Can Modalert Really Help You Work Smarter?

What is Modafinil?

Modafinil and its generic version, Modalert 200 mg, are drugs that can help you stay awake and alert for longer. The drug is a member of a class known as eugeroics, and was developed to treat sleep disorders such as narcolepsy, shift work sleep disorder and obstructive sleep apnea. It is also used as a cognitive enhancement drug, helping people focus and concentrate.

A recent study by Oxford and Harvard medical schools found that Modafinil, which is prescribed to those with narcolepsy, can improve decision-making and problem-solving in healthy adults. This is because the drug increases levels of neurotransmitters in the brain that keep you awake and focused, such as norepinephrine and dopamine.

Despite the findings, researchers are unclear about long-term effects of taking this medication. Some experts are worried about a loss of creativity, a change in how you think and feel, and the potential for addiction.

It is important to note that Modafinil and its generic form are Schedule 4 prescription-only medicines in Australia. This means that you can only get them by doctor’s prescription, or by purchasing them online from overseas vendors. However, buying these drugs without a prescription is dangerous for your health and against the law. In addition, some of these websites are known to sell counterfeit Modafinil, which may be unsafe and ineffective.

How Does Modafinil Work?

Touted as a smart drug that boosts mental performance, modafinil (Provigil) is widely used by entrepreneurs and millennials. Online blogs glow with tales of unwavering focus, superhuman levels of concentration and powering through 14-hour work days.

However, these claims are based on little more than anecdotal evidence and a misunderstanding of the drug’s true effectiveness. Modafinil 200 Australia is a stimulant that works by inhibiting reuptake of the neurotransmitter dopamine and increasing AMP production, thus making the brain less likely to experience a downshift from the normal state of alertness.

Modafinil also enhances the activity of certain brain regions, most notably in the frontal lobe. This is why it can improve planning and decision-making, and lead to increased flexibility and learning.

In a recent study, researchers found that while taking modafinil, people performed better at tasks requiring creativity than when they were not taking the drug. However, the research was limited to basic testing paradigms and did not examine more complex thought processes like divergent thinking.

A 2019 review of 24 studies of the cognitive enhancing effects of modafinil in healthy non-sleep-deprived individuals found that while modafinil does provide some improvements on simple tasks, it has much less of an effect on complex thought processes like planning and decision-making, as well as on measures of creativity. This is a major disappointment, as it would suggest that the drug could be a genuine cognitive enhancer, independent of its effects in sleep-deprived individuals.

Is Modafinil Safe?

A slew of online vendors are marketing modafinil as a’smart drug’ that keeps you alert and focused. While it is prescribed to treat narcolepsy and sleep apnea, it’s been used off-label as a cognitive enhancer by stressed students and overworked executives. The Therapeutic Goods Administration warns people against buying drugs like this without a prescription. They could put their health at risk and may also be breaking the law.

The good news is that modafinil is incredibly safe when used as directed for people with narcolepsy or other sleep disorders. However, it’s less clear how safe it is for healthy people who use it as a cognitive enhancer.

The most recent research suggests it has positive effects on memory, decision-making and something called fluid intelligence — our ability to think creatively and solve problems. It’s important to note that the more complex the task, the more consistently modafinil improves performance.

Modafinil increases the levels of histamine in the brain, which helps boost wakefulness. It also increases norepinephrine, another neurotransmitter involved in arousal and stress responses. It’s also thought that it affects glutamate transmission in the brain, although this is not well understood.

While the majority of modafinil research has focused on sleep disordered patients, it’s hoped this new review will lead to better understanding of how it can be used safely by healthy people who want to boost their productivity or focus ahead of an exam.