Comparison
BPC-157 vs Modafinil
Side-by-side of BPC-157 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.
BPC-157
BPC-157 peptide profile: pentadecapeptide body protection compound 157. Preclinical data on tendon, gut healing, recovery. No human RCTs as of 2026.
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
BPC-157
- •Preclinical models show accelerated tendon-to-bone and ligament healing after surgical or chemical injury
- •Rodent studies report mucosal protection and faster recovery from NSAID-induced and colitis-induced gut damage
- •Anecdotal human protocols use 250 to 500 mcg twice daily subcutaneously near the injury site
- •No completed phase II or III human RCTs as of 2026, so efficacy and long-term safety remain unestablished
- •Banned by WADA since 2022 under the S0 non-approved substances category for competitive athletes
- •Theoretical angiogenic concern means avoidance is prudent in active malignancy until human data exists
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 | BPC-157 | Modafinil |
|---|---|---|
| Category | peptide | pharmaceutical |
| Also known as | Body Protection Compound-157, Pentadecapeptide BPC-157 | Provigil, Modalert, Modvigil, diphenylmethylsulfinyl-acetamide |
| Half-life (hr) ↗ | 4 | 13 |
| Typical dose (mg) ↗ | 0.25 | 200 |
| Dosing frequency | daily (anecdotal protocols) | daily, morning |
| Routes | subcutaneous, intramuscular, oral | oral |
| Onset (hr) | - | 1 |
| Peak (hr) | - | 3 |
| Molecular weight | - | 273.35 |
| Molecular formula | C62H98N16O22 | C15H15NO2S |
| Mechanism | Proposed upregulation of VEGFR2 and nitric oxide pathways, modulation of growth-hormone receptor expression, and stabilization of gut-brain axis signaling. Mechanism remains largely preclinical. | Weak dopamine reuptake inhibition plus downstream activation of histaminergic, noradrenergic, and orexinergic wake-promoting systems. |
| Legal status | Not FDA approved; research-use-only grey market; banned by WADA (2022) | Schedule IV (US); prescription-only globally; not a supplement |
| WADA status | banned | banned |
| DEA / Rx | Not FDA approved; not scheduled; research-chemical status | Schedule IV |
| Pregnancy | Insufficient data | Not recommended |
| CAS | 137525-51-0 | 68693-11-8 |
| PubChem CID | 9941957 | 4236 |
| Wikidata | Q4835418 | Q422968 |
Safety profile
BPC-157
Common side effects
- injection-site irritation
- nausea
- headache (anecdotal)
Contraindications
- pregnancy
- active malignancy (theoretical angiogenic concern)
- no established safety profile in humans
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?
Modafinil comes out ahead for most readers on the criteria we weight: 3 catalogued goals, controlled substance, oral dosing, with a Tier-A outcome catalogued. BPC-157 is the right call when one of the conditionals below applies.
- → If your priority is post-training recovery, pick BPC-157.
- → If your priority is gut barrier and microbiome health, pick BPC-157.
- → If your priority is wakefulness, pick Modafinil.
- → If your priority is focus or working memory, pick Modafinil.
Edge case: Half-lives differ materially (BPC-157 ~4 hr vs Modafinil ~13 hr). Modafinil reaches steady state faster; BPC-157 is easier to dial in if tolerability is uncertain.
Default choice: Modafinil. Wider use case, a Tier-A evidence outcome catalogued, and broader goal coverage. Reach for BPC-157 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 BPC-157 and Modafinil?
BPC-157 and Modafinil 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, BPC-157 or Modafinil?
BPC-157 half-life is 4 hours; Modafinil half-life is 13 hours.
Can you stack BPC-157 with Modafinil?
Stack compatibility depends on mechanism overlap, legal status, and individual response. Check each compound page for specific interactions and contraindications before combining.
Go deeper