dose for obstructive sleep apnea and narcolepsy.. It comes in 100 mg or 200 mg tablets.

For Nuvigil (i.e. Armodafinil), it is 150 mg once daily in the morning for obstructive sleep apnea and narcolepsy. It comes in 50 mg, 150 mg, 200 mg, or 250 mg tablets.

With both medications, the corresponding dose is simply taken one hour before a work shift if the condition being treated is a shift work sleep disorder.

Although the maximum daily dose of armodafinil (250 mg daily) and modafinil (400 mg) is well tolerated, no additional benefit beyond the recommended doses has been reliably demonstrated.18].

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Side effects and safety concerns

Armodafinil vs Modafinil: Which is safer to take and has a lower frequency and severity of side effects? It turns out that both are practically the same when it comes to security [19]:

“…modafinil and armodafinil were effective and well tolerated by pediatric patients [<18 years] with narcolepsy over a long period of clinical follow-up (up to 10 years). Concomitant administration of other psychopharmacological agents did not produce significant side effects.

"The use of modafinil and armodafinil significantly improved the patient's ability to remain awake and did not exacerbate pre-existing psychiatric conditions."

They also appear to have a similar side effect profile [20]:

“The adverse events reported were mild to moderate in intensity. The most frequently reported adverse events while receiving armodafinil or modafinil were headache (29% and 2%, respectively), diarrhea (12% and 5%), nausea (10 % and 2%) and dizziness (10% and 5%). "

Individuality and biochemical uniqueness will dictate whether one suffers more side effects (in terms of severity and frequency) with Modafinil than with Armodafinil (and vice versa).

There are several contraindications with both Armodafinil and Modafinil What you should know about [21]:

Both drugs can reduce the effectiveness of medications that lower blood pressure (such as propranolol), as they slightly raise blood pressure due to their stimulant properties.

Both drugs interfere with hormonal contraceptives and make them less effective, requiring alternative forms of birth control. They are “Category C” drugs and this means that they can cause toxicity in the development of the fetus in pregnant women [22].

Both drugs induce CYP3A4 enzymatic activity while inhibiting CYP2C19. Any medication metabolized by these liver enzymes will have their concentrations reduced or increased (respectively), so be sure to read the product monographs associated with any co-administered medication [23, 24].

Discuss any pre-existing problems you have with your doctor before taking any of the prescribed medications (including cardiovascular problems, mental health history, liver/kidney dysfunction, etc.).

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Armodafinil versus modafinil | Cost comparison

If you compare the prices of Provigil and Nuvigil, you will be surprised at how much each costs.

According to Drugs.com, here's what you can expect to pay if you buy any of the medications from a real pharmacy without insurance [25, 26]:

• For 200 mg of Provigil, you pay US$24.64 per pill. For generic modafinil, the cost drops to $10.86 per pill.
• For Nuvigil 150 mg, the cost rises to $29.79 per pill. For generic Armodafinil, you can save much more by paying $6.88 per pill.

In our opinion, purchasing the generic variant of these nootropics through a legitimate and reputable online Modafinil supplier like buy fashion is the way to go

In terms of generic variants, we suggest opting for Modalert for modafinil and Waklert for armodafinil. Both variants are manufactured by SUN Pharmaceuticals and, again, in our opinion, are the highest quality generics available on the market.

For Waklert 150 mg or Modalert 200 mg, you will pay as little as $0.89 to $2.30 per pill. The larger your order, the less you'll end up paying per pill [27].

If you're buy armodafinil online either buy modafinil online As we recommend, the price differences are minimal.

As you'll see in the next section, your preference between armodafinil and modafinil really comes down to your subjective response.

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Which nootropic is best?

Modafinil vs. Armodafinil...there seems to be virtually no difference between the two smart drugs.

This is the part of the conversation where anecdotal evidence and reader reports come into play.

Based on all the recommendations we've collected to date, here's what we would say to readers who are still divided on the Provigil vs. Nuvigil debate:

Given their similar pharmacological and safety profiles, we would consider ordering a sample pack from your chosen online modafinil supplier.

You will receive approximately a two-week supply of Armodafinil and Modafinil. This will be more than enough time to evaluate your particular response to both.

Together with your supervising physician, you will be able to observe how they affect your sleep (i.e., how easily you fall asleep, how easily you wake up, and the ability to disrupt sleep). But the most important thing is that you will be able to evaluate the cognitive improvement that each one provides during the day.

While users will react differently to armodafinil or modafinil, the reports appear to be fairly consistent with each other:

Modafinil has a shorter duration and acts faster, but it hits you "harder." You can even experience a “Feel-Good” Modafinil High. When we want to avoid interference with sleep, we take it at the latest at 10 in the morning, or at the latest at noon.

Armodafinil produces a longer-lasting increase in concentration that feels "cleaner" and "smoother," but is not as pronounced.. Some users report experiencing less nervousness and distraction. Therefore, we usually take it 1 or 2 hours before Modafinil.

Regardless of the nootropic, we would never take them daily for cognitive enhancement purposes. The daily dosage is intended only for people with medical conditions for which Modafinil or Armodafinil is prescribed.

In more concrete terms, we avoid exceeding 2-3 weekly doses of both Modafinil and Armodafinil. We received both reports from users who stuck with either one and alternated between the two.

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Armodafinil versus modafinil | The verdict

So what can we conclude from this? Armodafinil versus modafinil side by side comparison?

There is no real "winner" here, as both Modafinil and Armodafinil effectively serve their purposes and have far more similarities than differences between each other.

You can expect immense cognitive benefits with little to no side effects from both smart drugs.

The only major difference between the two is how you respond to them. Modafinil tends to provide a stronger, shorter-lasting cognitive boost, while armodafinil provides a slightly weaker but longer-lasting cognitive boost.

But you don't have to use one to the exclusion of the other: keep educating yourself to find the best smart pharmacological solution for you!

Order Modafinil online from our top-rated supplier.
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