Modafinil

A wakefulness-promoting prescription medication — FDA-approved for narcolepsy and shift-work sleep disorder, widely used off-label as a cognitive enhancer.

Why it matters

Modafinil acts primarily as a dopamine reuptake inhibitor with additional effects on histamine, orexin, and norepinephrine systems. It produces sustained wakefulness and improved sustained attention without the same dependency profile or peripheral stimulant effects as amphetamines.

In practice

Off-label use for cognitive enhancement is common despite legal restrictions. Typical doses are 100–200mg in the morning. Side effects include headache, GI upset, and rare but serious dermatological reactions (Stevens-Johnson syndrome).

Common confusion

“Modafinil has no abuse potential” is wrong — the abuse potential is lower than classical stimulants but real.

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