Comparison
Armodafinil vs N-Acetyl Cysteine
Side-by-side of Armodafinil and N-Acetyl Cysteine. 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.
N-Acetyl Cysteine
NAC supplement benefits cover glutathione synthesis, liver and antioxidant support, and hangover recovery. Evidence strongest at 1200-2400 mg/day.
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
N-Acetyl Cysteine
- •Replenishes intracellular glutathione by supplying cysteine, the rate-limiting amino acid for synthesis
- •First-line antidote for acetaminophen toxicity, restoring hepatic glutathione before fulminant injury occurs
- •Reduces sputum viscosity in chronic bronchitis and COPD at 600 to 1200 mg/day over months
- •Modest symptom reductions in OCD and trichotillomania at 1200 to 2400 mg/day across small RCTs
- •Mixed evidence for psychiatric adjunct use in bipolar depression and schizophrenia negative symptoms
- •Inhaled forms can trigger bronchospasm in active asthma; oral use is the standard biohacker route
Side-by-side
| Attribute | Armodafinil | N-Acetyl Cysteine |
|---|---|---|
| Category | pharmaceutical | supplement |
| Also known as | Nuvigil, R-modafinil, (R)-(-)-modafinil | NAC |
| Half-life (hr) ↗ | 15 | 5.6 |
| Typical dose (mg) ↗ | 150 | 1200 |
| Dosing frequency | daily, morning | 1 to 3 times daily, split dosing preferred |
| Routes | oral | oral, iv |
| Onset (hr) | 1 | 1 |
| Peak (hr) | 3 | 2 |
| Molecular weight | 273.35 | 163.19 |
| Molecular formula | C15H15NO2S | C5H9NO3S |
| Mechanism | Weak dopamine reuptake inhibition plus downstream activation of histaminergic, noradrenergic, and orexinergic wake systems; R-enantiomer of modafinil with longer half-life. | Deacetylated to cysteine, the rate-limiting precursor for glutathione synthesis; also directly scavenges reactive oxygen species and modulates glutamate signaling. |
| Legal status | Schedule IV (US); prescription-only globally; not a supplement | OTC in most jurisdictions; restricted periods in US history (FDA reclassified 2022) |
| WADA status | banned | allowed |
| DEA / Rx | Schedule IV | OTC supplement (US, post-2022); Rx indications also exist (acetaminophen overdose, mucolytic) |
| Pregnancy | Not recommended | Used clinically in pregnancy for specific indications; consult clinician |
| CAS | 112111-43-0 | 616-91-1 |
| PubChem CID | 9148206 | 12035 |
| Wikidata | Q4791953 | Q413299 |
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)
N-Acetyl Cysteine
Common side effects
- sulfur-like taste or odor
- nausea
- flatulence
- diarrhea
Contraindications
- active asthma attack (inhaled form can trigger bronchospasm)
- known NAC hypersensitivity
Interactions
- nitroglycerin: potentiates vasodilation, risk of hypotension and headache(moderate)
- activated charcoal: reduces NAC absorption when used for acetaminophen overdose(moderate)
- anticoagulants: theoretical additive antiplatelet effect at high doses(minor)
Which Should You Take?
N-Acetyl Cysteine comes out ahead for most readers on the criteria we weight: 3 catalogued goals, OTC, oral dosing, with a Tier-A outcome catalogued. Armodafinil is the right call when one of the conditionals below applies.
- → If your priority is wakefulness, pick Armodafinil.
- → If your priority is focus or working memory, pick Armodafinil.
- → If your priority is healthspan extension, pick N-Acetyl Cysteine.
- → If your priority is post-training recovery, pick N-Acetyl Cysteine.
Edge case: If you want to avoid controlled substance, N-Acetyl Cysteine is the more accessible choice.
Default choice: N-Acetyl Cysteine. Wider use case, a Tier-A evidence outcome catalogued, and broader goal coverage. Reach for Armodafinil 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 N-Acetyl Cysteine?
Armodafinil and N-Acetyl Cysteine differ in category (pharmaceutical vs supplement), mechanism, and typical dosing. See the side-by-side table for full details.
Which has a longer half-life, Armodafinil or N-Acetyl Cysteine?
Armodafinil half-life is 15 hours; N-Acetyl Cysteine half-life is 5.6 hours.
Can you stack Armodafinil with N-Acetyl Cysteine?
Stack compatibility depends on mechanism overlap, legal status, and individual response. Check each compound page for specific interactions and contraindications before combining.
Go deeper