Modafinil to ADD | What you should know

If you have attention deficit disorder (ADD) that affects your productivity at work or school, you may be curious about modafinil for ADD.

Modafinil is a prescription alertness aid typically used for people with sleep disorders.

However, research suggests that it may also be helpful for ADD and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD).

This guide shares the latest research on modafinil for ADD.

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What is modafinil?

Modafinil is a prescription eugeroic or wakefulness agent. It is used to help people with sleep disorders, such as sleep apnea, narcolepsy, and shift work sleep disorder, stay awake. It is manufactured by Cephalon Labs [1, 2].

In addition to increased alertness, people who have taken modafinil have also noticed improved concentration, productivity, and executive functioning. This has also been observed in scientific studies [3].

For this reason, modafinil is often prescribed off-label to people with ADHD, depression, or other conditions. It is also widely used as a nootropic or cognition enhancer.3, 4].

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Modafinil Side Effects and Safety

The US National Library of Medicine details several different potential side effects of modafinil [5]:

• "headache
• dizziness
• difficulty falling asleep or staying asleep
• drowsiness
• nausea
• diarrhea
• constipation
• gas
• acidity
• loss of appetite
• unusual tastes
• dry mouth
• excessive thirst
• nosebleed
• redness
• perspiration
• tight muscles or difficulty moving
• Back pain
• confusion
• uncontrollable shaking of a part of your body
• burning, tingling, or numbness of the skin
• difficulty seeing or pain in the eyes

In addition, they explain that there are also several serious side effects that require urgent medical attention:

• "rash
• blisters
• peel skin
• mouth ulcers
• urticaria
• itching
• hoarseness
• difficulty breathing or swallowing
• swelling of the face, throat, tongue, lips, eyes, hands, feet, ankles, or lower legs
• chest pain
• fast, pounding, or irregular heartbeat
• frantic and abnormally excited mood
• hallucinate (see things or hear voices that do not exist)
• anxiety
• depression
• thinking about killing you or hurting you”

Among people who have previously taken modafinil, the most commonly reported side effects include insomnia, headache, and loss of appetite. Insomnia can be relieved somewhat by taking modafinil first thing in the morning so that the medication has time to metabolize and break down during the day, so that there are not still large amounts of active modafinil left in the system when it is time to go to bed. bed. .

Modafinil may also be linked to a rare and serious condition called Stevens Johnson syndrome.Currently, one case report has linked armodafinil (a structurally similar compound) to a confirmed case of Stevens Johnson syndrome [6].

You should not take modafinil if you are pregnant, nursing, or under 18 years of age, unless prescribed by a doctor, and you should avoid other stimulants, high doses of caffeine, and alcohol while taking modafinil.

Finally, the US National Library of Medicine shares medications that modafinil may have a possible interaction with. This is not an exhaustive list, so it is important to discuss modafinil and other medications with your doctor before you start taking it. These are the medications that say they may interact with modafinil:

“blood thinners (“blood thinners”) such as warfarin (Coumadin); certain antidepressants such as amitriptyline, amoxapine, clomipramine (Anafranil), desipramine (Norpramin), doxepin (Sinequan), imipramine (Tofranil), nortriptyline (Aventyl, Pamelor), protriptyline (Vivactil), and trimipramine (Surmontil); certain antifungals such as itraconazole (Sporanox) and ketoconazole (Nizoral); cyclosporine (Neoral, Sandimmune); diazepam (Valium); certain seizure medications such as carbamazepine (Tegretol), phenobarbital, and phenytoin (Dilantin); monoamine oxidase (MAO) inhibitors, including isocarboxazid (Marplan), phenelzine (Nardil), selegiline (Eldepryl, Emsam, Zelapar), and tranylcypromine (Parnate); propranolol (Inderal); selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) such as citalopram (Celexa), escitalopram (Lexapro), fluoxetine (Prozac, Sarafem), fluvoxamine (Luvox), paroxetine (Paxil), and sertraline (Zoloft); rifampin (Rifadin, Rimactane); and triazolam (Halcion)”

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Modafinil for ADD

While ADD is a commonly used term, it is not actually an official diagnosis.ADHD is the official diagnosis and the subtype typically known as ADD (absent hyperactivity) is known as inattention-type ADHD. This form is characterized by forgetfulness and lack of concentration, but without the typical hyperactivity or impulsivity that usually accompanies ADHD.

Surprisingly, modafinil has a pretty solid history of use for ADHD. In fact, Cephalon Labs had developed an enteric-coated form called Sparlon, which was in clinical trials in 2006.

Clinical trials revealed that Sparlon had powerful positive effects on cognition in children with ADHD. Sparlon was more effective than placebo and equally as potent as commonly used ADHD stimulants such as Ritalin and Adderall.7, 8].

Unfortunately, modafinil was also associated with the rare and potentially fatal side effect of Stevens Johnson syndrome. One child in clinical trials experienced a skin rash similar in nature to the rash seen in Stevens Johnson syndrome, leading to the Food and Drug Administration to deny approval of Sparlon in 2006.6, 9].

A case of Stevens Johnson syndrome has since been noted in the literature as a possible result of armodafinil, which is very similar to modafinil, so these concerns were clearly not unfounded [6].

Regardless, many adults may still be interested in the possibility of reducing their ADD symptoms with modafinil. For the most part, it has a lower risk of serious side effects than the stronger stimulant drugs typically prescribed for attention deficit disorder, such as Ritalin and Adderall.

However, modafinil is unlikely to ever be approved for ADHD, especially in children, due to its history and connection to Stevens Johnson syndrome.

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An effective treatment for atypical ADD

Because of promising research on ADHD and modafinil, many adults with ADD have attempted to manage or treat their symptoms with modafinil. In fact, many doctors also advocate this use: ADHD management remains one of the most common off-label prescriptions for modafinil.

Additionally, modafinil may be less dependent than other ADHD treatment alternatives, making it safer and less risky. One person with ADD who uses modafinil to help control it has said that modafinil provides all the benefits of stimulant amphetamines while keeping him sober.

However, as with any medication, results are mixed and vary greatly from person to person.

Some people say that modafinil worked great in helping them manage their ADD symptoms, while others say they felt like it had no effect. Several people with ADD have reported that modafinil gives them just the right amount of focus and concentration to get through the day productively.

Regardless, side effects commonly reported by people who have tried modafinil specifically to manage their ADD include irritability and increased blood pressure.

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Modafinil and ADD | Verdict

Modafinil is a wakefulness agent for sleep disorders that offers other potential benefits. For this reason, it is prescribed as an off-label prescription for a number of conditions, including ADD.

ADD is actually a type of ADHD, known as inattentive-type ADHD. While people with inattentive-type ADHD have difficulty concentrating, they do not show hyperactive tendencies. Modafinil is a promising alternative to the powerful stimulants often prescribed for ADD because it is effective, less dependent, and has fewer side effects.

However, it is not totally free of side effects. Some people with ADD who have used modafinil report that it increases their blood pressure or causes irritability. It may also be associated with a rare and fatal condition known as Stevens Johnson syndrome.

Regardless, there are many reports that modafinil has been life-changing in the treatment of ADD, with no notable side effects.

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