Modafinil is a novel wake-promoting agent with FDA approval for narcolepsy and shift work sleep disorder. It is also used off-label for a variety of other conditions and symptoms.
Buy Modafinil Australia may decrease the effectiveness of hormonal contraceptives (birth control pills, rings, patches, or implants). Talk to your doctor before using any birth control.
Narcolepsy
Modafinil is used to treat narcolepsy, a sleep disorder marked by extreme daytime sleepiness. It works by stimulating the brain’s centres for wakefulness. Studies suggest it also increases brain activity in areas that control memory and learning. It’s not clear how modafinil improves narcolepsy symptoms, but it’s thought to reduce excessive sleepiness and improve vigilance. It’s less sedating than current treatments, such as dextroamphetamine or methylphenidate, and has a lower abuse potential.
Taking modafinil long-term may result in dependence. It should only be taken under the supervision of a doctor. It can have a serious or dangerous effect on your heartbeat and blood pressure, so it should be avoided in people with heart disease. It can interact with some medicines, so tell your doctor if you are taking any other drugs, including ones bought without a prescription. It’s also not recommended for people with a history of mental health problems. It can affect thinking and reaction times, so it’s not suitable for driving or operating machinery until you know how it affects you.
It’s illegal to sell or give away modafinil, so never share it with anyone else. It’s also not suitable for children. You should store it where children can’t reach it. It is listed as a Schedule 4 prescription-only medicine, so you can only get it with a prescription from your doctor.
Obstructive Sleep Apnea
Modafinil (Modalert 200 mg) and its analogs work to improve wakefulness in people with narcolepsy by enhancing the activity of neurons that control sleep-wake cycles. They also increase levels of dopamine, a chemical in the brain that helps promote wakefulness. They are sometimes prescribed for shift work sleep disorder (SWSD) and used off-label as cognitive enhancers by students, military personnel, and others who need to stay awake and concentrate for long periods of time.
In a small number of people, this drug may increase the risk of depression, suicidal thoughts, or other mental health problems. Report any unusual changes to your doctor or pharmacist right away.
Take this medication with or without food as directed by your doctor, usually once daily in the morning. It is important to continue using other treatment, such as a mouth device or CPAP machine for obstructive sleep apnea, even while taking modafinil.
This medicine can cause dizziness. Do not drive or operate machinery after taking it unless you are alert. This medication may interact with other medications, including sedatives and alcohol. Tell your doctor and pharmacist what other medicines you are taking, including prescription and nonprescription drugs, vitamins, and herbal products. Do not drink alcoholic beverages or use marijuana (cannabis) while taking this medication. This medication can cause an increase in blood pressure, especially if you have high cholesterol or heart disease.
Shift Work Sleep Disorder
Many people who work shifts have trouble getting enough sleep. This can lead to drowsiness at work, which can make it difficult to concentrate and remember things. It can also increase the risk of accidents and mistakes that could have been avoided. Unfortunately, there have been few well controlled studies of treatment options for people who suffer from shift work sleep disorder (SWSD).
Modafinil has been shown to improve alertness and performance in people who do shift work. In one study, participants were randomly assigned to receive a single oral dose of modafinil (0, 200, or 400 mg) during three days of simulated shift work under two different conditions (day and night). They then completed a series of cognitive/psychomotor tests on each day. On the DSST, both modafinil doses increased tracking speed and accuracy. The 400-mg dose significantly improved performance in the RIT test, which measures reaction time.
In a second study, participants with SWSD who took modafinil reported less drowsiness at work and fewer problems with concentration and memory. In addition, the researchers found that modafinil significantly improved mood and reduced fatigue.
Modafinil is in a class of medications called wakefulness promoting agents. It is important to follow good sleep habits (sleeping in a dark, quiet room, not drinking caffeine close to bedtime) when taking this medication. It is also important to take it at the same time each day and not change the dosage or schedule without talking with your doctor. Long-term or high-dose use of wakefulness promoting agents can cause addiction and withdrawal symptoms.
Mental Health Symptoms
Although modafinil is FDA-approved to improve sleep cycles to help narcoleptics, some people use it off-label to enhance their cognition. Many of these individuals are not narcoleptics and may be under stress, like cancer patients or soldiers in a war zone. Studies suggest that Modafinil increases the release of catecholamines and dopamine in the brain, similar to other waking drugs and improves performance on tests of concentration and memory. It may also brighten moods. It has been marketed as the first pharmaceutical nootropic, a drug that can genuinely improve performance without making people hyperactive or intoxicated.
It is not known if Modafinil is addictive and long-term use of it can be harmful to health. Taking it for recreational purposes may increase the risk of mental illness such as depression, psychosis or mania (frenzied, abnormally excited mood). People who have a history of addiction to illegal drugs, stimulants or alcohol should not take it. This medication can interact with certain medicines, so tell your doctor about any that you are taking.
Overseas online vendors promote Modafinil and a growing range of other drugs labelled as nootropics in professional-looking websites and consumer-friendly guides. They often quote TGA guidelines to imply that the medicines are legal to buy and import into Australia. In reality, overseas importing of these medicines is not legal and the products are intercepted by Australian Border Force and held until buyers provide a valid prescription from an Australian healthcare professional.
Leave a Reply