Adrafinil is a smart drug that is used to improving focus, alertness, and mood. But does it work? Are there any side effects to expect? Is it safe? Check out our full Adrafinil review.
What is Adrafinil?
Adrafinil, also known by its brand name Olmifon, is a smart drug used to improve alertness, wakefulness, and mood. [1]
It was discovered in France in the 1970s and is most commonly used by people who work in the early mornings or those who work the graveyard shift.
Adrafinil works in two ways:
1. It helps boost the production of the neurotransmitter hypocretin, which is responsible for wakefulness. Kick your dosage up to a notch, and Adrafinil will also reduce fatigue.
2. This focus-boosting drug improves cognitive performance and memory by breaking down Glutamate, the most abundant neurotransmitter in the human body.
After a few years of trial and error, scientists found out that Adrafinil is in fact, a prodrug to the more famous Modafinil.
A prodrug is a chemical substance which, once consumed, gets broken down by the body’s metabolism into metabolites.
In this instance, Adrafinil gets metabolized into Modafinil.
But should you consider taking Adrafinil? Let’s check out more.
Our Experience With Adrafinil
Many people have amazing experiences with Adrafinil. But there are some that either don’t get any benefits or even feel worse.
To understand what’s happening, we have decided to test Adrafinil.
TEST DAYS
We started with 300 mg of Adrafinil on the first test day. We took it early in the morning on an empty stomach.
Since we know how Modafinil works, we expected similar effects. So, after about an hour, we started feeling some.
We got more focused, our attention increased, we felt more motivated, and we were objectively in a better mood.
The effects weren’t as strong as those of Modafinil, but we were pleasantly surprised.
We felt the effects for a couple of hours, and then they slowly faded away.
Luckily, we didn’t feel any side effects.
A couple of days later, we took 600 mg of Adrafinil. While we expected stronger effects, we are not sure if we really got them.
We were similarly focused and in a good mood, but after a couple of hours, we felt a mild headache.
It’s hard to explain the effects, but we felt less productive at a higher dosage.
Everytime we took the Adrafinil capsules, we felt pretty much the same: Focused, alert, and in a better mood.
We genuinely believe Modafinil is a stronger smart drug, but Adrafinil delivers similar benefits.
Adrafinil Benefits
Adrafinil provides multiple benefits. However, due to the lack of studies, we have to heavily rely on anecdotal reports and our personal experience.
Since Adrafinil and Modafinil work in the same way, we also included some studies of Modafinil for a better understanding.
Let’s check out the main benefits of supplementing Adrafinil.
1. Adrafinil may increase your wakefulness and alertness
Anecdotal reports suggest that supplementing Adrafinil reduces the feeling of sleepiness and increases your alertness. [2]
Unlike typical stimulants, Adrafinil doesn’t make you feel jittery.
2. Adrafinil may improve your mood
Supplementing Adrafinil may also improve your mood and make you feel more motivated. [3]
3. Adrafinil may decrease appetite
Anecdotal reports say that supplementing Adrafinil may reduce your appetite.
Based on our experience, it’s hard to confirm if Adrafinil is effective in doing that. However, once you get in the flow (which Adrafinil can help), then it seems like time is running away much quicker than usual.
Therefore, it might happen you simply forget about eating for a while. Consequently, Adrafinil might help with weight loss.
4. Adrafinil may enhance your memory
Many people report that supplementing Adrafinil improved their memory. Quite the contrary, a study on dogs shows the opposite results – Adrafinil decreased their memory. [4]
We will have to wait for new studies to understand the connection between this nootropic and memory.
5. Adrafinil may increase your energy
Studies on monkeys showed that Adrafinil improved their behavior during the night, and increased their energy. This also means that Adrafinil delays sleepiness. [5]
Another study on rats shows that supplementing Adrafinill can increase your physical energy. [6]
We don’t understand how this happens, but it shows great potential.
Adrafinil Vs Modafinil
As you already read, Adrafinil is a precursor of Modafinil. Both substances were developed to treat narcolepsy, idiopathic hypersomnia, and to enhance the mental functioning of the elderly.
Since one is basically a father to the other, the two wakefulness-promoting compounds have pretty similar effects.
However, Modafinil seems to be the more potent of the two.
Olmifon was taken out of circulation in 2011 by Cephalon, a French pharmaceutical company that bought out Laboratoires Lafon, the company that discovered Adrafinil in 1974.
Adrafinil is predominantly a cerebral stimulant. This means this smart drug will give your mental abilities a boost but will have little carryover to your motor coordination, unlike some other stimulants.
A higher level in hypocretin causes a spike in dopamine, norepinephrine, and histamine, leading to better alertness and focus, making it a very good study drug.
Modafinil, since it is a metabolite, will have pretty much the same effects on our productivity as Adrafinil, but it gets absorbed into our body almost twice as fast.
Adrafinil needs first to be broken down in the liver, so it usually takes 45-60 minutes to kick in as opposed to Modafinil, which only needs about 25-40 minutes.
If you’re an athlete, both Adrafinil and Modafinil are on the WADA banned substance list since 2004.
But if you’re in the armed forces, many countries prefer Modafinil over amphetamines for soldiers in combat situations or long missions.
Adrafinil Dosage
Adrafinil is most effective when taken in doses between 300 and 1200 mg. [7]
Adrafinil is a smart drug that brings some baggage with it, so taking it may result in some side effects.
It is water-soluble, so you can mix it into water or juice and drink it on an empty stomach to get the best results.
According to some experts, it is best to take it early in the morning, as some users have reported having trouble falling asleep if they’ve taken Adrafinil too late in the day.
Because it may take a toll on your liver, Adrafinil is best used sparsely or in cycles at the most. If you decide to cycle it, it is recommended to take a week off for every two weeks of taking this nootropic.
Taking Adrafinil long-term may result in developing tolerance against the drug, so you’ll have to take more and more to achieve the same results which can be very dangerous.
Adrafinil Side Effects
As with taking any other smart drug, please practice caution.
Adrafinil is a nootropic for those who need an occasional boost when working long hours or crazy odd shifts. Regularly taking it is highly discouraged.
Side effects of Adrafinil are quite similar to those of Modafinil.
These include:
- Headaches
- Elevated blood pressure
- Nausea
- Stomach problems
- Daydreaming
- Hallucinations
It is also reported that Adrafinil is a mild appetite suppressant, which can be a good or a bad thing. We’ll let you be the judge.
One last thing that needs to be addressed is Adrafinil’s effect on the liver.
Adrafinil has been proven to increase liver enzymes because it needs to be metabolized in the liver before it actually begins to work.
While increased liver enzymes by themselves might not be a health risk, this may have a trickle-down effect on any other medical issues you might have, so bear this in mind.
So, before supplementing Adrafinil, we would highly recommend consulting your doctor!
How to Stack Adrafinil?
As with many other cognitive enhancers, there are a few nootropics on the market that have a synergistic effect on adrafinil and make it even more potent.
If you’re trying to squeeze the most out of your adrafinil or are looking to improve your nootropic stack, we found some anecdotal tips for you.
Pramiracetam
Pramiracetam is a powerful nootropic, known for its memory-boosting characteristics.
It may increase the production of choline, which is then transformed into acetylcholine, a key neurotransmitter in cognitive processes such as memory, concentration, and learning speed.
Combining 100 mg of Pramiracetam with Adrafinil may result in an energy and memory boost without the jitters that some other stimulants might induce.
Alpha GPC
Alpha GPC is another popular cognitive enhancer. It works very similar to Pramiracetam in the sense of raising the body’s choline levels, resulting in more focused and better study/work sessions.
It is quite common for Alpha GPC users to combine it with Pramiracetam to max out their focus and learning speed.
Some recommend combining 300 mg of Alpha GPC it with Adrafinil to improve mental work.
L- Theanine
L-Theanine is an amino acid, commonly found in tea leaves, that may benefit Adrafinil users. Many use Adrafinil when facing strict deadlines, which means they will be operating at high-stress levels.
Recent studies show L-Theanine promotes relaxation and fights fatigue without inducing drowsiness.
Stacking Adrafinil with about 50 mg of L-Theanine may enable users to stay focused and up for more extended periods while reducing anxiety levels brought up by their demanding tasks.
Milk Thistle
Because Adrafinil puts a significant strain on your liver, adding milk thistle is something that may be beneficial.
Milk thistle is a natural extract, popular in fighting liver damage and taking approximately 50-150 mg may reduce potential risks of liver problems when taking Adrafinil.
Adrafinil Reviews
Based on its efficacy and side effects, Modafinil might seem like a better choice of the two eugeroics.
Many though, still prefer Adrafinil over Modafinil because of its cost efficiency and lack of legal hassle of obtaining it.
Let’s take a look at what people have to say about their experience with Adrafinil:
“Started taking this recently to focus on trading stocks a bit better. Take it right in the morning before consuming food. I have been taking it down with some water and vitamin b complex. The results take about 25 minutes to kick in and I am in full throttle at about the 45 minute mark. Sometimes I have even taken this as a pre-workout supplement --- and feel like it potentiates BETTER with exercise or a mild run than without! But I have to resupplement is about a few hours after to keep the same effect. I do cycle it though.”
“It works. Though it's VERY subtle when taken in a completely rested/non-sleep deprived state; I wouldn't recommend taking it when fully rested. One caveat for some out there: as with many other stimulants, from amphetamines, to the beta-adrenergic agonists, clenbuterol and ephedrine, etc, coffee/caffeine greatly potentiates the effects of this drug. Though, the major difference in the potentiation is a hugeee augmentation of anxiety. The focus and energy is amazing - I spent many a sleep deprived state in the lab with this combo and was very efficient. I just wanted to point out that those actually prone to anxiety (which I am not, at all) may want to heed that combo specifically.”
“I play ice hockey in a city 2 hours away from me, and I have noticed a significant increase in my reaction time and focus while using Adrafinil approximately 5-6 hours before a game.”
“Adrafinil is probably the most powerful over the counter nootropic you can get. Just don't use it every day and take it as early as possible. Start with 300mg and if you don't get much from that you can go up to 600mg.”
“It will definitely help! But keep in mind it may keep you up for 12 hours, so up till 2AM if you take it at 2PM.“
Where to Buy Adrafinil?
Due to the lack of studies, we recommend avoiding Adrafinil.
Instead, we recommend buying a high-quality nootropic supplement that will provide similar benefits, it is safer and leaves no side effects.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is it safe taking Adrafinil?
Yes, current studies show that Adrafinil is potentially safe. However, we recommend consulting your doctor before supplementing it.
Is it legal to buy Adrafinil?
Yes, it is legal to buy Adrafinil from a local store or online. Adrafinil is an unregulated drug, which is not approved for treatment. Therefore, it is legal in many countries.
Is Adrafinil a stimulant?
No, Adrafinil is not a standard stimulant. It provides stimulant-like benefits without the many side effects such as jitters. More studies have to be done to determine what Adrafinil really is.
Is Adrafinil FDA approved?
No, Adrafinil is not FDA approved and thus unregulated in the United States.
Does Adrafinil make you high?
Adrafinil increases your alertness, energy, and focus, which many people experience as being “high.”
