Comparison
Armodafinil vs Bromantane
Side-by-side of Armodafinil and Bromantane. 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.
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.
Bromantane
Bromantane, the Russian nootropic sold as Ladasten (ADK-709), acts on dopamine to cut fatigue and anxiety without classical stimulant rebound.
Effects at a glance
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
Bromantane
- •Russian RCT base (Voznesenskaya 2010, n=728) supports 50 mg daily for asthenia and fatigue over 4 weeks
- •Atypical actogenic mechanism: induces tyrosine hydroxylase rather than direct monoamine release
- •Subjective profile is anxiolytic plus mildly motivating, distinct from classical stimulants
- •Long half-life of around 11 hours supports once-daily morning dosing
- •WADA-banned since 1996; relevant for tested athletes
- •Western evidence base is thin; most published trials are Russian-language and not independently replicated
Side-by-side
| Attribute | Armodafinil | Bromantane |
|---|---|---|
| Category | pharmaceutical | nootropic |
| Also known as | Nuvigil, R-modafinil, (R)-(-)-modafinil | Ladasten, ADK-709, N-(4-bromophenyl)adamantan-2-amine |
| Half-life (hr) ↗ | 15 | 11 |
| Typical dose (mg) ↗ | 150 | 75 |
| Dosing frequency | daily, morning | daily, morning |
| Routes | oral | oral |
| Onset (hr) | 1 | 3 |
| Peak (hr) | 3 | 168 |
| Molecular weight | 273.35 | 280.21 |
| Molecular formula | C15H15NO2S | C16H20BrN |
| Mechanism | Weak dopamine reuptake inhibition plus downstream activation of histaminergic, noradrenergic, and orexinergic wake systems; R-enantiomer of modafinil with longer half-life. | Indirect dopaminergic and serotonergic actogenic activity via induction of tyrosine hydroxylase and selective increases in serotonin synthesis in hippocampus and hypothalamus. |
| Legal status | Schedule IV (US); prescription-only globally; not a supplement | Approved in Russia (Ladasten); unscheduled and unapproved in US, EU, UK |
| WADA status | banned | banned |
| DEA / Rx | Schedule IV | Not scheduled in the US |
| Pregnancy | Not recommended | Not recommended |
| CAS | 112111-43-0 | 87913-26-6 |
| PubChem CID | 9148206 | 9576456 |
| Wikidata | Q4791953 | Q4093816 |
Safety profile
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)
Bromantane
Common side effects
- mild GI upset
- headache
- skin rash
- occasional insomnia at higher doses
Contraindications
- pregnancy
- lactation
- severe hepatic impairment
- severe renal impairment
- pediatric use
Interactions
- MAOIs: theoretical additive dopaminergic and serotonergic activity(major)
- levodopa and dopamine agonists: additive dopaminergic activity(moderate)
- SSRIs and other serotonergic drugs: theoretical serotonergic additivity(moderate)
- classical stimulants: theoretical additive activity, undocumented(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. Bromantane is the right call when one of the conditionals below applies.
- → If your priority is wakefulness, pick Armodafinil.
- → If your priority is stress and HPA-axis regulation, pick Bromantane.
- → If your priority is focus or working memory, pick Armodafinil.
Default choice: Armodafinil. Wider use case, a Tier-A evidence outcome catalogued, and broader goal coverage. Reach for Bromantane 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 Armodafinil and Bromantane?
Armodafinil and Bromantane differ in category (pharmaceutical vs nootropic), mechanism, and typical dosing. See the side-by-side table for full details.
Which has a longer half-life, Armodafinil or Bromantane?
Armodafinil half-life is 15 hours; Bromantane half-life is 11 hours.
Can you stack Armodafinil with Bromantane?
Stack compatibility depends on mechanism overlap, legal status, and individual response. Check each compound page for specific interactions and contraindications before combining.
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