Comparison
AOD-9604 vs Armodafinil
Side-by-side of AOD-9604 and Armodafinil. Every row below is pulled from the compound schema and will update as our data grows. For deeper reads, follow through to each compound page.
AOD-9604
AOD 9604 peptide: 16-amino-acid hGH fragment 176-191. Preclinical lipolytic activity, phase 2 obesity trial showed no weight loss vs placebo.
Armodafinil
Armodafinil is the R-enantiomer sold as Nuvigil. Half-life 10-15 h, 150 mg standard dose, narcolepsy and shift-work approvals, Schedule IV.
Effects at a glance
AOD-9604
- •Modified 16-amino-acid synthetic fragment of human growth hormone (residues 176-191)
- •Preclinical models show lipolytic activity in adipose tissue without GH-axis growth effects
- •Phase 2 obesity trial (Heffernan 2001) showed no significant weight-loss difference versus placebo
- •Anecdotal protocols use 250 to 500 mcg subcutaneously daily on an empty stomach
- •No FDA approval; the obesity drug development program was discontinued in 2007
- •Granted GRAS status in some jurisdictions for compounded use; not validated for fat loss in humans
Armodafinil
- •FDA approved in 2007 for narcolepsy, shift-work sleep disorder, and OSA residual sleepiness
- •R-enantiomer of modafinil; 150 mg armodafinil is roughly equivalent to 200 mg modafinil
- •Schedule IV controlled in the US; prescription-only globally
- •Longer terminal half-life of about 15 hours produces extended late-day wakefulness coverage
- •Same CYP3A4 induction as modafinil; reduces hormonal contraceptive efficacy
- •Side-effect profile and dermatologic risk warnings mirror modafinil
Side-by-side
| Attribute | AOD-9604 | Armodafinil |
|---|---|---|
| Category | peptide | pharmaceutical |
| Also known as | hGH fragment 176-191, Human Growth Hormone Fragment 176-191 | Nuvigil, R-modafinil, (R)-(-)-modafinil |
| Half-life (hr) ↗ | 0.5 | 15 |
| Typical dose (mg) ↗ | 0.3 | 150 |
| Dosing frequency | daily | daily, morning |
| Routes | subcutaneous | oral |
| Onset (hr) | 1 | 1 |
| Peak (hr) | 2 | 3 |
| Molecular weight | 1815.17 | 273.35 |
| Molecular formula | C78H125N23O23S2 | C15H15NO2S |
| Mechanism | Modified C-terminal fragment of human growth hormone proposed to stimulate beta-3 adrenergic receptor signaling in adipocytes, increasing lipolysis and fatty-acid oxidation without engaging the GH receptor or activating IGF-1. | Weak dopamine reuptake inhibition plus downstream activation of histaminergic, noradrenergic, and orexinergic wake systems; R-enantiomer of modafinil with longer half-life. |
| Legal status | Not FDA approved; research-use-only grey market in most jurisdictions | Schedule IV (US); prescription-only globally; not a supplement |
| WADA status | unknown | banned |
| DEA / Rx | Not FDA approved; not scheduled; research-chemical status | Schedule IV |
| Pregnancy | Insufficient data; not recommended | Not recommended |
| CAS | 221231-10-3 | 112111-43-0 |
| PubChem CID | 71300630 | 9148206 |
| Wikidata | Q4654106 | Q4791953 |
Safety profile
AOD-9604
Common side effects
- injection-site reactions
- transient mild headache (anecdotal)
- minimal in clinical trials
Contraindications
- pregnancy
- lactation
- no established human safety profile for chronic use
Interactions
- beta-blockers: theoretical antagonism of beta-3 adrenergic lipolytic signaling(minor)
Armodafinil
Common side effects
- headache
- nausea
- dizziness
- anxiety
- insomnia (with later-day dosing)
- dry mouth
- mild blood pressure elevation
Contraindications
- recent myocardial infarction
- unstable angina
- left ventricular hypertrophy
- significant arrhythmia
- history of Stevens-Johnson syndrome
- psychotic disorders
- pregnancy
- concurrent MAOI use
Interactions
- hormonal contraceptives: CYP3A4 induction reduces contraceptive efficacy; use barrier method(major)
- cyclosporine: reduced cyclosporine levels via CYP3A4 induction(major)
- warfarin: CYP2C9 inhibition raises INR(moderate)
- phenytoin: CYP2C19 inhibition raises phenytoin levels(moderate)
- MAOIs: potential hypertensive reaction(major)
- classical stimulants: additive cardiovascular and sleep-disruption effects(moderate)
Which Should You Take?
Armodafinil comes out ahead for most readers on the criteria we weight: 3 catalogued goals, controlled substance, oral dosing, with a Tier-A outcome catalogued. AOD-9604 is the right call when one of the conditionals below applies.
- → If your priority is fat loss, pick AOD-9604.
- → If your priority is body composition, pick AOD-9604.
- → If your priority is wakefulness, pick Armodafinil.
- → If your priority is focus or working memory, pick Armodafinil.
Edge case: If you cannot self-administer injections, Armodafinil is the only oral option in this pair.
Default choice: Armodafinil. Wider use case, a Tier-A evidence outcome catalogued, and broader goal coverage. Reach for AOD-9604 only if your priority sits squarely in the goals it owns above.
This verdict is generated from each compound's schema (goals, legal status, evidence outcomes, dosing route). It updates automatically as our compound data evolves; the deeper read sits on each individual compound page.
Common questions
What is the difference between AOD-9604 and Armodafinil?
AOD-9604 and Armodafinil differ in category (peptide vs pharmaceutical), mechanism, and typical dosing. See the side-by-side table for full details.
Which has a longer half-life, AOD-9604 or Armodafinil?
AOD-9604 half-life is 0.5 hours; Armodafinil half-life is 15 hours.
Can you stack AOD-9604 with Armodafinil?
Stack compatibility depends on mechanism overlap, legal status, and individual response. Check each compound page for specific interactions and contraindications before combining.
Go deeper