cbeaks said:
If you are using provigil while dieting should you stay away from clen or ephedrine?
I see no reason why. It is said that modafinil does not act on the beta receptors like ephedrine and clenbuterol do, so compounding should not occur. So, I don't think excess stimulation of the heart or other sympathetic nervous system side effects should occur since there isn't peripheral stimuation. However, I bet it would worsen nervousness or anxiety if you get it with either drug alone.
Here is more info I have found:
"Modafinil ('Provigil') is a memory-improving and mood-brightening psychostimulant. It enhances wakefulness and vigilance, but its pharmacological profile is notably different from the amphetamines, methylphenidate (Ritalin) or cocaine. Modafinil is less likely to cause jitteriness, anxiety, or excess locomotor activity - or lead to a hypersomnolent 'rebound effect' - than traditional stimulants. Subjectively, it feels smoother and cleaner than the amphetamines too. The normal elimination half-life of modafinil in humans is between 12 - 15 hours. So it's worth fine-tuning one's dosage schedule accordingly.
Current research suggests modafinil, like its older and better-tested analogue adrafinil, is a safe, effective and well-tolerated agent. It is long-acting and doesn't tend to cause peripheral sympathetic stimulation. Yet its CNS action isn't fully understood. Modafinil induces wakefulness in part by its action in the anterior hypothalamus. Its dopamine-releasing action in the nucleus accumbens is weak and dose-dependent; the likelihood of a euphoric response ('abuse potential'), dose-escalation and tolerance is thus apparently small. Modafinil has central alpha 1-adrenergic agonist effects i.e. it directly stimulates the receptors. Modafinil inhibits the reuptake of noradrenaline by the noradrenergic terminals on sleep-promoting neurons of ventrolateral preoptic nucleus (VLPO). More significant, perhaps, is its ability to increase excitatory glutamatergic transmission. This reduces local GABAergic transmission, thereby diminishing GABA(A) receptor signalling on the mesolimbic dopamine terminals.
Modafinil is proving clinically useful in the treatment of narcolepsy, a neurological disorder marked by uncontrollable attacks of daytime sleepiness. Narcolepsy is caused by dysfunction of a family of wakefulness-promoting and sleep-suppressing peptides, the orexins. Orexin neurons are activated by modafinil. Orexinergic neurons are found exclusively in the lateral hypothalamic area, but their fibers project to the entire central nervous system. Genetically modified orexin-knockout animals offer a model of human narcolepsy. Selective orexin receptor agonists of the future may prove useful both to narcoleptics and the population at large.
Experimentally, modafinil is also used in the treatment of Alzheimer's disease, depression, attention-deficit disorder, myotonic dystrophy, multiple sclerosis-induced fatigue, post-anaesthesia grogginess, cognitive impairment in schizophrenia, age-related memory decline, idiopathic hypersomnia, jet-lag, and everyday cat-napping. In September 2003, an advisory panel to the FDA endorsed its use for treating shift work sleep disorder and obstructive sleep apnea.
The US military are interested in modafinil too.
Modafanil is marketed as 'Alertec" in Canada - and over the Net. 'Altertec' is less expensive than 'Provigil'. Cheap generic modafinil should be available from 2006. But Cephalon is vigorously litigating to defend its patents.
Modafinil is increasingly used as a 'lifestyle drug' - a lucrative 'off-label' market its makers have not been unduly keen to discourage. Some prescribing physicians have reportedly been surprised at a previously hidden epidemic of narcolepsy among hard-working young professionals attending their surgeries.
Prudence, however, should be exercised in drastically curtailing one's sleep. Prolonged sleeplessness weakens immune function. Animals tortured in sleep-deprivation experiments eventually die from massive bacterial infections of the blood."
What are Modafinil and Adrafinil?
Modafinil and Adrafinil are the first of an entirely new class of pharmaceutical - the Eugeroics ("good arousal") - designed to promote vigilance and alertness. This unique class contains only Modafinil and Adrafinil, both of which have been developed by Lafon Laboratories as wake-promoting agents that improve wakefulness. The basis of their uniqueness lies in their ability to stimulate only when stimulation is required. As a result, the "highs and lows" associated with other stimulants such as amphetamine are absent with Eugeroics. Modafinil and Adrafinil won't prevent a person from sleeping if they want to, but if they wish to remain awake they will do so with a far greater alertness. Numerous clinical trials and studies since the mid 1980's have confirmed the ability of Modafinil and Adrafinil to increase awakeness and alertness without serious side effects or dependency. One of those involved volunteers who were subjected to 60 hours of sleep deprivation. During their continued wakefulness, their vigilance was assessed using questionnaires, visual scales and sleep latency tests. The subjects received either 200 mg Modafinil or a placebo every 8 hours. The Modafinil group sustained a satisfactory level of vigilance with an absence of sleep episodes, unlike the placebo group who gradually declined and slipped into "micro-sleep" episodes, (as one might expect when awake for longer than 24 hours). Another study conducted over 3 years discovered that Modafinil reduced drowsiness in 83% of hypersomniac patients and 71% of narcoleptics. Modafinil did not produce side effects, disturb night sleep, or promote drug dependence.
NAME: Modafinil
CHEMICAL NAME: Benzhydrylsulphinylacetamide
TRADE NAME: Provigil®, Modiodal®, Vigil®, Alertec®, Modasomil®
CHEMICAL FORMULA: C15H15NO2S
MOLECULAR WEIGHT: 273.351
PATENT #: U.S. - 4,177,290
CLASSIFICATION: Stimulant
MECHANISM OF ACTION Alpha 1 adrenoceptor, Agonist effect
LEGAL STATUS (US): Schedule IV, Controlled Substance - Requires Prescription
Moleculer Structure:
NAME: Adrafinil
CHEMICAL NAME: Benzhydrylsulphinyl-acetohydroxamic Acid
TRADE NAME: Olmifon®
CHEMICAL FORMULA: C15H15NO3S
MOLECULAR WEIGHT: 289.351
PATENT #: U.S. - 4,066,686
CLASSIFICATION: Stimulant
MECHANISM OF ACTION Alpha 1 adrenoceptor, Agonist effect
LEGAL STATUS (EU): Available over the counter (OTC)
LEGAL STATUS (US): Unscheduled, Uncontrolled
Moleculer Structure:
What are some information resources and articles on Modafinil and Adrafinil?
ABCNews
NY Times
Utne Magazine
Slate.com Magazine
Esquire Magazine
Webmd.com
FindArticles.com
Modafinil.com
Provigil.com
Nevapress.com
American Sleep Disorders Association
American Sleep Apnea Association
Narcolepsy Network
National Sleep Foundation
How does Modafinil / Adrafinil work?
The effects of Modafinil (Provigil) and Adrafinil are based on their ability to selectively stimulate adrenergic neuron receptors in the brain (hypothalamus and brain stem) thought to be involved in regulating normal wakefulness and general alertness towards the external environment. These sites are receptive to Norepinephrine (Noradrenaline), a neurotransmitter linked to alertness, learning, and memory. They work by directly stimulating the neurological postsynaptic receptor sites called, alpha-1 adrenergic. The central function of Norepinephrine is a fairly recent discovery, it appears to regulate alertness and the waking-sleep cycle and has a role in the maintenance of attention, memory, learning, cerebral plasticity and even has neuro-protection qualities. Since Modafinil (Provigil) and Adrafinil works directly on those sites which control alertness and does not interfere with any other brain function, it has been a very successful treatment. (It should be noted that this direct action means that mental stimulation is achieved without raising blood pressure or affecting heart rate). The more focused activity profile may account for the relative lack of adverse side effects of Modafinil (Provigil) and Adrafinil. In addition using Modafinil (Provigil) and Adrafinil does not require "catching up sleep" or "rebound sleep". Theoretically it is possible to stay awake on Modafinil (Provigil) and Adrafinil for hundreds of hours without sleeping. This is in direct contrast to conventional stimulants, which stimulate a broader spectrum of brain receptors, including those involving dopamine.
What is the difference between Modafinil / Adrafinil and conventional stimulants?
Many stimulant chemicals, such as caffeine, methylphenidate (Ritalin®), Adderall® (amphetamine salts) dexedrine, and methamphetamine, are known to produce similar alerting/energizing effects, yet are highly addictive. Modafinil (Provigil) and Adrafinil have been described as gentler stimulants with much less anxiety, agitation, jitteriness, excess locomotor activity and insomnia associated with conventional stimulants. Central nervous stimulants (CNS) such as amphetamine or pemoline are the most widely used drugs to treat narcolepsy, hypersomnia and catoplexy, but these have a number of well documented problems, such as cardiovascular side effects, interference with sleep, psychiatric disturbances and addiction. The use of these "classic" stimulants such as amphetamines threaten to reduce total sleep time and REM sleep, this will ultimately mean higher and higher doses are required and thus creates cycle of dependency. In contrast to stimulants like amphetamine and caffeine, Modafinil (Provigil) and Adrafinil do not disturb sleep patterns or cause withdrawal symptoms. The effects of Modafinil (Provigil) and Adrafinil are totally different from the other psychostimulants such as amphetamine, caffeine, or ephedrine. These substances only lead to fleeting stimulation and cause problems of tolerance when they are used for long periods. Modafinil (Provigil) and Adrafinil do not stimulate dopaminergic neurons in the nigrostriatal region of the brain [De Sereville et al. ,1994]. As a result, the stimulatory effect of Modafinil (Provigil) and Adrafinil on vigilance and locomotor activity (movement) is not associated with anxiety side effects [Simon et al,1994). Furthermore, in a double-blind cross-over study of 16 "healthy volunteers" (half men and half women, all moderate caffeine users), Warot and colleagues [1993] found that the subjective effects of Modafinil (Provigil) "differed markedly" from amphetamine and were "close" to those of an equal amount of caffeine. They concluded that modafinil "does not possess amphetamine-like subjective effects in a healthy population," and speculated that it probably has low abuse potential.
Modafinil Amphetamine
CA = caudate H = Hypothalamus
Data adapted from Lin, Hou, Jouvet, 1996
What are the properties of Modafinil / Adrafinil?
• Promotes daytime wakefulness without affecting ability to sleep when sleep is desired
• Works selectively through the brain' s sleep-wake centers to activate only the cortex, not the entire brain
• Efficacy established objectively and subjectively in numerous clinical trials
• Among the safest stimulants available
• Promotes wakefulness without generalized CNS stimulation in preclinical models
• Has none of the side effects associated with stimulants such as amphetamine, caffiene, ephedrine, etc
• Can safely be used without danger of addiction
• Does not affect normal sleep patterns
• Acts selectively through the sleep/wake centers of the brain believed to regulate normal wakefulness
• Does not mediate wakefulness by a dopaminergic mechanism
• Increases alertness without elevating motor activity
• Improves patients ability to stay awake and participate in daily activities
• Does not interfere with nighttime sleep architecture or with patients ability to fall asleep when needed
• Improves attention and concentration
• Enhances clarity of thought, cognitive function, mental focus, and memory
• Normalizes sleep patterns
• Reduces mental fatigue
• Improves wakefulness in patients with excessive daytime sleepiness (EDS) associated with narcolepsy
What has Modafinil / Adrafinil been used for?
• Update 2004 FDA Approved: General physical and mental fatigue including shift work sleep disorder
• Update 2004 FDA Approved: Improve wakefulness in patients with excessive sleepiness
• Narcolepsy (excessive daytime sleepiness) - FDA Approved
• Hypersomnia (excessive sleep)
• Catoplexy (a condition of sudden muscular weakness or fatigue)
• Alzheimer's disease
• Senility and age-related memory decline
• Depression
• Myotonic dystrophy
• Attention-deficit disorder (ADD)
• Athletics and athletic training regimes
• US Army, USAF, Special Forces, (as recently as Afghanistan and Iraq) French Foreign Legion, Dutch and Belgian military
What are the differences between Modafinil and Adrafinil?
Modafinil (Provigil) is a recently developed analogue of Adrafinil; it is more potent, more expensive, and has fewer side-effects. Average doses of Adrafinil are in the region of 600 mg to 1200 mg daily, compared to Modafinil's 200 mg to 400 mg daily. Adrafinil is attributed to some possible side effects that have not been associated with Modafinil (Provigil), including skin irritation in long term use (over 3 months), and an increase in liver enzyme levels, (which is reversible by reduction or withdrawal). Adrafinil may require regular blood testing to monitor liver enzyme levels if used on a regular basis.
Are there any side effects or interactions with Modafinil and Adrafinil?
Modafinil (Provigil) has been evaluated for safety in over 2000 subjects, and the long-term safety of Modafinil (Provigil) has been established for up to 136 weeks. No clinically significant changes in body weight in patients treated with Modafinil in clinical trials. Most frequently reported adverse events were headache, nausea, nervousness and anxiety. Most adverse events were mild to moderate. Modafinil (Provigil) may interact with drugs that inhibit, induce or are metabolized by cytochrome P450 isoenzymes. No clinically significant change in hemodynamic parameters such as heart rate and blood pressure in clinical trials. Although Adrafinil is generally regarded as quite safe, a few adverse effects have been reported with long-term use, including occasional instances of elevated liver enzymes, specifically SGOT, SGPT, GGPT, and hepatic alkaline phosphatase. It is suggested that liver function be tested to establish a baseline before using Adrafinil, and then after 3 months and again every 6 months thereafter. If abnormalities appear, reducing the dose or stopping the drug should permit a return to normal. Adrafinil has a good safety record, however there a number of important precautions; those with epilepsy, liver or kidney impairment should not use Adrafinil . Adrafinil should not be used along with major tranquillizers, e.g. pimozide, haloperidol, chlorpromazine etc. or drugs that enhance norepinephrine activity (such as yohimbine). Adrafinil is noted as contraindicated with epilepsy and has been shown to enhance the potency of anti-epileptic drugs such as phenytoin (Dilantin/ Epanutin).
Please Scroll Down to See Forums Below 
