Do you have excessive daytime sleepiness? Do you work the night shift and unable to stay awake? Are you looking for a smart drug that can help you stay awake and alert?
Well, for excessive daytime sleepiness caused by narcolepsy or obstructive sleep apnea, Provigil is the first line of treatment.
Provigil is actively composed of a smart drug or nootropic called Modafinil so there is difference between Provigil and Modafinil. Simply put, Modafinil is the active ingredient of Provigil.
However, generic Modafinil is available, which is as effective as Provigil, but much cheaper than the branded counterpart. Generic Modafinil will generally be 80 to 85% cheaper than Provigil.
Off-label, Modafinil is used to improve cognition, memory, and attention. It is also used for enhancing concentration, focus, and learning.
Although the exact mechanism of the drug is poorly understood, it is presumed that Provigil enhances dopamine signaling to promote wakefulness. Dopamine is a neurotransmitter, a brain chemical that regulates the sleep-wake cycle and mood.
Modafinil also works on other neurotransmitters such as serotonin, orexin, GABA, norepinephrine, among others.
Like other stimulants such as Adderall and Ritalin, Provigil does not appear to change the amount of brain chemicals released. Provigil does act as a stimulant but it has no drug dependence properties like other smart drugs.
Provigil, however, is slightly different from its close cousin Armodafinil (Nuvigil). Armodafinil is the R-enantiomer of racemic Modafinil, meaning it has a slightly different chemical structure than Modafinil.
Both Provigil and Nuvigil appear to have similar effects which is why they are advised for the treatment of excessive daytime sleepiness caused by narcolepsy or sleep apnea.
Armodafinil is relatively a newer drug compared to Modafinil and has a longer half-life than Modafinil.
In some cases, Armodafinil could prove to be a stronger drug with better wakefulness effects than Modafinil.
While both drugs can have similar side effects, some side effects may be more common in one drug versus the other.
Typically, Modafinil is recommended in 200 mg potency, once a day, while Armodafinil in 150 mg.
The bottom line is Provigil and Modafinil are the same. However, Modafinil and Armodafinil are not the same. Armodafinil has the R-enantiomer of Modafinil. And Modafinil contains a racemic mixture of R- and S-Modafinil. They are just structurally different. The indications and uses of both drugs are the same.
