Modafinil Vs. Adderall. How Do These Two Drugs Compare

Most people considered modafinil and Adderall to be quite similar. After all, both drugs can be used to treat narcolepsy and ADHD. Plus, they have become quite popular as study aids and cognitive enhancers. Nonetheless, there are quite a few differences between these two drugs involving how they work and their potential for abuse.

Nonetheless, to understand the differences between these two drugs, we need to understand each drug individually.

What Is Modafinil?

Modafinil / Provigil is a eugeroic that is a wakefulness-promoting product that was developed in France around the late 1980s. It is sold under the brand name Provigil and is majorly used to promote daytime sleepiness caused by sleep disorders such as narcolepsy and obstructive sleep apnea. However, off-label, the drug is also used to treat ADHD.

What Is Adderall?

Adderall is a central nervous stimulant containing two drugs, amphetamine, and dextroamphetamine, and is majorly used to treat ADHD. This drug was initially developed as a weight loss drug in the 1970s. However, it wasn’t until the 1990s that the drug was modified and promoted as a treatment for ADHD.

You should also know that off-label Adderall can also be used to treat narcolepsy.

The Differences In Structure Between Modafinil and Adderall

While Modafinil and Adderall may have similar uses, their differences mainly come in their structure. Take modafinil, while the drug may have stimulant-like properties, it is not considered a stimulant. Plus, while the experts may not fully understand how modafinil works. It is believed to affect certain neurotransmitters in the brain, including serotonin, GABA, histamine, dopamine, and orexin.

Adderall, on the other hand, is a stimulant and is a blend of four amphetamine salts. The amphetamine salts contained in Adderall are all central nervous system stimulants and work on neurotransmitters such as dopamine, norepinephrine, and serotonin.

Potential For Abuse

While modafinil and Adderall have stimulant properties, they have different potential for abuse. You need to remember that modafinil 200mg is not a stimulant. Thus, it does not have the same addictive properties as most stimulants. Research has shown that modafinil has a low potential for abuse. It is usually better tolerated, with fewer withdrawal effects and less likelihood of dependence.

Adderall, on the other hand, has a high potential for abuse and dependency. Plus, the drug also has worse withdrawal effects, with several Adderall users reporting a crash when they stop using Adderall.

To avoid any risk of abuse of both these drugs, we recommend you carefully follow your doctor’s instructions on how to take these drugs to avoid under or overdosing.

Can You Take Modafinil and Adderall Together?

 Using Modafinil and Adderall together may sound like an attractive idea, especially if you think it will double your benefits. However, taking these two drugs together can be a risky affair.

What you need to remember is while modafinil is not exactly a stimulant, it does have stimulant-like properties. Thus, combining these two substances may cause over-stimulation and increase your chances of facing side effects from either of these drugs.