Modafinil and electronic sports | What you should know

Thomas Thorne

Last update: February 2, 2023

Modafinil and eSports

Curious about Modafinil and electronic sports? If so, you are in the perfect place.

Over the past decade, the esports industry has seen exponential growth, generating global revenues of over $160 billion last year alone. With a number of major gaming tournaments offering significant prize money, the fierce competition has led many players to begin experimenting with smart drugs in a bid to improve their game.

As one of the most popular and powerful cognitive enhancers in the world, Modafinil has attracted significant interest within the esports community. Many gamers have reportedly tried this nootropic or are thinking about it, and many more have heard of its legendary benefits.

But whether you're a casual observer or an esports player curious about modafinil for gaming, there are a few things you must know.

In this guide, we'll give you an overview of modafinil, its benefits and side effects, and what makes it potentially useful for esports gaming.

But since you shouldn't take Modafinil without your doctor's supervision, you may also be interested in learning about natural alternatives that don't require a prescription. At the end of this guide, we will share our top two recommendations for modafinil alternatives that can help you succeed in esports gaming.

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Disclaimer: The content on Modafinil.space is for informational and educational purposes only. We do not provide legal advice. Likewise, we do not provide medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Consult your doctor before consuming modafinil or related nootropics. Your access to Modafinil.space is subject to our complete Disclaimer and conditions of use.


What is modafinil?

Modafinil is a prescription drug used to treat sleep-related disorders such as narcolepsy and sleep apnea.1]. It is a type of drug known as “eugeroic,” which means it has a very strong effect on wakefulness. Modafinil was first launched in France in the early 1990s and received FDA approval in 1998.

In the early 2000s, modafinil began to attract widespread attention for its cognitive benefits. When healthy people take Modafinil, it acts as a powerful stimulant. Therefore, it became extremely popular in neurohacker circles as a nootropic and quickly replaced Adderall as the study drug of choice among high-achieving students.

Studies have shown that modafinil greatly increases attention, concentration, working memory, and stress resistance, while producing few side effects of major concern [2].


eSports and modafinil


What are electronic sports?

For non-gamers, the term "eSports" encompasses any type of competitive video game. While some esports tournaments take place entirely online, others take place in front of a live audience, such as a football or baseball game, where crowds watch elite players (or teams of players) compete to win prizes.

The esports scene has grown exponentially over the last decade and is now a multi-billion dollar global industry with millions of players and fans. The most popular esports tournaments, such as those based on the games League of Legends and Fortnite, attract global audiences of viewers, both in person and online, and have prize pools worth millions of dollars.

Unlike most other sports, eSports competitions generally do not rank players based on their physical traits or characteristics.


Is modafinil legal in esports?

The short answer is that modafinil is banned in almost all major esports organizations. All major esports tournaments currently offering major prize money have strict rules about what players can and cannot take, and modafinil is strictly prohibited.

ESL, the world's largest esports organization, is working in partnership with NADA (the German National Anti-Doping Agency) and WADA (the World Anti-Doping Agency) to implement a drug testing policy for its esports tournaments.3]. Modafinil is listed as a banned substance by WADA [4] and is banned in all esports competitions.

In practice, online-only eSports competitions have no way to reliably drug test players. But most major in-person esports tournaments have started conducting saliva tests during tournament days, respecting the privacy of players.

In cases where eSports players have a valid prescription for Modafinil, they will need to notify the tournament organizer in advance to verify that the medication is being taken for the correct reasons.


Modafinil and games | Benefits

In the context of gaming, there is no denying that Modafinil offers research-backed benefits. It is perhaps the most effective brain-stimulating compound on the planet and can be extremely useful for gamers looking to increase their performance.

Based on years of research and clinical data, let's outline some of the potential benefits of modafinil for gaming:

Greater focus and concentration

As a eugeroic, modafinil's main effect is that it increases histamine levels in the brain far beyond normal levels.5], giving the user a feeling of hypervigilance and alert. A single 200 mg Modafinil pill is usually enough to keep histamine levels elevated for over 12 hours, making it very difficult to lose focus or feel sleepy.6]. Modafinil gives the user the ability to stay focused for hours and we believe this would easily translate to success in the concentration-intensive environment of esports.

More mental energy

Many users compare the energy-boosting effects of modafinil to consuming a large amount of caffeine. It could help the user play for hours, which is perfect if you are trying to succeed in esports. However, unlike caffeine, modafinil does not make the user feel jittery and does not cause energy levels to drop after a few hours. The user typically experiences a gentle boost of mental energy that lasts over 12 hours.

Improved working memory and creativity

Working memory, also known as short-term memory, is one of the keys to success in eSports. Modafinil gives a big boost to working memory because it increases dopamine levels [7]. This important neurotransmitter increases both working memory and the ability to concentrate for long periods.8]. Dopamine has also been linked to creative thinking and could therefore help players out-strategize their opponents.9] [10].

Stress resistance

While playing esports, it is easy to give in to pressure and underperform. Modafinil could help here too. It has been shown to reduce the sensitivity of the part of the brain that processes fear, the amygdala.11]. Even when a user is facing enormous levels of stress and pressure, Modafinil is likely to help them think clearly and logically.

Overall, there is no denying that Modafinil will likely improve your esports performance. However, it is not necessarily free. In the next section, we will look at some of the main modafinil side effects that you should know about.


eSports and modafinil


Modafinil and electronic sports | Side effects, safety and risks

As you already know, Modafinil is not perfect and causes some side effects. After all, there is a reason why it is a prescription-only medication in most countries around the world.

The good news is that modafinil is generally considered a safe drug. It has been widely studied since the 1980s and is non-addictive and well tolerated by healthy adults.

Studies have shown that the most commonly reported side effects of modafinil include headaches, diarrhea, anxiety, nausea, dry mouth or throat, and of course, insomnia.12].If that list seems disturbing, it's helpful to know that Modafinil is routinely given to military pilots, so there's a lot of data on how people react. The latest studies suggest that a small percentage of pilots who take Modafinil experience an adverse reaction [13].

If you decide to take Modafinil to help with your esports gaming (a use of the medication we do not recommend), you can mitigate many of Modafinil's side effects by taking some simple precautions.

First of all, Modafinil acts as an appetite suppressant, making it easy to forget to eat and drink while playing games or performing any task. All users should stay well hydrated and adhere to their usual meal times when taking this medication. Drinking at least two liters of water a day will help the user avoid headaches and dry throat or mouth.

Second, modafinil can interfere with sleep and cause insomnia. Unless you're really trying to stay up all night for a gigantic gaming session, experience suggests that it's best to take your dose early in the morning, before 10 a.m. The half-life of modafinil is approximately 12 hours, so if you decide to use the medication, you should keep in mind that it will still be in your system when you go to sleep at night. However, based on our own experience, along with anecdotal reports from users on Reddit, it is certainly possible to maintain a normal sleep schedule while taking modafinil off-label [14].

The most serious risk of taking modafinil is that, in extreme circumstances, it can lead to dependence. Since it increases dopamine in the brain, it should be used responsibly. But to date, the only documented case of someone getting “hooked” on Modafinil was a man who had been taking 1,200 mg per day [15].That's much more than the recommended dose of 200 mg per day.

To avoid problems related to dependence, we would not take more than 200 mg of Modafinil per day, two or three times a week. After two months, we take a two-week break.

By following this basic protocol, we have been able to avoid problems with Modafinil.


Modafinil Alternatives for Gamers

Since Modafinil is banned by most esports organizations, coupled with the fact that it is a prescription medication, you may have to look elsewhere to get your cognitive boost. Luckily, there are two natural nootropics that can help you. to improve your esports games without breaking the rules of the competition.

While these nootropic supplements cannot match the power of Modafinil, we consider them to be safe, legal, and effective alternatives for both aspiring gamers and professional esports competitors.


eSports and modafinil


Mind Lab Pro

Mind Lab Pro® is easily the most powerful nootropic for gamers we've ever reviewed (aside from modafinil, of course). We believe that it is the closest thing you can find to Modafinil without the need for a prescription; In short, it works. Its formula is composed of 11 natural nootropic ingredients backed by research that will help you boost your way to victory in any eSports tournament.

Each serving of Mind Lab Pro contains:

  • Bacopa monnieri, a natural herb extract that has been scientifically shown to increase reaction times [16] and improve cognition [17]. Just what you need to excel in esports.
  • Citicoline It is a natural compound found in cell membranes. Studies have shown that it can improve mood [18] and protect the brain from stress [19].This makes it useful for those participating in high-stakes esports competitions.
  • lion's mane mushroom, a safe cognitive booster that improves short-term memory [20] and helps protect against cognitive decline [21].
  • L-theanine, an amino acid that is excellent for creativity [22] and will help you out-strategize your competition.
  • maritime pine bark, a natural extract that improves spatial memory [23].
  • N-acetyl L-tyrosine, an amino acid that studies have shown helps prevent fatigue [24] while increasing mental energy [25].
  • phosphatidylserine, a fatty substance that helps keep short-term memory sharp. This is great for mental clarity and ideal for esports [26].
  • pink rhodiola, a plant extract that scientific studies show increases mental energy while combating stress [27].
  • Vitamins B6, B9 and B12, and all of them have been shown to promote healthy blood flow to the brain.

As you can see, all of these ingredients are 100% backed by solid research. They work in synergy to help you excel in esports while also taking care of your long-term brain health, something Modafinil doesn't necessarily do.

So if you are looking for an all-in-one cognitive booster to help you succeed in esports, Mind Lab Pro comes highly recommended!

Place your order from our recommended supplier Mind Lab Pro


FUEL

The second Modafinil alternative for players that we recommend is G FUEL. In case you haven't heard, G FUEL is known as “the official drink of eSports” and gives you an immediate boost in energy, focus and concentration, without the side effects of sugar, toxic chemicals or additives found in other popular energy drinks.

Some of the reasons we rate G FUEL so highly are:

  • Quick action: G FUEL takes only 10 to 15 minutes to take effect and begins to produce an increase in energy and alertness.
  • Long lasting: A single serving of G FUEL gave us increases in energy and focus that lasted up to 6 hours!
  • Without accident: As a sugar-free drink, there are NO ACCIDENTS once the effects of G FUEL wear off!
  • Extremely convenient: You can purchase G FUEL ready to drink or as a powder formula to mix with water. You can purchase a 40-serving tub or single-serving bar packs, giving you convenience on the go.

If you're looking for the mental energy and focus of modafinil without breaking the rules of esports, G FUEL is ideal. It will help you improve your brain and maximize your gaming performance without the side effects of prescription nootropics.

Highly recommended! Order here.


E-sports and modafinil | Verdict

If you were curious about Modafinil and electronic sports, we hope this guide has addressed all of your questions and concerns. While there is no doubt that gamers can significantly improve their performance with Modafinil, it has a number of side effects and is banned by all major esports organizations.

That's why if you're looking to crush your competition, we recommend sticking with over-the-counter cognitive enhancers like Mind Lab Pro and G FUEL. Leave the prescription drugs and sugary energy drinks to the newbies and level up without taking the hammer.

Ready to order Modafinil from the top-rated online provider?


References

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  2. Kredlow MA, Keshishian A, Oppenheimer S, Otto MW.The efficacy of modafinil as a cognitive enhancer: a systematic review and meta-analysis. J Clin Psychopharmacol. 2019;39(5):455-461. doi:10.1097/JCP.0000000000001085
  3. Eslgaming.com. 2021. ESL leads anti-PED initiative for esports with support from NADA. [online] Available at: <https://www.eslgaming.com/news/esl-leads-anti-ped-initiative-esports-support-nada-2170> [Accessed February 21, 2021].
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