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Is Modafinil an Amphetamine? | The Not So Scientific Explanation

Is Modafinil An Amphetamine? | Curly-haired black girl thought bubble

You would surely have an idea about smart drugs like modafinil that make you feel very alert and productive. These smart drugs, or nootropics, are very popular with students, workers, or even soldiers on duty! The effects of wakefulness are not limited to these smart drugs. Did you know that amphetamines are also alertness-enhancing substances?

Right now, you might have lots of questions about modafinil and amphetamine. Do not worry; this article will help you!

Modafinil: What Is It and What’s Inside It?

Getting an extra boost of wakefulness when you feel very sleepy will really help you be productive! This is precisely the effect of modafinil on you. Modafinil, also known based on the popular brand name Provigil, is a eugeroic medication. Simply put, it is a type of medicine that makes you feel alert and less tired.

Because of this function, the FDA approved this medicine to be prescribed to people with excessive daytime sleepiness. Moreover, it can also be indicated for ADHD, dementia, extreme fatigue, and sleep apnea.

Eventually, modafinil became popular and got the attention of students, workers, athletes, and even soldiers. Healthy individuals utilize modafinil for gaining increased focus, better mood, enhanced cognition, and less fatigue.

What sets apart modafinil from other lifestyle drugs like amphetamine would be the side effects. Modafinil is applauded for having very minimal side effects. This made more people less hesitant to try it out!

But what is in modafinil? A 100 or 200-milligram tablet of modafinil is composed of several inactive ingredients. Some of these include lactose monohydrate, microcrystalline cellulose, povidone, and croscarmellose sodium.

Amphetamines: What Is It and What’s Inside It?

Aside from smart drugs like modafinil, another substance possesses similar alertness-enhancing effects. Amphetamine can also improve its user’s attention since it stimulates your brain and body to speed up its signaling system. Hence, amphetamines are considered to be psychostimulant drugs. Its ingredients’ mechanism of action can make you feel focused, confident, alert, and, in contrast to modafinil, amphetamines give a feeling of euphoria. This cloud nine feeling makes users very enticed to try it until they eventually use it at unhealthy levels.

The effects of amphetamines on the body made it clinically possible to help treat ADHD, Parkinson’s disease, and chronic fatigue syndrome.

Amphetamines’ appearance can range from powder, tablet, crystals, or capsules. The crystals are the most potent among these forms and have a very high potential for abuse. Sometimes, users buy amphetamines illegally, especially when they don’t have a prescription.

Getting amphetamines’ effects without risking the abusive potential made researchers produce medicines that can be legally and safely taken. The two active components of this substance are dextroamphetamine and levoamphetamine. As these are incorporated in drugs, the effects remain while lessening the risk of having adverse effects.

Is Modafinil an Amphetamine?

Now you might be wondering, is modafinil an amphetamine?

We have seen that modafinil does not contain any of the active components of amphetamines. Despite having the same alertness boost to its users, modafinil cannot give you the head-in-the-clouds feeling that amphetamines can provide.

Modafinil is a eugeroics. The term “eugeroics” translates to “good arousal”. So, compared to other stimulants like amphetamine, modafinil has significantly fewer side effects and abusive potential.

So, what products would contain the substances in amphetamines?

Amphetamine-Containing Medicines

Currently, the pharmaceutical markets have various prescription medications which have amphetamines or their components. The most popular drug that you might see would be Adderall!

Adderall is a brand of a central nervous system stimulant composing mainly of amphetamine and dextroamphetamine. This FDA-approved medication is actually a prescription medicine for treating ADHD and narcolepsy.

Aside from Adderall, Dexedrine also contains amphetamine substances, specifically dextroamphetamine. Dexedrine also treats ADHD as prescription medicine. Like the previous drugs, Dexedrine also increases its user’s focus and attention while helping manage behavior problems.

In Summary

Modafinil is not the only medication available to help you get through the tiring and sleepless work hours or study all-nighters. Various substances are also available to help stimulate your brain and focus more!

Amphetamines are one of these stimulants! However, note that amphetamines may be risky as it has a very high abuse potential than modafinil, which has virtually none.

The difference between modafinil and amphetamines is their ingredients. The active components of modafinil make it very effective and safe even for healthy individuals!

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