Have you ever had one of those days where you’re full of energy, get tons of stuff done, and you feel more focused than a laser beam? Do you wish there was a way to have those kinds of days more frequently? Thanks to the wonderful world of nootropics, you can. That’s exactly how I felt the the first time I tried adrafinil: I had more energy, was super productive, and felt focused all day long. In this article, we’re going to take a look at the nootropic adrafinil. It has a long history of use and plenty of science to support its effectiveness. Adrafinil offers a multitude of benefits, including enhanced focus, wakefulness, and various cognitive enhancements. But first, let’s see what adrafinil is.
What is adrafinil?
This is a common nootropic that is sold as a dietary supplement. Adrafinil is popular in the nootropics community because it is easily available without a prescription and can increase focus, attention, alertness, wakefulness, and even improve mood.
French chemists discovered adrafinil in 1974. They studied this novel substance and found it to have eugeroic (wakefulness-promoting) and stimulant-like effects. After years of clinical trials and human studies by Cephalon Laboratories (originally Lafon), adrafinil was authorized for use in 1981.
In France, adrafinil was a prescription drug from 1985 to 2011, sold under the trade name Olmifon. It was classified as a non-amphetamine psychostimulant, used to treat narcolepsy and disorders of vigilance, attention, and ideomotor slowdown in the older people.
In 2011, Cephalon Laboratories voluntarily took adrafinil off the market. Newer, more potent eugeroics like modafinil had become available. But just because adrafinil was no longer a prescription drug didn’t mean it wasn’t still in demand. By 2011, adrafinil had become popular nootropic – not just in France but around the world.
Nootropic benefits of adrafinil
Though adrafinil was approved in France to treat narcolepsy and age-related cognitive decline, they knew it could be beneficial for healthy people, too. It was often prescribed off-label (for uses other than what it’s approved for) for fatigue, daytime tiredness, shift work, and as a general mind-and-mood booster.
Adrafinil has been used around the world as a nootropic for decades. Here are just some of the nootropic benefits adrafinil users often report:
- Increased focus
- Increased productivity
- Increased alertness/wakefulness
- Increased motivation
- Improved mood
With a list of potential benefits like that, it’s not hard to see why adrafinil has remained popular in the nootropics community. But what does the science have to say? Let’s take a look at some of the research that has been done on adrafinil to see if the data support these claims.
A 1990 study looked at the effect adrafinil had on 304 people between the ages of 45 and 88 who had difficulties with attention, concentration, and memory, and also showed signs of depression. Participants were given 900 milligrams (mg) a day of adrafinil in two divided doses (600 mg in the morning and another 300 mg at noon) for 3 months. The researchers found significant improvements in vigilance, attention, concentration, mood, and anxiety. They also noted that there were no serious adverse effects.
Adrafinil Research Summary
A double-blind, placebo-controlled study published a year earlier looked at the effect adrafinil had on hospitalized patients who presented with difficulty staying awake and vigilant. The researchers found that the participants who received adrafinil were less depressed, less irritable, more sociable, more patient, and showed overall cognitive improvement.
Another placebo-controlled study looked at the effect adrafinil had on people between the ages of 45 and 79 who complained of memory, concentration, and attention problems. 548 participants were split up into two groups. Participants in the group that received adrafinil showed significant improvements in attention, memory, orientation, and activities of daily living. The researchers did not mention any adverse effects.
Lastly, a 1987 study compared the effectiveness of adrafinil versus clomipramine (a tricyclic antidepressant) or placebo in the treatment of depression. Participants were given either 600 mg/day of adrafinil, 40 mg/day of clomipramine, or a placebo for two months. Those in both the adrafinil and clomipramine groups showed significant reductions in their depressive symptoms while the participants in the placebo group did not. The researchers also noted that while 50% of participants given clomipramine experienced side effects, adrafinil was well tolerated.
As you can see, there is plenty of research to support the claims made by adrafinil users. Studies consistently show that it can improve memory, mood, alertness, focus, and more. While no studies have been done on young, healthy volunteers specifically examining adrafinil’s nootropic effects, it’s reasonable to believe in the benefits users often report based on the research that’s been done. Research has revealed a variety of mood and cognition-boosting effects in similar substances like modafinil and armodafinil.
How does adrafinil work?
Adrafinil is a prodrug of modafinil. In other words, when you take adrafinil, the body converts it into modafinil. Adrafinil’s effects typically take up to an hour to be felt, whereas modafinil’s effects are usually felt in half the time.
While adrafinil’s exact mechanisms of action are unknown (like all drugs that affect the brain), several studies have shed light on how it works. Originally, researchers believed that adrafinil’s effects stemmed from its ability to agonize (bind to) alpha-adrenergic receptors. More recently, researchers have proposed two additional mechanisms of action.
Adrafinil affects certain neurotransmitters in the brain, contributing to its effects. These are chemical messengers that send signals throughout the nervous system. Research has shown that modafinil affects the release of both inhibitory and excitatory neurotransmitters. In particular, dopamine, gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA), and glutamate.
Another mechanism proposes that adrafinil increases cerebral (brain) metabolism, causing its effects. Researchers have found that modafinil increases levels of glutamine synthetase, aspartate, and inositol in parts of the brain.This indicates that it increases cerebral metabolism.
Additionally, several studies have shown modafinil to be neuroprotective. A study published in 1993 showed that modafinil may protect against certain kinds of mechanical brain injury. A 2012 study further showed that modafinil had a neuroprotective effect by reducing methamphetamine-induced neuroinflammation.
Adrafinil safety & potential side effects
Adrafinil seems to be safe for short-term use in most people. No human studies have assessed adrafinil’s long-term safety. Studies have shown that modafinil is safe for long-term (up to 10 years) use.
Animal studies have shown that daily, high-dose adrafinil is non-toxic. Rats given up to 400 mg/kg of adrafinil for one month or up to 200 mg/kg for three months failed to show any signs of toxicity.
The potential side effects of adrafinil use are uncommon and (unsurprisingly) very similar to those of modafinil. Affecting less than 10% of people who use it, these potential side effects may include headache, nausea, reduced appetite, insomnia, upset stomach, anxiety, and dizziness.
Adrafinil: Side Effects
Side effects are more common with adrafinil use, though generally mild and uncommon with both substances. Since it has to be convert into modafinil, this puts additional strain on the body. Side effects more commonly experienced by adrafinil users include upset stomach, anxiety, and skin irritation. High-dose, long-term use of adrafinil (but not modafinil) may also elevate liver enzymes in some people.
Modafinil has low addiction potential compared to amphetamines and caffeine. It’s reasonable to assume this holds true for adrafinil as well, if not more so.
People with prior substance addiction should be cautious. Anything with the potential to change how you feel can be addictive for some people. However, research has shown that modafinil may increase abstinence rates in people who consume cocaine and reduce drug-seeking behavior in methamphetamine-conditioned rats.
WADA prohibits it for athletes. WADA added adrafinil and modafinil to its prohibited-substances list in 2004.
Adrafinil dosage
A typical adrafinil dosage is anywhere from 600-1,200 mg. People commonly take it in one dose, but they can split it up into two. Take adrafinil in the morning to avoid insomnia, as taking it late in the day is not advisable. For late-night study or shift work, take adrafinil later in the day to support wakefulness.
Adrafinil works best when taken on an empty stomach. Taking adrafinil after eating will increase the time it takes to kick in and decrease its overall effects.
Also read our blog on Why Uridine Can Boost Cognition
