What Happens If You Snort Modafinil? Risks & Side Effects Explained

Modafinil is a prescription wake-promoting medicine for narcolepsy, obstructive sleep apnea, and shift work sleep disorder. It is made and approved to be taken by mouth as a tablet. Snorting it is not only ineffective, it also raises real risks for your nose, sinuses, and overall health (U.S. Food and Drug Administration, 2015; Greenblatt & Adams, 2023).

What modafinil is and how it is meant to be used

Modafinil is a central nervous system (CNS) stimulant-like medicine that improves wakefulness. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approves it only for oral use in adults with narcolepsy, obstructive sleep apnea, and shift work disorder (U.S. Food and Drug Administration, 2015). It is a Schedule IV controlled substance and comes as 100 mg and 200 mg tablets.

After an oral dose, peak blood levels occur in about 2 to 4 hours. The average half-life is about 10 to 15 hours, and the drug is metabolized in the liver into inactive metabolites (Robertson & Hellriegel, 2003; Guo et al., 2010; Greenblatt & Adams, 2023).

What this means: modafinil is designed to work by mouth. The tablet form, dosing, and timing are built around oral absorption and normal liver metabolism.

Does snorting modafinil work?

Short answer, no. Effective nasal delivery needs a drug that dissolves well in the small amount of fluid coating the nasal mucosa. Modafinil is poorly soluble in water, which limits its ability to dissolve and pass across nasal tissues. Powders that do not dissolve are swept away by mucociliary clearance or drip into the throat and get swallowed, leading to delayed and unpredictable effects (Tanaka et al., 2017; Greenblatt & Adams, 2023).

• Poor dissolution in nasal fluid: limits absorption through the nose (Tanaka et al., 2017).
• Fast clearance from the nose: much of the powder is removed or swallowed, so the dose absorbed through the nose is low and inconsistent (Tanaka et al., 2017).
• No evidence of faster or stronger effects: compared with oral dosing. Oral dosing already reaches dependable blood levels within a few hours (Robertson & Hellriegel, 2003; Greenblatt & Adams, 2023).

Important correction: Modafinil does not require “activation” by the liver. The liver mainly clears it into inactive metabolites. Bypassing the gut or liver would not improve the drug’s effect, and with modafinil’s poor nasal dissolution it almost always makes results worse and less predictable (Robertson & Hellriegel, 2003; Greenblatt & Adams, 2023).

Health risks of snorting modafinil

1) Nose and sinus injury

• Drug-induced rhinitis and chronic congestion: irritant powders can inflame the nasal lining and cause ongoing congestion, runny nose, and discomfort (Alromaih et al., 2025).
• Tissue damage over time: long-term intranasal misuse of tablet powders has been linked to ulcers, septal injury, and even perforations with other drugs. This shows what chronic powder irritation can do to nasal structures (Peyrière et al., 2013).
• Nosebleeds and sinus infections: damaged mucosa is more vulnerable to bleeding and infection (Alromaih et al., 2025).

2) Unpredictable dosing and side effects

• Uneven absorption: some powder is expelled or swallowed. Blood levels can spike or lag, which can trigger headaches, nausea, dizziness, or anxiety (Tanaka et al., 2017; U.S. Food and Drug Administration, 2015).
• Irritation-related headaches and facial pain: inflamed nasal tissue and sinus pressure can worsen headache symptoms (Alromaih et al., 2025).

3) Misuse and dependency patterns

• Psychological dependence risks: snorting is associated with higher-risk drug behaviors. While modafinil has a relatively low abuse liability compared with amphetamines, misuse can still promote risky patterns and polysubstance use (Weyandt et al., 2016).
• Not a “euphoric” stimulant: lab work suggests modafinil can even blunt cocaine euphoria in some measures. It is not likely to give a “high” like cocaine or amphetamines, which undercuts the main reason some people try to snort it (Dackis et al., 2003).

4) Known adverse effects still apply

Even when used correctly, common side effects include headache, nausea, anxiety, insomnia, and dizziness. Serious rashes, psychiatric symptoms, and cardiovascular concerns are uncommon but possible. Snorting does not lower these risks and may make some symptoms feel worse due to irritation and dosing swings (U.S. Food and Drug Administration, 2015).

The safe and effective way to take modafinil

• Use oral tablets only, as prescribed: typical adult dose is 200 mg once daily, timing depends on the condition. Do not crush or snort tablets (U.S. Food and Drug Administration, 2015).
• Timing matters: because peak levels are in 2 to 4 hours and the half-life is long, morning dosing helps limit insomnia (Robertson & Hellriegel, 2003; Greenblatt & Adams, 2023).
• Talk to your clinician: if you have liver disease, are older, are pregnant or nursing, or take medicines that interact with cytochrome P450 enzymes. Your dose or timing may need adjustment (U.S. Food and Drug Administration, 2015).

What to do if you have snorted modafinil

• Rinse your nose gently with saline.
• Avoid further intranasal use.
• Seek medical care right away for ongoing nosebleeds, severe facial pain, fever, a whistling sound when breathing through the nose, a hole or soft spot in the nasal septum, chest pain, or severe anxiety.
• If you are using modafinil or other stimulants to cope with work or school, ask your clinician about safer options and supports (Weyandt et al., 2016).

FAQ

Will snorting modafinil make it kick in faster?

Unlikely. Modafinil does not dissolve well in nasal fluid, and much of the powder is cleared or swallowed. Oral dosing already gives dependable levels within a few hours (Tanaka et al., 2017; Robertson & Hellriegel, 2003).

Does snorting modafinil give a “high” like cocaine or Adderall?

No. Modafinil has low euphoric effects compared with classic stimulants. In lab settings it can even blunt cocaine euphoria in some measures (Dackis et al., 2003).

Is it dangerous to snort modafinil just once?

Any intranasal use can irritate the nose and sinuses. Repeated use raises the risk of chronic rhinitis, infections, and septal injury. The benefit is poor, and the risk is real (Alromaih et al., 2025; Peyrière et al., 2013).

When should I avoid taking modafinil?

Avoid if you have had a serious rash from it before, and use caution with heart disease, uncontrolled high blood pressure, or a history of severe psychiatric symptoms. Review all medicines and contraception with your clinician, as interactions can occur (U.S. Food and Drug Administration, 2015; Greenblatt & Adams, 2023).

References

• U.S. Food and Drug Administration. (2015). PROVIGIL® (modafinil) tablets, for oral use, C-IV [Prescribing information]. U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. https://www.accessdata.fda.gov/drugsatfda_docs/label/2015/020717s037s038lbl.pdf
• Greenblatt, K., & Adams, N. (2023). Modafinil. In StatPearls [Internet]. StatPearls Publishing. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK531476/
• Weyandt, L. L., Oster, D. R., Marraccini, M. E., Gudmundsdottir, B. G., Munro, B. A., Rathkey, E. S., & McCallum, A. (2016). Prescription stimulant medication misuse: Where are we and where do we go from here? Experimental and Clinical Psychopharmacology, 24(5), 400–414. https://doi.org/10.1037/pha0000093
• Robertson, P., Jr., & Hellriegel, E. T. (2003). Clinical pharmacokinetic profile of modafinil. Clinical Pharmacokinetics, 42(2), 123–137. https://doi.org/10.2165/00003088-200342020-00002
• Guo, T., Zhao, L. S., & Xia, D. Y. (2010). Pharmacokinetic study of modafinil in relation to gender and ethnicity in healthy young Chinese volunteers. Journal of Pharmacy & Pharmaceutical Sciences, 13(3), 443–449. https://doi.org/10.18433/j3fk5r
• Peyrière, H., Léglise, Y., Rousseau, A., Cartier, C., Gibaja, V., & Galland, P. (2013). Necrosis of the intranasal structures and soft palate as a result of heroin snorting: A case series. Substance Abuse, 34(4), 409–414. https://doi.org/10.1080/08897077.2013.781565
• Alromaih, S., Alsagaf, L., Aloraini, N., Alrasheed, A., Alroqi, A., Aloulah, M., Alsaleh, S., & Alhawassi, T. (2025). Drug-induced rhinitis: Narrative review. Ear, Nose & Throat Journal, 104(9), 582–590. https://doi.org/10.1177/01455613221141214
• Tanaka, A., Furubayashi, T., Enomura, Y., Hori, T., Shimomura, R., Maeda, C., Kimura, S., Inoue, D., Kusamori, K., Katsumi, H., Sakane, T., & Yamamoto, A. (2017). Nasal drug absorption from powder formulations: Effect of fluid volume changes on the mucosal surface. Biological & Pharmaceutical Bulletin, 40(2), 212–219. https://doi.org/10.1248/bpb.b16-00787
• Dackis, C. A., Lynch, K. G., Yu, E., Samaha, F. F., Kampman, K. M., Cornish, J. W., Rowan, A., Poole, S., White, L., & O’Brien, C. P. (2003). Modafinil and cocaine: A double-blind, placebo-controlled drug interaction study. Drug and Alcohol Dependence, 70(1), 29–37. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0376-8716(02)00335-6