GENERAL DESCRIPTION:
Adrafinil acts to stimulate brain activity only
when stimulation is required. Modafinil is a more recent, more potent analogue of Adrafinil, which
is used in the treatment of narcolepsy to improve
wakefulness in patients with excessive daytime sleepiness
(EDS). Both drugs act on brain Alpha 1 postsynaptic
receptors and make them more susceptible to the neurotransmitter norepinephrine, thus
increasing alertness and concentration. They do not
appear to affect other brain functions.
ROLE FOR ANTI-AGING:
Adrafinil and Modafinil’s anti-aging benefits
include: increased and improved alertness and concentration, improved thought clarity and
short-term memory, and increased reaction speed including
hand-and-eye coordination. A study carried out on dogs
revealed that Adrafinil significantly improved their ability
to learn tasks. The effectiveness of Adrafinil has not yet been studied on a nonelderly population.
SIDE EFFECTS/CONTRAINDICATIONS:
Adrafinil can cause an increase in liver enzyme levels, therefore usage should be monitored by
a doctor. Other side effects include headaches, stomach
pain, minor skin irritations, inner tension and mild
agitation or aggression. People with epilepsy, liver or
kidney impairment, or those using tranquilizers should avoid Adrafinil and Modafinil.
Individuals taking norepinephrine-stimulating
agents such as Yohimbine should be cautious when using adrafinil. Women using either Adrafinil or
Modafinil should be aware that the drugs may reduce the
effectiveness of contraceptive pills or implants. Therefore
an alternative method of contraception should be used during, and for 1 month after, treatment with
either drug has ceased. Adrafinil contains an active
ingredient which could induce a positive result in
anti-doping tests for athletes.
Modafinil is superior to Adrafinil in its action.
However most patients will usually experience improvement with Adrafinil. Modafinil is a very
recent addition and is considerably more expensive than
Adrafinil.
PHARMACOLOGY:
Adrafinil is an alpha-adrenergic agonist and
is chemically related to Modafinil. It is given by mouth in doses of 60mg to 1.2g daily. Chemical
Name: 2-((Diphenylmethyl) sulfinyl) acetohydroxamic acid.
Molecular Formula: C(15)H(15)NO(3)S Molecular Weight: 289.4
Distribution: Adrafinil is supplied in 300mg
tablets under the trade name Olmifon. Modafinil is supplied under the trade name Provigil
in 100mg tablets.
