When a doctor prescribes modafinil, they provide detailed instructions on dosages for their specific use.
People ordering their modafinil online, however, are often left guessing about what the best dose might be for their medication.
We go through how much you should take depending on what your motivation for taking it is and highlight a basic dosage schedule to get the best results possible from your medications.
There are 2 Types of Modafinil
Both contain the modafinil compound as the active ingredient but have some subtle differences.
Modafinil is considered a “racemic” compound by chemists.
This means that it contains two isomers of the same compound. Isomers are different variations of the same chemical. Just like your right and left hand are different variations of the same thing (a hand), the two are virtually identical in every way— except that they are mirror images of each other.
Armodafinil is considered an “enantiopure” compound— which means that it only contains one type of isomer— the R- isomer.
This isomer is considered to be slightly stronger than the S- isomer, making the overall effects of armodafinil slightly stronger than modafinil.
Differences in Dosages Between Modafinil & Armodafinil
The standard dose for modafinil is 200 mg, while the equivalent dose of armodafinil is slightly lower at 150 mg.
Even at this dose, armodafinil is considered to be slightly more intense than modafinil.
Let’s break these doses down further.
Dosage Range Comparison of Modafinil & Armodafinil
 |
Lowest Dosage | Most Common Dosage | Highest Dosage |
| Modafinil | 50 mg | 200 mg | 400 mg |
| Armodafinil | 50 mg | 150 mg | 250 mg |
How Much Modafinil & Armodafinil Should I Take?
Depending on what you’re using modafinil or armodafinil for, the dose may be slightly different.
Here, we break down the dosing philosophy for a few of the most common reasons people are using these medications.
1. Modafinil For ADHD & Narcolepsy
The average prescribed dose for modafinil for both narcolepsy and ADHD is 200 mg modafinil or 150 mg armodafinil. In some cases, this can be as high as 500 mg for modafinil and 250 mg armodafinil. [1, 2].
For ADHD, people will generally take the medication on a daily basis, taking 1 or 2 days off every week to prevent long-term side-effects.
For narcolepsy, patients often don’t take any days off because it means that on those days they experience a significant flare-up in symptoms. This is up to the individual to decide depending on how severe their symptoms are.
2. Modafinil for Cognitive Enhancement
The dosage range for modafinil cognitive enhancement benefits can range from 50 mg to 400 mg depending on what the user’s motivations for taking it are.
Other factors that come in include patient size, how reactive they are to the drug, and how often they’re taking it.
A) Using Smaller Doses for Cognitive Enhancement (50 mg)
Some people prefer to take their modafinil in smaller doses. This produces the weakest effects initially, but it’s the safest option for long-term use.
Any dose that is 50 mg or less is considered a microdose— meaning that the dose is below the therapeutic threshold.
Microdosing offers less noticeable effects than the normal 100, 200, or 400 mg doses— but can provide benefits over longer periods of time.
Many people use this dose for long periods as a caffeine replacement to help them wake up in the morning. It promotes a gentle, low-grade feeling of wakefulness about 30-45 minutes after consumption.
Modafinil doesn’t usually come in 50 mg tablets.
In order to get this dose, 100 mg tablets will need to be broken in half, or 200 mg doses will need to be broken in quarters.
It’s much easier to break a 100 mg tablet in half than it is to break a 200 mg in fourths. The manufacturer usually makes a crease down the middle to help users split the tablets in half evenly.
Some users mash their capsules up into a powder and split this into four equal portions. The powder can then be encapsulated or blended into a strong smoothie in the morning. This method will dramatically lower the time it takes for the modafinil to enter the bloodstream— and allows effective control of smaller doses.
The equivalent armodafinil dosage in this range is also 50 mg but can be slightly stronger in its effects.
When to use 50 mg modafinil doses:
- If you’re sensitive to modafinil
- If you’re just starting out with modafinil and need to test its effects
- If you plan on using daily modafinil long-term (years)
- If you want the lowest chance of developing side-effects
B) Average Doses for Cognitive Enhancement (200 mg)
This is the most popular dosage used for cognitive enhancement. It comes to no surprise that this is also the most common dosage form found online.
The usual dose of both Waklert and Modalert is 200 mg per tablet.
This is also the dosage with the most research behind it.
The equivalent armodafinil dose to this is 150 mg, which is the dosage supplied in the generic versions Artvigil and Modvigil.
Benefits of 200 mg dose of modafinil:
- Provides well-known effects on cognition
- Has a great deal of research behind this dosage
- Easiest dosage to take (no splitting or powdering of pills needed)
- Most common dosage available online
C) Larger Doses for Cognitive Enhancement (400 mg)
In some cases, larger doses of modafinil are desired. 400 mg is considered the highest safe dose.
Anything over 400 mg dramatically increases the risk of side effects.
A 400 mg dose of modafinil is useful for larger individuals or people who have developed a tolerance to modafinil with long-term use.
This dosage is not recommended for people just starting out with modafinil. It can cause anxiety, insomnia, and other side effects. If you wish to try this dose, even if you have a larger than average build, you should always build the dose up slowly from either 50 mg or 100 mg.
This is done to make sure you aren’t allergic or sensitive to the drug.
The equivalent armodafinil dose to this is 250 mg. Most tablets are supplied in 150 mg doses, making it easier to double up and take a 300 mg dose. Users should be aware that this will be stronger in its effects compared to the equivalent 400 mg modafinil.
Benefits of a 400 mg dose of modafinil:
- Offers the strongest effect within the safe dosage range
- Best for people with large builds
- Better for people with fast drug metabolism
- Good for short-term use of modafinil
The Side Effects of Modafinil
There are some side effects associated with modafinil. Most of them are only subtle, such as insomnia, digestive system discomfort, headaches, low appetite, and dry mouth.
These side effects are more likely to occur with higher doses.
The 50 mg dose rarely produces any side effects, while the 400 mg dose often produces side effects— most commonly insomnia and headaches.
Side effects can be prevented or reduced by taking the medication earlier in the day and away from other stimulants like coffee or tea.
Drinking plenty of water (2-3 L per day), as well as sufficient nutrition, will go a long way in eliminating or preventing side effects.
When to Visit a Doctor
More severe side effects have been reported, but they are much rarer.
If you are experiencing any symptoms of hysteria, difficulty breathing, dizziness, hallucinations, or severe skin reactions, you should visit a doctor immediately.
Recommended Dosage Schedule for New Users
Whenever trying a supplement or medication out for the first time, it’s recommended that you start with a smaller dose and build up gradually to a higher dose. This is done to make sure that you’re not allergic to the drug and that you can metabolize and eliminate it from your body effectively.
Almost all drugs that enter the body are metabolized by the liver. The liver uses a set of enzymes to break down chemicals. Each one is coded by a specific gene, which we refer to as the CYP450 isoenzymes.
Everyone’s CYP450 genes are unique (polymorphisms), and some people have a stronger ability to break down certain chemicals than others.
This is why many people can drink coffee all day long, while others seem to remain wired for hours after just one cup. They’re essentially unable to break the caffeine down as efficiently due to the CYP450 polymorphisms they were born with.
The same can happen with modafinil— which is why it’s best to make sure there are no problems before jumping straight into a large 400 mg dosage.
If you have difficulty metabolizing modafinil, its effects will last much longer.
Additionally, if taking modafinil every day, the concentrations in your bloodstream can begin to build up over time.
Recommended Dosage Schedule for New Modafinil Users
| Week | Dose | Any Side Effects? |
| 1 | 50 mg | If yes, modafinil may not be for you |
| 2 | 100 mg | If yes, go back to 50mg per day |
| 3 | 200 mg | If yes, try 150 mg per day |
| 4 | 300 mg | If yes, try 250 mg per day |
| 5 | 350 mg | If yes, go back to 300 mg per day |
| 6 | 400 mg | If yes, go back to 350 mg per day |
Conclusion
Modafinil can be an extremely useful medication to boost your workflow and productivity. People often use it to get a step ahead of their colleagues or competition and to boost their overall performance at work or school.
Due to the potential for side effects, proper dosage is very important with this drug.We recommend starting at a small 50 mg or 100 mg dose the first few days before increasing this dose. The normal dosage range for modafinil (Modalert & Modvigil) is 100-400 mg per day). The equivalent doses of armodafinil (Waklert & Artvigil) are 50-250 mg per day.
It’s also recommended that you always ensure you’re consuming enough food and water throughout the day to avoid any potential side effects.
References
- Bastoji, H., & Jouvet, M. (1988). Successful treatment of idiopathic hypersomnia and narcolepsy with modafinil. Progress in neuro-psychopharmacology and biological psychiatry, 12(5), 695-700.
- Harsh, J. R., Hayduk, R., Rosenberg, R., Wesnes, K. A., Walsh, J. K., Arora, S., … & Roth, T. (2006). The efficacy and safety of armodafinil as treatment for adults with excessive sleepiness associated with narcolepsy. Current medical research and opinion, 22(4), 761-774.
- Biederman, J., Swanson, J. M., Wigal, S. B., Kratochvil, C. J., Boellner, S. W., Earl, C. Q., … & Greenhill, L. (2005). Efficacy and safety of modafinil film-coated tablets in children and adolescents with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder: results of a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, flexible-dose study. Pediatrics, 116(6), e777-e784.
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