Modafinil improves wakefulness and focus. People also ask if it can change emotions, especially anger or irritability. Most studies do not show a direct link to anger, but some users report irritability or anxiety, and rare psychiatric reactions are documented on the official label (Randall et al., 2003; U.S. Food and Drug Administration, 2015). Key…

Modafinil is a wakefulness medicine that changes brain chemicals involved in attention and motivation. Researchers are also asking how it might shape neuroplasticity, which is the brain’s ability to adapt by strengthening or weakening connections between neurons. This article explains what is known, what is not, and how to use the evidence carefully in practice…

Schizophrenia is a severe, chronic mental disorder that affects how a person thinks, feels, and behaves. It is characterized by positive symptoms (e.g., hallucinations, delusions), negative symptoms (e.g., avolition, anhedonia), and cognitive deficits (e.g., impaired memory and attention). Standard antipsychotic medications primarily address positive symptoms, leaving a significant need for treatments targeting negative and cognitive…

Modafinil is a widely prescribed medication used to promote wakefulness in conditions such as narcolepsy, obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), and shift work sleep disorder (SWD). Although it is effective for many people, Modafinil is not safe or appropriate for everyone. Understanding who should avoid Modafinil, whether due to medical conditions, potential drug interactions, or population-specific…

Modafinil is a wakefulness-promoting medication commonly prescribed for narcolepsy, obstructive sleep apnea, and shift work sleep disorder (Greenblatt & Adams, 2023; U.S. Food and Drug Administration [FDA], 2015). Beyond its alertness-enhancing effects, research suggests that modafinil interacts with several neurotransmitter systems such as dopamine, norepinephrine, serotonin, glutamate, GABA, histamine, and orexin. These interactions can influence…

Modafinil is a prescription medication classified as a wakefulness-promoting agent. In the United States, it is approved to treat narcolepsy, obstructive sleep apnea, and shift work disorder (U.S. Food and Drug Administration [FDA], 2015). Beyond these uses, modafinil has attracted attention for its ability to enhance alertness, concentration, and endurance. In the high-intensity world of…

When it comes to cognitive enhancers, modafinil and adrafinil are often grouped together, and for good reason. Both promote wakefulness and both originate from the same parent molecule. In reality, however, the two substances differ sharply in effectiveness, safety, regulation, and the extent to which their long-term effects are understood. If you are deciding between…

What is Modafinil? Modafinil is a prescription medication approved to treat excessive sleepiness caused by narcolepsy, obstructive sleep apnea, and shift work sleep disorder (FDA, 2015). It promotes wakefulness through complex brain mechanisms, although the exact action is not fully understood (StatPearls, 2025). Beyond these approved uses, modafinil is widely used off-label as a cognitive…