Comparison
Armodafinil vs Modafinil
Side-by-side of Armodafinil and Modafinil. 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.
Modafinil
Modafinil cognitive enhancement profile: wakefulness-promoting agent, 100-200 mg dosing, 12-15 hour half-life, off-label nootropic use, Schedule IV status.
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
Modafinil
- •FDA approved in 1998 for narcolepsy, with later additions for shift-work sleep disorder and OSA residual sleepiness
- •Schedule IV controlled substance in the US; prescription-only in EU, UK, Australia
- •Increases wakefulness via weak dopamine reuptake inhibition plus histaminergic, noradrenergic, and orexinergic activation
- •Long half-life of 12 to 15 hours requires morning dosing to avoid sleep disruption
- •Modest cognitive enhancement signal in non-sleep-deprived adults at 100 to 200 mg (Battleday meta-review 2015)
- •Substantial CYP3A4 induction reduces hormonal contraceptive efficacy; barrier methods recommended
Side-by-side
| Attribute | Armodafinil | Modafinil |
|---|---|---|
| Category | pharmaceutical | pharmaceutical |
| Also known as | Nuvigil, R-modafinil, (R)-(-)-modafinil | Provigil, Modalert, Modvigil, diphenylmethylsulfinyl-acetamide |
| Half-life (hr) ↗ | 15 | 13 |
| Typical dose (mg) ↗ | 150 | 200 |
| Dosing frequency | daily, morning | daily, morning |
| Routes | oral | oral |
| Onset (hr) | 1 | 1 |
| Peak (hr) | 3 | 3 |
| Molecular weight | 273.35 | 273.35 |
| Molecular formula | C15H15NO2S | C15H15NO2S |
| Mechanism | Weak dopamine reuptake inhibition plus downstream activation of histaminergic, noradrenergic, and orexinergic wake systems; R-enantiomer of modafinil with longer half-life. | Weak dopamine reuptake inhibition plus downstream activation of histaminergic, noradrenergic, and orexinergic wake-promoting systems. |
| Legal status | Schedule IV (US); prescription-only globally; not a supplement | Schedule IV (US); prescription-only globally; not a supplement |
| WADA status | banned | banned |
| DEA / Rx | Schedule IV | Schedule IV |
| Pregnancy | Not recommended | Not recommended |
| CAS | 112111-43-0 | 68693-11-8 |
| PubChem CID | 9148206 | 4236 |
| Wikidata | Q4791953 | Q422968 |
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)
Modafinil
Common side effects
- headache
- nausea
- anxiety
- insomnia (with late-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 (amphetamine, methylphenidate): additive cardiovascular and sleep-disruption effects(moderate)
Which Should You Take?
Armodafinil and Modafinil score evenly on the criteria we weight (goal breadth, legal accessibility, evidence depth). The conditionals below should drive the decision more than any aggregate score.
- → If your priority is wakefulness, pick Armodafinil.
- → If your priority is focus or working memory, pick Armodafinil.
- → If your priority is fatigue resistance, pick Armodafinil.
Default choice: either is defensible. Armodafinil edges out on goal breadth + legal accessibility; Modafinil is the right call if your priority sits in the goals listed 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 Modafinil?
Armodafinil and Modafinil differ in category (pharmaceutical vs pharmaceutical), mechanism, and typical dosing. See the side-by-side table for full details.
Which has a longer half-life, Armodafinil or Modafinil?
Armodafinil half-life is 15 hours; Modafinil half-life is 13 hours.
Can you stack Armodafinil with Modafinil?
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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