Modafinil and blood pressure | Should you worry?

Many nootropic users are curious to know if, “Modafinil blood pressure” Is it a real problem or not.

In other words, they are curious to know if there is a connection between modafinil and raising blood pressure to unhealthy levels.

Even if a smart drug enthusiast is relatively young and healthy, he doesn't want to deal with unwanted side effects like hypertension. If they take Modafinil and the result is high blood pressure, this side effect may be enough to avoid using Modafinil altogether.

That's why we wrote this article:

To show you everything you need to know about Modafinil and blood pressure, including several studies and their results.

We will also discuss interactions, if any, between blood pressure pills and Modafinil, letting you know if there are any interactions of Modafinil with the medications you are currently taking.

---

What is modafinil?

Before we can talk about what science says about modafinil and blood pressure, let's talk about why this pharmaceutical medication is so popular among young adults.

Modafinil is known as a “central nervous system” stimulant, but its mechanism of action is so unique that it does not affect the body in the same way that drugs like amphetamines do.

Its ability to treat excessive daytime sleepiness led the FDA to approve modafinil in 1998 under the brand name "Provigil" as a treatment for narcolepsy, shift work sleep disorder in 2003, and obstructive sleep apnea in 2004.1].

One of the reasons Provigil was considered a revolutionary drug in sleep medicine was the increased alertness and reduced fatigue seen in patients with narcolepsy. Most strikingly, the usual stimulant side effects of abuse and dependence were absent.

Many nootropic users discovered Provigil's wakefulness-promoting properties and its ability to boost cognition in healthy people who were not sleep deprived.

CEOs, Wall Street professionals, graduate students and more began using the smart drug to improve their mental performance. For these people, Modafinil offered enormous cognitive benefits such as [2]:

• Supercharged Focus
• Long duration (10-12 hours)
• Improved memory and retention.
• A greater sense of motivation.

To put it informally, Modafinil's ability to provide "superhuman energy" quickly became known to anyone who wanted to improve their mental performance.

Many people from all walks of life are currently taking smart medications like Modafinil to help them make more money, get better grades, or simply function with greater mental capacity.

---

---

Modafinil and blood pressure | The basics

So what exactly is blood pressure and what are the factors that can increase or decrease it?

Blood pressure can be defined as the force that allows blood to flow through the circulatory system, delivering oxygen, nutrients, antibodies and expelling toxic waste products from the body.3].

Every time the heart beats (that is, contracts), it expels incoming blood. It is due to the DIFFERENCE in pressure that blood can flow through the arteries and reach all parts of the body.

Blood pressure is highest in the heart, while the arteries maintain the pressure. The arteries themselves can constrict or dilate, thereby increasing or decreasing blood pressure (respectively).

Blood Pressure UK, a UK charity dedicated to the treatment of blood pressure problems, briefly explains how blood pressure is measured and expressed.4]:

“Blood pressure is measured in 'millimeters of mercury' (mmHg) and is written as two numbers...if your reading is 120/80 mmHg, your blood pressure is '120 over 80' [normal values].

The first number (or higher) is your systolic blood pressure. It is the highest level that blood pressure reaches when the heart beats [the heart muscles are tense]

The second (or bottom) number is your diastolic blood pressure. It is the lowest level your blood pressure reaches when your heart relaxes between beats [the heart muscles are relaxed].”

When blood pressure is too high or too low These conditions are known as “hypertension” (>130/80 mmHg) and “hypotension” (<90/60 mmHg) [5]:

Hypertension: “Too much blood is pumped into the arteries, which can cause life-threatening conditions such as heart disease, stroke, type 2 diabetes, high cholesterol...Symptoms include chest pain, difficulty breathing and irregular heartbeat.”

Hypotension: “…blood does not flow completely to the brain, arteries and organs. “Chronic low blood pressure without symptoms is almost never a cause for concern, unless the blood pressure suddenly drops and the brain is deprived of adequate blood supply…Symptoms include dizziness, lightheadedness, and fainting.”

This is where modafinil comes into the picture: if you look at any official list of modafinil side effects, you will see the following indications appear [6]:

• Chest pain
• Difficulty breathing
• Fast, strong heartbeat
• Agitation or excitement

While modafinil is not technically considered a "stimulant," it is considered "stimulant-like" and this is enough to raise concerns among cardiologists who treat patients with heart problems.7]:

“Although the cardiovascular impact of stimulant use is minimal in healthy populations, with minor elevations in heart rate and blood pressure, concerns remain regarding use in patients with preexisting cardiovascular conditions.

“Adrenergic activation caused by stimulants and similar drugs may have a greater impact on autonomic regulation in patients with compromised cardiovascular function.”

In summary, modafinil and blood pressure are not mentioned in the context of hypotension. The main concern is when a user's “Modafinil blood pressure” (i.e. blood pressure after taking Modafinil) increases too much.

---

Modafinil and high blood pressure

So what does science have to say about modafinil and high blood pressure? Do the theoretical effects of modafinil match what is observed in clinical studies?

According to a 2004 review of 7 placebo-controlled studies examining the on-label use of Modafinil, Modafinil was considered safe to use in patients who had controlled hypertension [8]:

“Modafinil therapy was not associated with clinically relevant changes in [blood pressure] or [heart rate] in patients with excessive sleepiness associated with narcolepsy, [obstructive sleep apnea/hypopnea syndrome], or [occupational sleep disorder]. in shifts], even in patients with controlled or elevated hypertension [blood pressure].”

Another 2012 article agreed with these observations, noting that Modafinil-induced blood pressure increases were normal and quite modest compared to traditional stimulants [9]:

"...clinical studies have demonstrated small but consistent increases in mean systolic and mean diastolic blood pressure values ​​and mean pulse rate in patients receiving armodafinil... Therefore, increased monitoring of blood pressure may be appropriate in patients taking these compounds."

“Changes in heart rate and blood pressure have been modest; In contrast, adrenergic reuptake blockers are known to slightly increase blood pressure and heart rate. “These clinical observations suggest that, at typical clinical doses, modafinil may not increase adrenergic signaling in humans.”

But this doesn't necessarily mean that there is no connection between Modafinil and high blood pressure.

In patients with sleep apnea, modafinil does not appear to significantly change blood pressure unless subjects are under physical and mental stress.In other words, if subjects do not engage in physical exercise or any activity that requires intense mental concentration, then no significant changes in blood pressure are observed.10].

A 2005 clinical study involving 12 healthy patients taking 400 mg of modafinil daily found that modafinil significantly increased blood pressure.11]:

“Modafinil increased resting heart rate (9.2+/-2.0 bpm; mean [+/-SE]; 95% confidence interval [CI], 4.7 to 13.6; P = 0.001 ), resting systolic blood pressure (7.3+/-3.2 mm Hg; 95% CI, 0.2 to 14.4; P=0.044), and resting diastolic blood pressure (5.3+/- -1.7 mm Hg; 95% CI, 1.4 to 9.1 mm Hg; P<0.012)

“…This recommends caution in the use of modafinil in patients with cardiovascular diseases or those who perform strenuous physical activity. In light of these studies, it seems prudent to carefully monitor people receiving modafinil for potential cardiovascular complications.”

However, it is important to note that the typical Modafinil user takes 200 mg of Modafinil or less per day, 1 to 3 times per week.

Going beyond this recommended dose (+400 mg), along with the use of other medications that increase blood pressure, has consistently been shown to produce unwanted cardiovascular events such as tachycardia, hypertension, and tremors.12, 13, 14].

We were only able to locate one study that suggested that modafinil might act as a vasodilator (i.e. relaxes blood vessels) and reduce blood pressure.15].

To summarize the science:

Modafinil and high blood pressure have a connection, but only in people who overdose on modafinil, use modafinil with other medications that increase blood pressure, or have existing heart problems.16].

---

Blood pressure pills and modafinil

Let's examine what happens when blood pressure pills and Modafinil are taken together.

According to MedicineNet.com [17]:

“Some products that may interact with this medication include: medications for high blood pressure (for example, beta blockers such as atenolol/metoprolol, clonidine, guanabenzo, methamphetamineandldopa, prazosin), “blood thinners” (for example, warfarin)”

"Modafinil may speed up or slow down the removal of other medications from the body by affecting certain liver enzymes [such as propranolol, an antihypertensive medication intended to treat high blood pressure and irregular heart rate]."

This is important to keep in mind, as modafinil can induce a state of "resistant hypertension" when taken together with antihypertensive medications.18]:

“Resistant hypertension is high blood pressure that does not respond well to aggressive medical treatment… Someone is taking three different blood pressure medications at their maximum tolerated doses and their blood pressure remains above their goal”

Whether by reducing the levels of these medications in your body or simply affecting their effectiveness, there is definitely an interaction between Modafinil and blood pressure pills.

The same can be said for anticoagulants such as Clopidrogel, which reduces the formation of blood clots by preventing platelets from sticking together.19]:

“…modalafinil could decrease the effectiveness of clopidogrel. “This could increase a person’s chances of suffering a stroke or heart attack as a result of a blood clot.”

Needless to say, taking modafinil along with other classes of stimulants and select psychoactive substances can cause synergistic increases in blood pressure and heart rate.20].

---

---

Common Modafinil Side Effects

The most common side effects of modafinil reported in clinical practice and in scientific studies include headaches, nausea, dizziness, insomnia, dry mouth, and diarrhea.21].

Modafinil side effects associated with high blood pressure are serious, but occur very infrequently. However, the official product monograph warns doctors to periodically monitor heart rate and blood pressure in patients taking Modafinil. [22].

There are some limits that doctors will look for when their patients take Modafinil [23]:

"Modafinil should be discontinued in patients who develop moderate to severe arrhythmia or hypertension and not restarted until the condition has been appropriately evaluated and treated."

"Modafinil should not be prescribed if diastolic blood pressure is 100 mmHg or higher before treatment."

To summarize, high blood pressure is not a common side effect of modafinil. Incidences of Modafinil use and blood pressure increases that occur are quite rare.

---

Blood pressure and modafinil | The verdict

Any health enthusiast who cares “Modafinil blood pressure” They should calm their fears.

Assuming they are not combining Modafinil with other powerful stimulants or other blood pressure pills, they will not have to worry about Modafinil and high blood pressure.

After all, any stimulant can cause changes in blood pressure, especially if the individual is prone to cardiovascular problems.

So if you're a healthy adult under 45, modafinil and blood pressure shouldn't be a big concern.

However, people with a history of hypertension and/or heart problems should consult with a medical professional before starting Modafinil.

---