Modafinil blocks DAT and induces an increase in dopamine levels in the brain including the nucleus accumbens, producing stimulant effects. It has been successfully used for fatigue caused by multiple sclerosis, idiopathic hypersomnia, Alzheimer’s disease, and post-anesthesia grogginess, among other conditions.

However, modafinil should not be used as a substitute for getting enough sleep or for treating other diagnosed sleep disorders such as narcolepsy or sleep apnea.

1. Improved Focus and Attention

Modafinil 200 Australia has pronounced effects on the release and availability of acetylcholine (HA), the neurotransmitter that activates cortical cholinergic circuits involved in learning and memory. It’s this mechanism that explains why Modafinil improves focus and attention in patients with sleep disorders but also healthy individuals who want to enhance cognitive function.

For example, in a double-blind study of 31 completers with major depression, modafinil improved a prefrontal-dependent measure of working memory, the Stroop interference test, and reduced errors on the WCST. The same effect was seen in a randomized placebo-controlled trial of modafinil (400 mg/day) and placebo given for three weeks to 24 patients with narcolepsy, who were found to have greater improvements on the WCST than did their counterparts who received d-amphetamine (20 mg/day).

In another randomized placebo-controlled study, 200 mg of modafinil improved accuracy without a reaction time trade-off on both the AX and AY conditions of the CPT test, but not on the letter-number span task or prospective memory measures, which require rapid attention switching and a working memory component. The same researchers observed that changes in left BA 46 activity correlated with performance on these tests, suggesting that this region of the brain is critical for modulating modafinil’s attention-enhancing effects.

2. Increased Concentration

Modafinil affects neurotransmitters like dopamine, norepinephrine and serotonin in a way that promotes wakefulness and enhances cognitive function. Modafinil also stimulates the release of glutamate, and raises the levels of cerebrovascular glutamine in the brain. This enhances cognitive functioning, while improving mood.

The adrenergic receptors in the prefrontal cortex of the brain are inhibited by modafinil, and the drug is known to increase the amount of glutamate available for release, in addition to decreasing its reuptake into neurons. This may explain the ability of modafinil to improve cognition in patients with shift work sleep disorder (SWSD), as well as healthy individuals seeking increased concentration and focus.

Studies have shown that a single dose of modafinil can improve performance on several measures of cognitive/psychomotor performance, such as the Wisconsin Card Sort Test (WCST) and interference on the Stroop task in people who have been subjected to 85 hours of sleep deprivation. Modafinil also improved arithmetic performance and reduced errors in the Pauli test, compared with placebo. Additionally, modafinil reduced ratings of sleepiness, fatigue and agitation in people who had been working nights.

3. Improved Memory

Modafinil (Modalert 200 mg) can improve memory, particularly working memory and processes requiring cognitive control. In fact, it has been shown to enhance performance in a dose- and delay-dependent manner in rodent studies. Modafinil has also been shown to reduce the effects of sleep deprivation on learning in a test that requires mice to respond to contextual cues quickly and accurately. This task has been associated with c-Fos activation in anterior cingulate cortex and the mediodorsal nucleus of the thalamus, both regions that are activated by modafinil.

A double-blind, placebo-controlled study of military recruits during simulated night shift work found that a 4-day regimen of 200 mg of modafinil significantly reduced errors (relative to placebo) on the WCST and the Hayling sentence completion task, both of which require cognitive control. This improvement was accompanied by significant increases in fMRI activation in the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex and anterior cingulate cortex. Similarly, a single dose of modafinil significantly enhanced performance on the AX-CPT, and pupillary dilation was enhanced in a manner consistent with LC phasic responses (Beatty, 1982a, 1982b). In addition, it has been reported that the b-blocker propranolol attenuates modafinil-induced arousal, suggesting that the modulation of NE/DA receptor activity may contribute to the efficacy of this agent across psychiatric disorders.

4. Increased Mental Clarity

Modafinil is known to enhance cognitive performance in healthy sleep-deprived subjects and in patients with narcolepsy. In one randomized, placebo-controlled single-dose study in non-sleep-deprived adults, modafinil significantly improved performance on digit span memory, spatial planning and a version of the Wisconsin Card Sort Test (WCST), without an effect on speed-accuracy trade-offs or SSRT, suggesting improved working memory processes (Turner et al, 2003). Similarly, a 3-week regimen of 100 to 400 mg/day in medication-free narcolepsy patients resulted in significant improvements in arithmetic and reasoning abilities in the Pauli Test, with correlated increases in arithmetic error rate, vigilance, and a decrease in th power of fMRI activity in dorsolateral prefrontal cortex and anterior cingulate cortices.

The arousal and activity-promoting effects of modafinil appear to be largely mediated by activation of catecholamine systems, with elevations in extracellular norepinephrine and dopamine measured using microdialysis or fMRI, as well as antagonism of the dopamine transporter, as evidenced by local injection of a dopamine antagonist into the prefrontal cortex of rhesus monkeys performing an oculomotor delayed response task, which reduced the memory deficit produced by modafinil. It is not clear, however, whether the cognitive enhancements observed in modafinil-treated narcolepsy patients are due to changes in monoamine levels or in adrenergic arousal system signaling, or both.

5. Increased Energy

Many people who work shifts experience fatigue and struggle to maintain their energy levels. This can lead to drowsy driving accidents and dangerous workplace mistakes, which can be costly for both individuals and businesses. However, studies show that Modafinil improves the function of your brain’s sleep-wake cycle and helps you stay alert through your shift.

It works by mimicking chemicals in the brain that act like adrenaline, enhancing the activity of these chemicals. It also increases the amount of dopamine in your brain, which is another chemical that stimulates focus and concentration.

Several studies have shown that Modafinil enhances learning and attention in healthy subjects, but has not been found to affect creativity. It is important to remember that this medication does not replace sleep and should only be taken as directed by your doctor.

Modafinil is a Schedule IV controlled substance in the United States, so it must be prescribed by your doctor. Some white-collar employees illegally obtain this drug or its close relative, armodafinil, through the Internet without a prescription. This can be dangerous, as counterfeit pills often do not meet quality control standards and may contain other substances that could be harmful.