Modafinil is an enhancing smart drug that is used for treating daytime sleep-related disorders. Besides, it is one of the most popular “nootropics” on the market. It is used to dramatically improve your focus, motivation, and energy. One thing is for sure – it can definitely change your life. For good? Let’s find out in our full Modafinil review.

Modafinil Review

If you ever checked our nootropic reviews, then you probably know that we have tried a lot of nootropics and nootropic stacks. Some provided lots of benefits, others we would never recommend.

But there is one nootropic (or better, a smart drug), that definitely stood out of the crowd. It is a compound that can deliver extraordinary benefits, but it can bring adverse side effects as well.

It is the smart drug that may have been used in the Limitless movie. Everyone who already tried Modafinil understands what we are talking about.

Is Modafinil the strongest smart-drug on the market?

Modafinil is not in the same game as other nootropics. Why? Because it is not a nootropic, it is a labeled prescription drug for treating sleep-related disorders.

So, why the hell would anyone use a prescription drug to boost their cognitive performance? Because that’s exactly what Modafinil does.

Modafinil is not a stimulant, but it acts like one. It is a wakefulness-promoting agent, which dramatically increases your focus and overall performance.

Several studies are proving the cognitive effects of taking Modafinil. [1] [2] [3] [4]

Let us explain what happens when you take it and why we find it so fascinating.

Our Experience With Modafinil

So, here is how it all started. After we’ve done our research (and honestly, we read tons of stuff on Modafinil, scientific articles, studies, reviews, feedbacks, etc.), we’ve decided to order this smart drug and try it out. Actually, it was Greg, the founder of Your Inception, who decided to be our test bunny.

Two weeks later, we received the package of Modafinil pills, and the fun began. Here is what happened.

Modafinil experience

“It was during the weekend when I decided to test Modafinil for the first time. I set the alarm at 5 AM, and when I woke up, I immediately took one pill. Since I knew it takes some time to kick in, I went back to bed and tried to fall asleep again.

As you can imagine, adrenaline was rushing through my veins. I was scared as f***. 

Anyhow, at around 5.45 AM, I finally woke up (this time for real), I drank some water, turned on my laptop, and I started working on my blog. The next 30 minutes were quite funny. I was waiting for the strong kick or something special, but as far as I remember, nothing special happened.

However, I started working as I usually do, I was drinking lots of water, and I tried to be as productive as possible. But here is the trick…

I don’t know how and when, but all of a sudden it was like 10 AM or 11 AM, and I was in this hyper-productive zone working like crazy. That was the first time I actually stopped working for a minute as I had to pee. It was the moment when I realized the real power of Modafinil.

There was no second question, no laziness, no doubt, I needed no additional motivation, no background songs, nothing. I just sat and worked. The only thing I can remember is that my vision span was kind of narrow (not something you would expect, right?)

I felt like my eyes (and brain) were focused entirely on my laptop, and my body had no intention of doing anything else. And this went on for hours and hours. It was probably around 6-7 PM when I finally decided to go for a longer walk – not because I was tired or anything, I just thought I’ve done enough. Besides, I was also a bit afraid of how my body will react to Modafinil the very next day.

And that was the first experience with Modafinil.

I tried it several times after and every single time it was pretty much the same. I know that if you are reading this, you probably think: “This guy is a bullshitter. Or he probably took some LSD or something else.”

And I completely understand you. When I was reading other reviews, I had similar doubts. Modafinil sounded way to effective to actually work. Like a real sci-fi thing.

But this is an honest review, guys. Trust me. I know how I felt when I took Modafinil for the first time. And all other times.”

Modafinil Benefits

As we mentioned before, Modafinil is a drug used to treat excessive sleepiness. But it can be used by healthy people for several other reasons.

Here are the main potential benefits of taking Modafinil: [5]

1. Modafinil may promote wakefulness

Modafinil allows users to avoid fatigue and stay awake for hours (even up to 15 hours). Whenever you need a strong energy boost (if you are tired or you just want to be extremely focused), Modafinil may help you out.

You should feel strong effects if you take it during the night or even in the morning after a long sleep – it’s such a powerful drug. That’s why it is so popular among students, CEOs, managers, and others.

2. Modafinil may improve your focus

Based on our experience and the experience of many people, Modafinil dramatically increases your concentration. Your eye span narrows, and it seems like it’s so easy to be “glued” to your desired work at the moment.

For example, Greg could sit for hours (8+) and work on his laptop without any issues.

Once you know what you want to focus on, you can easily do it.

3. Modafinil may improve your motivation 

This statement is of course not scientifically proven, but hear us out – what many people report when they take Modafinil is that they get very motivated for the work they do.

You are not really excited or anything, but as soon as you set your goal, bam, you want to achieve it no matter what.

4. Modafinil may increase cognitive function 

Imagine what happens if your focus and energy increases? Well, your overall cognition should be improved, and your productivity will skyrocket.

That’s what seems Modafinil does to people. And the significant advantage is this lasts for hours and hours.

5. Modafinil may improve your mood

We are not sure if this is a placebo or not, but whenever we take Modafinil, we not only feel more motivated, but we find working on advanced tasks fun and enjoyable.

It is a significant difference which many other users who took Modafinil noticed.

modafinil nootropic

Are there any other benefits of taking Modafinil?

Some people report that taking Modafinil helped them lose weight. Honestly, we don’t believe Modafinil as a drug has a direct effect on your weight, but this is more of a consequence of hard and focused work which lasts for hours.

We noticed that we eat at least 30-50% less food when we take Modafinil. It is not that we are not hungry, but we don’t really think about food. We just work and work.

Also, Modafinil goes hand-in-hand with drinking coffee. This is based on our personal experience.

We love drinking coffee, which always boosts our performance. When we combine it with Modafinil, we feel unstoppable. The great thing about this combo is that caffeine seems to kick in earlier (like 10-15 min after drinking coffee), whereas Modafinil needs about an hour.

So you speed up the process with coffee, and you do feel awesome. Just go easy on that, because Modafinil as a standalone supplement is strong enough for most people.

If you want to get an even stronger energy boost, you may even combine Modafinil with Bulletproof coffee.

And that’s about it. Yes, there are many potential benefits of taking Modafinil.

Side Effects Of Modafinil

Many people wonder if taking Modafinil is safe. Is it safe for long-term use? Are there any adverse side effects to expect?

First of all, studies show that Modafinil is not addictive. [6] [7]

Besides, based on our experience and the research we’ve done, it is considered to be a safe drug to be taken in the long term.

Here is the list of all potential Modafinil side effects:

  • Headache
  • Nausea
  • Nervousness
  • Dizziness
  • Difficulty sleeping may occur

Besides the mentioned side effects, Modafinil could, in rare casescause SJS (Stevens-Johnson Syndrome – 5 cases per 1 million people). [8] People with certain genetic predispositions can develop this condition, which shows on your body as a rush.

It can be triggered by several drugs (like cocaine, phenytoin, valproic, carbamazepine, lamotrigine, barbiturates, and some others), infections (herpes, influenza, hepatitis,..), but there are also genetic predispositions that can cause the SJS.

If you carry one of the following leukocytes, you should be careful: HLA-B*5801, HLA-B*1502, HLA-B*5801, HLA-B*44, HLA-A29<, HLA-B12, HLA-DR7, HLA-A2, HLA-B*5801, HLA-A*0206, HLA-DQB1*0601.

To make it easier for you, we couldn’t find any person who had issues with SJS. 

Now, if any of the following side effects happen, then we do suggest calling a doctor:

  • depression, anxiety, suicidal thoughts or actions;
  • hallucinations, unusual thoughts or behavior, aggression, being more active or talkative than usual;
  • chest pain, trouble breathing, uneven heartbeats; or
  • the first sign of any skin rash, no matter how minor you think it might be.

If you decide you will try Modafinil, it’s good to have a friend or someone else around you. This is a precaution that doesn’t cost you anything (if you don’t have super weird friends – sorry) and brings additional peace to your mind.

When we took Modafinil for the first time, we were, of course, thinking about SJS. But it’s such a rare thing that thinking about it really doesn’t make any sense.

To sum this up, based on our research and the studies that we found, Modafinil is a safe smart drug to take occasionally and probably also in the long term.

However, you absolutely need to talk to your doctor before trying it out!

Modafinil Nootropic: How Does It Work? 

You don’t need to search for long before you find a lot of studies about the effectiveness of Modafinil. What Modafinil does –  it increases levels of stimulatory neurotransmitters in your brain. [5] That’s why lots of entrepreneurs, students, and other high-achievers take it as a smart drug.

Modafinil is not a stimulant (like your morning coffee), but it does seem to work like one. Here is the list of science-based evidence of Modafinil effects:

  • It was shown that Modafinil increases cognition [9]
  • Reaction time decreases [10]
  • In healthy volunteers, it improves working memory [11]
  • There is a study proving that taking Modafinil enhances brain function in sleep-deprived doctors [12]

Besides those effects, Modafinil may also decrease fatigue, reduce the need to sleep, and increase alertness.

Modafinil Dosages

Since you already understand how potent Modafinil is, you have to carefully think about the correct dosage to achieve the effects you desire.

The standard dose of Modafinil: 

It is between 100-200 mg. We usually take 200 mg of Modafinil per day and never more than that. However, you have to be careful with dosing because there are different types of Modafinil available on the market.

Read the label and do your research before you decide on the right dosage. If Modafinil is prescribed to you by a doctor, please listen to him/her. Personally, we started by taking 100 mg of Modafinil/day, and then we slowly increased the dosage to 200 mg if needed.

The maximum Modafinil dose is 200 mg/day if not prescribed differently.

Best time to take Modafinil: 

The best time to take Modafinil is in the morning, between 5 – 7 AM. The reason for that is that 100-200 mg of Modafinil can give you a serious energy boost for the next 6-12 hours. So this is great if you want to have a productive day, but avoid any issues falling asleep in the evening.

If you want to work overnight, then, of course, take Modafinil in the evening. But do expect that you will have enough energy for the next 8-12 hours (or even more).

Since Modafinil amplifies the effect of caffeine, do not overconsume coffee on the day you take Modafinil. You can drink one cup of coffee in the morning, but we don’t suggest drinking it more.

Modafinil Reviews

We gave been researching smart drugs and nootropics since 2015, so we read A LOT of feedback and reviews of Modafinil. We talked to people who’ve been taking it for years.

Feedbacks from users differ, but the majority of people are really satisfied with the benefits.

Keep in mind that we don’t want to promote Modafinil in any way. We are just sharing some honest reviews to help you understand what Modafinil really is and how does it work.

“Great stuff to stay awake and keep alertness throughout the night. It’s a lifesaver for me. I use to pass out driving home every morning. Now I make it home safe.”

“I am a Nurse . I gave in and began to take Provigil (Modafinil(l because I could not safely transfer my clients for appointments . I could NOT stay awake behind the wheel of a car or any time I sat still .Provigil has been a life changer! I started with 100mg once a day 4 years ago. It still works and no side effects!”

“This medicine really works for depression. It helps me get stuff done and not want to sleep all of the time. Taken with coffee it is a lot stronger. I give this a 9 on a scale of 1-10.”

Where To Buy Modafinil?

Modafinil is a prescription drug in most countries around the world, which means consulting your doctor is a must. We don’t recommend ordering it online.

Instead of buying Modafinil, we suggest that you go for high-quality nootropic supplements that can provide similar effects, are MUCH safer, and legal. 

Click on the button below to find our favorite stacks. 

Frequently Asked Questions

Let us answer the most commonly asked questions regarding Modafinil.

Is Modafinil legal?

Yes, Modafinil is legal in many countries around the world with a prescription. It’s illegal to import it to the US without a prescription. Modafinil is classified as a Schedule IV controlled substance in the United States.

Is Modafinil dangerous?

No, based on the studies we found, Modafinil is not dangerous if taken as recommended. Researches at Oxford and Harvard market Modafinil as a low-risk drug. To minimize the risk, we recommend consulting your doctor before taking Modafinil.

How long does Modafinil last?

Typically, the effects of Modafinil last between 8 to 12 hours. The actual length depends on the amount of Modafinil people take, type of it, and other factors.

What does Modafinil do?

Modafinil increases levels of stimulatory neurotransmitters in the brain. By doing that in healthy people, it improves their cognitive performance.

Is Modafinil as good as Adderall?

Yes, it seems that Modafinil is as good as Adderall, but it works differently. Modafinil is not a stimulant like Adderall, but it does have stimulant-like effects. While Adderall is used to treat ADHD, Modafinil is prescribed to people with sleep-related issues.