How long does Armodafinil last?

The total duration of Armodafinil via oral is 8 hours to 15 hours. Onset typically occurs within 20 minutes to 1 hour. Peak effects last 4 hours to 7 hours.

Armodafinil — SubstanceWiki

Wakefulness-promoting medication

Armodafinil, sold under the brand name Nuvigil, is a wakefulness-promoting medication that is used to treat excessive daytime sleepiness associated with obstructive sleep apnea, narcolepsy, and shift work disorder. It is also used off-label for certain other indications. The drug is taken by mouth.

Side effects of armodafinil include headache, nausea, dizziness, and insomnia. Armodafinil acts as a selective atypical dopamine reuptake inhibitor (DRI) and hence as an indirect dopamine receptor agonist. Nonetheless, other mechanisms might also be involved in its effects. Chemically, armodafinil is the enantiopure (R)-(–)-enantiomer of the racemic mixture modafinil (brand name Provigil). Both enantiomers of modafinil are active as DRIs and wakefulness-promoting agents, but armodafinil is more potent and longer-acting.

Armodafinil is produced by the pharmaceutical company Cephalon and was approved by the United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in 2007. In 2016, the FDA granted Mylan rights for the first generic version of armodafinil to be marketed in the United States.

How It Feels

Armodafinil does not arrive as a wave. It arrives as a quiet, relentless clarification. Within one to two hours of oral ingestion, the fog of fatigue begins to lift. It does not happen all at once. Instead, there is a gradual realization that the heaviness behind the eyes has dissipated, that the desire to close them and drift has been replaced by a calm willingness to remain engaged with whatever task is at hand. The alertness feels natural, as though you have simply slept well rather than taken a pharmaceutical. This is the defining quality of armodafinil's onset: it does not feel like stimulation. It feels like the absence of tiredness.

At its peak, which can persist for six to twelve hours depending on individual metabolism, armodafinil produces a state of sustained, effortless wakefulness. The mind is clear, attentive, and capable of prolonged focus. There is no jitteriness, no racing thoughts, no euphoria. Instead, there is a patient, unflagging alertness that makes it possible to work through tasks that would normally require breaks or sustained effort to maintain concentration. Executive function improves: planning feels easier, prioritization becomes more natural, and the gap between recognizing what needs to be done and actually doing it narrows appreciably.

The physical experience is remarkably spare. Heart rate may increase very slightly. Appetite is mildly suppressed, often noticed only retrospectively when one realizes it has been seven hours since eating without any hunger signals. There may be a subtle dryness of the mouth and, occasionally, a faint headache that responds to hydration. The body feels normal, functional, and unperturbed. There is none of the peripheral nervous system overdrive that characterizes traditional stimulants: no sweating, no vasoconstriction, no tremor, no jaw clenching.

The offset of armodafinil is as gradual as its onset. Late in the day, the sustained wakefulness begins to soften, and the ordinary rhythms of fatigue begin to reassert themselves. Sleep, if the dose was taken in the morning, is usually achievable by the normal bedtime, though the quality of sleep may be slightly reduced. Some users report a subtle emotional flatness during the active period, a sense that while cognition is enhanced, the richness of emotional experience has been marginally compressed. The following morning is typically clear, though those who have slept poorly may carry a mild deficit forward. The overall experience is one of quiet, efficient utility, a substance that does its job so unobtrusively that you may occasionally forget you have taken anything at all.

Subjective Effects

The effects listed below are based on the Subjective Effect Index (SEI), an open research literature based on anecdotal reports and personal analyses. They should be viewed with a healthy degree of skepticism. These effects will not necessarily occur in a predictable or reliable manner, although higher doses are more liable to induce the full spectrum of effects.

Physical Effects

Physical(8)

Headache— A painful sensation of pressure, throbbing, or aching in the head that can range from a dull backgro...
Increased heart rate— A noticeable acceleration of heartbeat that can range from a subtle awareness of one's pulse to a fo...
Nausea— An uncomfortable sensation of queasiness and stomach discomfort that may or may not lead to vomiting...
Respiratory depression— A dangerous slowing and shallowing of breathing that can progress from barely noticeable reductions ...
Seizure— Uncontrolled brain electrical activity causing convulsions and loss of consciousness -- a life-threa...
Stimulation— A state of heightened physical and mental energy characterized by increased wakefulness, elevated mo...
Teeth grinding— An involuntary clenching and rhythmic grinding of the jaw muscles, known clinically as bruxism, that...
Vasoconstriction— A narrowing of blood vessels throughout the body that produces sensations of cold extremities, tingl...

Cognitive & Perceptual Effects

Cognitive(6)

Depression— A persistent state of low mood, emotional numbness, hopelessness, and diminished interest or pleasur...
Mania— Abnormally elevated mood, energy, and activity with impulsive behavior and grandiosity, associated w...
Motivation enhancement— A heightened sense of drive, ambition, and willingness to accomplish tasks, making productive effort...
Sleepiness— A progressive onset of drowsiness, heaviness, and the desire to sleep that pulls the individual towa...
Thought loops— Becoming trapped in a repeating cycle of thoughts, actions, and emotions that loops every few second...

Interactions

Substance	Status	Note
25x-NBOH	Dangerous	—
25x-NBOMe	Dangerous	—
Atropa belladonna	Dangerous	Extreme cardiovascular strain from anticholinergic and stimulant effects combined
Datura	Dangerous	Extreme cardiovascular strain from anticholinergic and stimulant effects combined
Diphenhydramine	Dangerous	Extreme cardiovascular strain from anticholinergic and stimulant effects combined
Harmala alkaloid	Dangerous	Risk of hypertensive crisis and serotonin syndrome; potentially fatal combination
Peganum harmala	Dangerous	Risk of hypertensive crisis and serotonin syndrome; potentially fatal combination
MDMA	Unsafe	—
1,3-Butanediol	Caution	Increases anxiety, cardiovascular stress, and psychological intensity
25E-NBOH	Caution	Increases anxiety, cardiovascular stress, and psychological intensity
2C-T	Caution	Increases anxiety, cardiovascular stress, and psychological intensity
2C-T-2	Caution	Increases anxiety, cardiovascular stress, and psychological intensity
2C-T-21	Caution	Increases anxiety, cardiovascular stress, and psychological intensity
2C-T-7	Caution	Increases anxiety, cardiovascular stress, and psychological intensity
3-FMA	Caution	Increased cardiovascular strain and neurotoxicity risk
4-MMC	Caution	Increased cardiovascular strain and neurotoxicity risk
8-Chlorotheophylline	Caution	Increased cardiovascular strain and neurotoxicity risk
Adrafinil	Caution	Increased cardiovascular strain and neurotoxicity risk
Allylescaline	Caution	Increases anxiety, cardiovascular stress, and psychological intensity
Ayahuasca	Caution	Increases anxiety, cardiovascular stress, and psychological intensity
Benzydamine	Caution	Increased cardiovascular strain and neurotoxicity risk
Bromantane	Caution	Increased cardiovascular strain and neurotoxicity risk
Cake	Caution	Masks the effects of each drug; risk of overdosing when one wears off before the other
Deschloroetizolam	Caution	Masks the effects of each drug; risk of overdosing when one wears off before the other
Desomorphine	Caution	Stimulants mask opioid sedation, increasing overdose risk when the stimulant wears off
DET	Caution	Increases anxiety, cardiovascular stress, and psychological intensity
Dichloropane	Caution	Increased cardiovascular strain and neurotoxicity risk
Diclazepam	Caution	Masks the effects of each drug; risk of overdosing when one wears off before the other
DiPT	Caution	Increases anxiety, cardiovascular stress, and psychological intensity
DOM	Caution	Increases anxiety, cardiovascular stress, and psychological intensity
DPT	Caution	Increases anxiety, cardiovascular stress, and psychological intensity
Efavirenz	Caution	Increases anxiety, cardiovascular stress, and psychological intensity
Ephedrine	Caution	Increased cardiovascular strain and neurotoxicity risk
EPT	Caution	Increases anxiety, cardiovascular stress, and psychological intensity
Eszopiclone	Caution	Masks the effects of each drug; risk of overdosing when one wears off before the other
Etizolam	Caution	Masks the effects of each drug; risk of overdosing when one wears off before the other
Flubromazepam	Caution	Masks the effects of each drug; risk of overdosing when one wears off before the other
Flubromazolam	Caution	Masks the effects of each drug; risk of overdosing when one wears off before the other
Flunitrazepam	Caution	Masks the effects of each drug; risk of overdosing when one wears off before the other
Flunitrazolam	Caution	Masks the effects of each drug; risk of overdosing when one wears off before the other
Gaboxadol	Caution	Masks the effects of each drug; risk of overdosing when one wears off before the other
Hexedrone	Caution	Increased cardiovascular strain and neurotoxicity risk
Ibogaine	Caution	Increases anxiety, cardiovascular stress, and psychological intensity
Lorazepam	Caution	Masks the effects of each drug; risk of overdosing when one wears off before the other
Mephenaqualone	Caution	Masks the effects of each drug; risk of overdosing when one wears off before the other
MET	Caution	Increases anxiety, cardiovascular stress, and psychological intensity
Methallylescaline	Caution	Increases anxiety, cardiovascular stress, and psychological intensity
Methcathinone	Caution	Increased cardiovascular strain and neurotoxicity risk
Metizolam	Caution	Masks the effects of each drug; risk of overdosing when one wears off before the other
Midazolam	Caution	Masks the effects of each drug; risk of overdosing when one wears off before the other
MiPT	Caution	Increases anxiety, cardiovascular stress, and psychological intensity
MPT	Caution	Increases anxiety, cardiovascular stress, and psychological intensity
Naloxone	Caution	Stimulants mask opioid sedation, increasing overdose risk when the stimulant wears off
Nicotine	Caution	Increased cardiovascular strain and neurotoxicity risk
Nifoxipam	Caution	Masks the effects of each drug; risk of overdosing when one wears off before the other
Oxiracetam	Caution	Increased cardiovascular strain and neurotoxicity risk
Pentobarbital	Caution	Masks the effects of each drug; risk of overdosing when one wears off before the other
Phenobarbital	Caution	Masks the effects of each drug; risk of overdosing when one wears off before the other
Phenylpiracetam	Caution	Increased cardiovascular strain and neurotoxicity risk
Psilocybin Mushrooms	Caution	Increases anxiety, cardiovascular stress, and psychological intensity
Rhodiola Rosea	Caution	Increased cardiovascular strain and neurotoxicity risk
SAMe	Caution	Masks the effects of each drug; risk of overdosing when one wears off before the other
Alcohol	Uncertain	—

Showing 63 key interactions out of 64 total.

Toxicity & Safety

The long-term safety and effectiveness of armodafinil has not been determined.

Anecdotal evidence suggests a lack of adverse health effects when sparingly used at small to moderate doses, although this must not be assumed. This compound is a commonly prescribed prescription medication, thus is considerably less likely to have adverse health effects than that of a typical research chemical.

It is strongly recommended that one use harm reduction practices when using this substance.

Lethal dosage

The median lethal dose at which 50% of participants die (LD50) from either armodafinil or modafinil for human beings has never been reached. No life-threatening effects have taken place in clinical trials involving the administration of 1000mg to 1600mg of modafinil per day for 7 to 21 consecutive days. Intentional acute overdoses of 4500mg and 4000mg in two adult subjects and an accidental ingestion of 800mg by a three-year-old child did not result in any life-threatening effects or death. After overdosing on 5000mg of modafinil in a suicide attempt, a fifteen-year-old female reported a severe headache, nausea, and tachycardia, but did not appear to have any lethal or long-term effects.

Tolerance and addiction potential

Armodafinil, like racemic modafinil, may also possess addiction reinforcing properties, as evidenced by its self-administration in monkeys previously trained to administer cocaine; armodafinil was also partially discriminated as stimulant-like. The chronic use of armodafinil can be considered as mildly addictive with a low potential for abuse. It does not seem to be capable of causing psychological dependence among certain users.

Tolerance to many of the effects of armodafinil develops with prolonged and repeated use. This results in users having to administer increasingly large doses to achieve the same effects. After that, it takes about 3 - 7 days for the tolerance to be reduced to half and 1 - 2 weeks to be back at baseline (in the absence of further consumption). Armodafinil may present a cross-tolerance with all benzhydryl nootropics, meaning that after the consumption of armodafinil, certain nootropics such as modafinil and adrafanil may have a reduced effect.

Dangerous interactions

Warning: Many psychoactive substances that are reasonably safe to use on their own can suddenly become dangerous and even life-threatening when combined with certain other substances. The following list provides some known dangerous interactions (although it is not guaranteed to include all of them).

Always conduct independent research (e.g. Google, DuckDuckGo, PubMed) to ensure that a combination of two or more substances is safe to consume. Some of the listed interactions have been sourced from TripSit.

25x-NBOMe & 25x-NBOH - 25x compounds are highly stimulating and physically straining. Combinations with Armodafinil should be strictly avoided due to the risk of excessive stimulation and heart strain. This can result in increased blood pressure, vasoconstriction, panic attacks, thought loops, seizures, and heart failure in extreme cases.
Alcohol - Combining alcohol with stimulants can be dangerous due to the risk of accidental over-intoxication. Stimulants mask alcohol's depressant effects, which is what most people use to assess their degree of intoxication. Once the stimulant wears off, the depressant effects will be left unopposed, which can result in blackouts and severe respiratory depression. If mixing, the user should strictly limit themselves to only drinking a certain amount of alcohol per hour.
DXM - Combinations with DXM should be avoided due to its inhibiting effects on serotonin and norepinephrine reuptake. There is an increased risk of panic attacks and hypertensive crisis, or serotonin syndrome with serotonin releasers (MDMA, methylone, mephedrone, etc.). Monitor blood pressure carefully and avoid strenuous physical activity.
MDMA - Any neurotoxic effects of MDMA are likely to be increased when other stimulants are present. There is also a risk of excessive blood pressure and heart strain (cardiotoxicity).
MXE - Some reports suggest combinations with MXE may dangerously increase blood pressure and increase the risk of mania and psychosis.
Dissociatives - Both classes carry a risk of delusions, mania and psychosis, and these risk may be multiplied when combined.
Stimulants - Armodafinil may be dangerous to combine with other stimulants like cocaine as they can increase one's heart rate and blood pressure to dangerous levels.
Tramadol - Tramadol is known to lower the seizure threshold and combinations with stimulants may further increase this risk.
MAOIs - This combination may increase the amount of neurotransmitters such as dopamine to dangerous or even fatal levels. Examples include syrian rue, banisteriopsis caapi, and some antidepressants.
Hormonal birth control - Modafinil reduces the effectiveness of hormonal birth control for up to a month after use by increasing the activity of the enzyme CYP3A4/5. Notably, the same enzyme is inhibited by grapefruit juice.

Addiction Potential

mildly addictive with a low potential for abuse

Overdose Information

LD50) from either armodafinil or modafinil for human beings has never been reached]]. No life-threatening effects have taken place in clinical trials involving the administration of 1000mg to 1600mg of modafinil per day for 7 to 21 consecutive days. Intentional acute overdoses of 4500mg and 4000mg in two adult subjects and an accidental ingestion of 800mg by a three-year-old child did not result in any life-threatening effects or death. After overdosing on 5000mg of modafinil in a suicide attempt, a fifteen-year-old female reported a severe headache, nausea, and tachycardia, but did not appear to have any lethal or long-term effects.

Armodafinil, like racemic modafinil, may also possess addiction reinforcing properties, as evidenced by its self-administration in monkeys previously trained to administer cocaine; armodafinil was also partially discriminated as stimulant-like.mildly addictive with a low potential for abuse. It does not seem to be capable of causing psychological dependence among certain users.develops with prolonged and repeated use. This results in users having to administer increasingly large doses to achieve the same effects. After that,3 - 71 - 2 weeks to be back at baseline (in the absence of further consumption). Armodafinil may present a cross-tolerance with Cross-all benzhydryl nootropics, meaning that after the consumption of armodafinil, certain nootropics such as modafinil and adrafanil may have a reduced effect. -Hormonal birth control** - Modafinil reduces the effectiveness of hormonal birth control for up to a month after use by increasing the activity of the enzyme CYP3A4/5. Notably, th

Legal Status

Armodafinil is legally approved for medical purposes worldwide. However, it is illegal to sell and possess without a prescription in most countries.

Canada:** Modafinil is listed as a Schedule F prescription drug in Canada and it can be prescribed for human and veterinary use.
Germany:** Modafinil is a prescription medicine, according to Anlage 1 AMVV.
United Kingdom:** Armodafinil is not a licensed medicine in the United Kingdom and is not covered by the Misuse of Drugs Act 1971 so it may be considered illegal to produce, supply, or import under the Psychoactive Substances Act. However, it may not be covered by the Psychoactive Substances Act as it is a licensed medicine in many other countries and modafinil, the non-enantiopure substance that is comprised of armodafinil and the S-enantiomer of modafinil in equal proportions, is a licensed prescription-only medicine (POM) in the United Kingdom. In this case it would not be considered a criminal offence to possess this substance without a valid prescription and it could be legally be obtained with a valid prescription or through legal import of the substance for personal use as outlined in Section 13 of the Medicines Act 1968.
United States:** Armodafinil is a Schedule IV controlled substance in the United States. It is illegal to buy, sell, or possess the drug without a prescription or DEA license.
Responsible use
Nootropics
Stimulants
Modafinil
Caffeine
Amphetamine
Armodafinil (Wikipedia)
Armodafinil (Isomer Design)
Armodafinil (DrugBank)
Darwish, M., Kirby, M., D’Andrea, D. M., Yang, R., Hellriegel, E. T., & Robertson, P. (2010). Pharmacokinetics of armodafinil and modafinil after single and multiple doses in patients with excessive sleepiness associated with treated obstructive sleep apnea: A randomized, open-label, crossover study. Clinical Therapeutics, 32(12), 2074–2087. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.clinthera.2010.11.009
Fuller, P., Vetrivelan, R., & Saper, C. (2014). Armodafinil-induced wakefulness in animals with ventrolateral preoptic lesions. Nature and Science of Sleep, 6, 57. https://doi.org/10.2147/NSS.S53132
Greve, D. N., Duntley, S. P., Larson-Prior, L., Krystal, A. D., Diaz, M. T., Drummond, S. P. A., … Thomas, R. J. (2014). Effect of Armodafinil on Cortical Activity and Working Memory in Patients with Residual Excessive Sleepiness Associated with CPAP-Treated OSA: A Multicenter fMRI Study. Journal of Clinical Sleep Medicine, 10(2), 143–153. https://doi.org/10.5664/jcsm.3440
Loland, C. J., Mereu, M., Okunola, O. M., Cao, J., Prisinzano, T. E., Mazier, S., … Newman, A. H. (2012). R-modafinil (armodafinil): A unique dopamine uptake inhibitor and potential medication for psychostimulant abuse. Biological Psychiatry, 72(5), 405–413. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.biopsych.2012.03.022
Niemegeers, P., Maudens, K. E., Morrens, M., Patteet, L., Joos, L., Neels, H., & Sabbe, B. G. (2012). Pharmacokinetic evaluation of armodafinil for the treatment of bipolar depression. Expert Opinion on Drug Metabolism & Toxicology, 8(9), 1189–1197. https://doi.org/10.1517/17425255.2012.708338
Ramachandra, B. (2016). A Critical Review of Properties of Modafinil and Analytical, Bioanalytical Methods for its Determination. Critical Reviews in Analytical Chemistry, 46(6), 482–489. https://doi.org/10.1080/10408347.2016.1153948
T., M., M., M., N., S., & S., N. (2016). The pathogenesis of narcolepsy, current treatments, and prospective therapeutic targets. Expert Opinion on Orphan Drugs, 4(1), 63–82. https://doi.org/10.1517/21678707.2016.1117973

Armodafinil

Quick Dosage

Dosage

oral

Duration

oral

How It Feels

Subjective Effects

Physical Effects

Physical(8)

Cognitive & Perceptual Effects

Cognitive(6)

Pharmacology

Detection Methods

Standard Drug Panel Inclusion

Urine Detection

Blood and Saliva Detection

Hair Follicle Detection

Confirmatory Testing

Reagent Testing

Interactions

History

Harm Reduction

Toxicity & Safety

Addiction Potential

Overdose Information

Dangerous Interactions

Tolerance

Cross-tolerances

Legal Status

Experience Reports (2)

Tips (7)

Community Discussions (1)

See Also

References (5)

Frequently Asked Questions

Full	develops with prolonged and repeated use
Half	3 - 7 days
Zero	1 - 2 weeks