Adrafinil | Review of Uses, Side Effects, and More

adrafinil review

Ethan Thorne

Last Updated February 14, 2022

Looking for an in-depth adrafinil review?

Well it’s time to stop looking, because you’ve found it!

This is a helpful guide to using and purchasing adrafinil, a research chemical that’s actually a metabolic prodrug of modafinil (which means that it’s converted to modafinil after ingestion).

Adrafinil is interesting because in the US it’s neither a supplement nor a drug. In most countries it’s treated as a research chemical, meaning you don’t need a prescription to purchase it. However, it’s only available for research purposes.

In this article we’re gonna deep dive into what it is, how it works, IF it works, it’s potential benefits and effects, the right dosage (including a little info about stacking it with other nootropics) and the best place to buy it online.

All of this stuff is super important to know if you’re planning on purchasing it.

Ready to learn more about adrafinil? Then read on!

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Disclaimer: The contents of Adrafinil.com are for informational and educational purposes only. We do not provide legal advice. Likewise, we do not provide medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Please consult your physician prior to consuming Adrafinil or related nootropics. Your access to Adrafinil.com is subject to our full Disclaimer and Terms of Use.


What Is Adrafinil?

Adrafinil is a research chemical that’s structurally nearly identical to modafinil. In fact, it’s a prodrug of modafinil, meaning that your body metabolizes it into modafinil after ingestion. Therefore, it potentially provides some of the same benefits and effects. Its original and primary use was as a eugeroic (wakefulness agent) for people with sleep disorders [1, 2].

It was actually discovered before modafinil was, and beat modafinil to the prescription drug market by a few years as a prescription wakefulness agent in France. However, pharmaceutical companies quickly lost interest in adrafinil after the more powerful modafinil came on the scene.

Olmifon, the name brand of adrafinil, was manufactured until 2011, when it was discontinued. However, adrafinil is still produced by other companies, and remains available for purchase in several countries where it was never classified as a prescription drug, including the United States.

Nootropics researchers are particularly interested in its nootropic, or brain-enhancing, benefits. Adrafinil may in fact provide some powerful cognition-boosting effects.


adrafinil


Does Adrafinil Actually Work? | Our Experience

But let’s get to the nitty gritty: does adrafinil actually work?

The answer is…. It depends.

We know, we know…that’s not the answer anyone wants, but it’s the truth.

Among nootropics researchers, there are some seriously mixed feelings about adrafinil. Some researchers claim that it works extremely well. On the other hand, others have had the opposite experience.

Ultimately, it boils down to each individual’s unique body chemistry, which is affected by several other factors.

Us? We’ve found adrafinil to produce smooth, cognition-enhancing effects, lasting to the tune of 10-12 hours following administration.


Adrafinil Benefits and Effects | Top 5

Here are the top five nootropic benefits of adrafinil. It’s important to note that these benefits have mostly been seen in animal studies, as the available research on the effects of adrafinil in humans is very limited.

Alertness

Adrafinil is a wakefulness agent by design, and was originally developed as a prescription drug for people with sleep disorders. It may help you to stay more alert during the day [1].

Several animal studies have noted increases in alertness and activity after adrafinil administration, as well [3, 4, 5].

Energy

On a similar note, adrafinil may provide a more sustained level of energy throughout the day to help prevent fatigue or slumps.

Increased energy was its original purpose when it was marketed as a prescription drug in France, and many researchers have likewise reported that it increases energy levels [1].

Productivity

In several animal studies in aged beagles, mice, and rhesus monkeys, researchers have noted that adrafinil led to increases in locomotion, or movement and activity [3, 4, 5, 6].

Although results are mixed, most studies note this effect [7].

In humans, this could potentially translate to an increase in productivity. However, more research in humans is needed.

Performance

One small study in aged beagles investigated the effects of adrafinil on test performance [8].

Researchers found that adrafinil significantly improved their performance, reducing errors and the time it took the dogs to complete the task [8].

Although this is early animal research, it’s nonetheless promising and provides some insight into how adrafinil may affect human subjects.

Learning

The same beagle study noted improvements in learning and information processing, which resulted in the dogs’ improved performance [8].

Given its potential to cause improvements in learning, memory, test-taking, and cognitive performance, adrafinil is a solid starting point for researchers interested in nootropics.

Ideal Adrafinil Dosage Guide

Everyone’s ideal adrafinil dose is different, so it may take some time for a researcher to figure out the best starting dose.

Olmifon’s package inserts had recommended a dose of 600 mg, but this may be too high for some people.

As a reference, adrafinil is thought to be one-half to one-third as potent as modafinil. Given that standard modafinil dosing ranges from 100-200 mg, it may be wise to administer a starting adrafinil dose of 300 mg and then work up to 600 mg if needed.

For flexible dosing, look for adrafinil in powder or liquid form. If you choose powder form, you’ll need a precise instrument, like a kitchen scale, to measure out your doses.

It’s a wise idea with all nootropics to administer the lowest possible dose that provides the effects desired.

Also, researchers are well-advised to administer adrafinil in the morning to avoid causing sleep disruptions in the subject. One of the most commonly reported side effects of adrafinil is insomnia. After all, that’s its purpose — it’s intended to keep people with sleep disorders awake!


adrafinil


Where To Buy Adrafinil Online? | 2021 Guide

Our favorite vendor for adrafinil is Science.bio. They have a stellar reputation that’s earned our trust, and we truly mean that.

They offer adrafinil in both liquid and powder form, and each can be purchased for just under 20 bucks. Shipping is free within the U.S. if you spend over $100, too.

Science.bio puts great care into sourcing their products. They have each product independently tested by a third-party testing company for structure, identification, purity and contaminants, and these results are then verified by in-house lab testing. You can also view the reports for each product and each batch on their website, so you can see for yourself exactly what you’re getting.

They also really care about the experience of the researchers who use their products. They’re extremely open to feedback, questions and criticisms, and they want to be the go-to source for research chemicals.

For these reasons, we highly recommend Science.bio for research nootropics.

Order Adrafinil online from one of the best vendors in the world!


How To Order Adrafinil in Your Country

Adrafinil may or may not be a prescription drug in your country.

We know for sure that it’s not a prescription drug (and therefore, can be purchased online for research purposes) in the United States, the United Kingdom and Canada.

On the other hand, adrafinil requires a prescription in Australia.

Although it was once recommended to be scheduled in New Zealand due to potential for abuse as a party drug, it still appears to be unscheduled there.

It’s hard to find information online about adrafinil’s status in other countries, so you may need to do some digging if you don’t reside in one of the countries listed above.

Science.bio offers worldwide shipping, although it’s your responsibility to know the legal status of adrafinil in the country you’re having it shipped to.

A final note: adrafinil and modafinil have both been banned from competitive athletics by the World Anti-Doping Agency since 2004. So if you’re in competitive sports at any level, you should probably steer clear of participating in any nootropics research.


Stacking Adrafinil With Other Nootropics?

In the nootropics world, a stack is when you administer two or more nootropics together. The goal, of course, is a synergistic effect — where the compounds taken together have a more significant effect combined than each has individually.

Nootropics researchers have tried nearly endless combinations of stacks with adrafinil and modafinil.

One common one is caffeine, either in supplement form or from coffee or energy drinks. This may be a decent stack for subjects who need to stay awake for a while. These two really can have a synergistic effect according to numerous reports, so this combo isn’t for beginners and shouldn’t be administered to subjects who are prone to anxiety or panic.

Choline is another common one to stack with adrafinil. There’s some preliminary research that it may help with headaches, which is one of the main side effects of modafinil — however, this isn’t a sure thing. For some helpful strategies on dealing with this particular side effect, read this article on how to get rid of modafinil headaches [9].

Other nootropics that are often stacked with adrafinil include Noopept, racetams (piracetam, aniracetam, etc), ashwagandha and theanine.

However, stacking is not really an exact science, and there’s no research to support the effects of these stacks one way or the other.


adrafinil


In-Depth Adrafinil Review | Verdict?

Adrafinil is a prodrug of modafinil with a similar chemical structure. Because of this, it may offer some brain-enhancing benefits — like increased focus and concentration, lasting energy and better memory. However, how it affects the individual depends on their unique body chemistry — some subjects have reported that it worked great for them, while others have reported minimal effects.

If you plan to purchase adrafinil for research, the best place to buy it from is Science.bio because of their strict quality control practices and commitment to great service. In many countries — the US, the UK and Canada included — adrafinil is not a prescription drug.

Ready to order Adrafinil from the top-rated online vendor?


References

  1. Ameline A, Gheddar L, Raul JS, Kintz P. Identification of adrafinil and its main metabolite modafinil in human hair. Self-administration study and interpretation of an authentic case. Forensic Sci Res. 2020;5(4):322-326. Published 2020 Jan 29. doi:10.1080/20961790.2019.1704482
  2. U.S. National Library of Medicine. Modafinil. MedlinePlus website. February 15, 2016. https://medlineplus.gov/druginfo/meds/a602016.html
  3. Siwak CT, Callahan H, Milgram NW. Adrafinil: effects on behavior and cognition in aged canines. Prog Neuropsychopharmacol Biol Psychiatry. 2000;24(5):709-726. doi:10.1016/s0278-5846(00)00103-2
  4. Siwak CT, Gruet P, Woehrlé F, Muggenburg BA, Murphey HL, Milgram NW. Comparison of the effects of adrafinil, propentofylline, and nicergoline on behavior in aged dogs. Am J Vet Res. 2000;61(11):1410-1414. doi:10.2460/ajvr.2000.61.1410
  5. Billiard M, Broughton R. Modafinil: its discovery, the early European and North American experience in the treatment of narcolepsy and idiopathic hypersomnia, and its subsequent use in other medical conditions. Sleep Med. 2018;49:69-72. doi:10.1016/j.sleep.2018.05.027
  6. Milhaud CL, Klein MJ. Effets de l'adrafinil sur l'activité nocturne du macaque rhésus (Macaca mulatta) [The effect of adrafinil on the nocturnal activity of the rhesus monkey (Macaca mulatta)]. J Pharmacol. 1985;16(4):372-380.
  7. Siwak CT, Gruet P, Woehrlé F, et al. Behavioral activating effects of adrafinil in aged canines. Pharmacol Biochem Behav. 2000;66(2):293-300. doi:10.1016/s0091-3057(00)00188-x
  8. Milgram NW, Siwak CT, Gruet P, Atkinson P, Woehrlé F, Callahan H. Oral administration of adrafinil improves discrimination learning in aged beagle dogs. Pharmacol Biochem Behav. 2000;66(2):301-305. doi:10.1016/s0091-3057(00)00175-1
  9. de Belleroche J, Cook GE, Das I, et al. Erythrocyte choline concentrations and cluster headache. Br Med J (Clin Res Ed). 1984;288(6413):268-270. doi:10.1136/bmj.288.6413.268

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