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Adrafinil Reviews 2024: Effect, Dosage, Side Effects & Results
Updated on
- Written by Lindsey Desoto, RDN, LD
Medically reviewed by
Kimberly Langdon, MD
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9.0
Quality
9.0
Reputation
7.0
Price
Features
- Guaranteed consistency
- Tamper-proof seal
- Third-party trusted
- 30-day money-back guarantee
- Worldwide shipping available
Science Bio Adrafinil
- Superior customer service
- Quality control
- US-based business
- Wide product selection
About The Brand
Science.bio is a well-respected, top supplier of different reference materials for research. Some common products they sell include nootropics, metabolic, and longevity supplements.
Science.bio’s mission is to increase scientific research surrounding cognitive, metabolic, and longevity science.
At this time, they only sell products to be used for academic research, and it is not designed for therapeutic use. Science.bio’s products are not for use in humans, and their website makes it clear that products are unsafe for human consumption.
One of Science.bio’s best-selling products is adrafinil, which has commonly been used to improve focus, memory, and mood.
This article will drive into adrafinil, how it works as a nootropic, and determine if it’s something you should consider taking.
Alternatives to Adrafinil
Modafinil
- Improved memory
- Boost energy
- Science-backed benefits
- Increased motivation
- Prescription required in the US
- May become habit-forming
- May need to be cycled
Mind Lab Pro
- First universal nootropic
- 10+ hours of focus
- Legal
- Keeps you awake and alert
- The product needs to be cycled
What is Adrafinil?
Adrafinil is a powerful nootropic that originated in 1974 by a French company named Louis Lafon Laboratories. It is a prodrug that is metabolized to modafinil[1] in the body and has a history of being used to promote alertness and wakefulness.
It was sold under the brand[1] name Olmifon in 1985 and used as a primary treatment for narcolepsy. It has been studied[1] for use in the elderly population to promote wakefulness, enhance mood, and treat sleep disorders.
It works as a stimulant that affects the central nervous system without producing euphoric effects and is considered by many to be a “smart drug” to improve brain function.
As popularity grew for Modiodol, Olmifon was discontinued by France in 2011. However, many pharmaceutical companies continue to produce adrafinil for “reference material” and research purposes.
Feature Product & Coupon
Best Reputation
Adrafinil
- Guaranteed consistency
- Tamper-proof seal
- Third-party trusted
- 30-day money-back guarantee
- Worldwide shipping available
Does Adrafinil Really Work?
Although newer research should be completed, one older study[1] showed that adrafinil helped ease symptoms of depression and may help improve memory and attention.
Its byproduct, modafinil has many more studies to back up its effectiveness and is approved for the treatment of narcolepsy[2].
One review of studies[3] showed that modafinil intake could improve alertness, cognition, and mood in non-sleep-deprived individuals.
Though the two share similar properties and benefits, many users report more substantial benefits with modafinil use.
Users of adrafinil report the following benefits:
- Improved mood
- Healthy sleep patterns
- Wakefulness without jitters
- Improved cognition
Of note, adrafinil is considered a nonspecific stimulant and is banned[4] by the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA). Although it is not FDA approved, it is currently legal in the United States as a dietary supplement but remains a banned substance in many other countries.
Science.bio Adrafinil Dosage
Since all of Science.bio’s products are labeled for research purposes only, there are not any specific dosage recommendations for any of their nootropic products, including adrafinil.
Science.bio Adrafinil Ingredients
Science.bio’ offers two forms of adrafinil that arrive in tamper-proof seals with publicly labeled lab reports to ensure quality. With additional third-party testing and a money-back guarantee, you are sure to get the highest quality form of adrafinil on the market at Science.bio.
Science.Bio’s adrafinil comes in two different forms–solution and powder. Here are the details on both of these high-quality products.
Adrafinil Solution
Adrafinil solution comes in a 30 mL bottle and includes a 1 mL pipette for easy and accurate measurement. Each bottle has less than 10% variance in concentration to ensure that each product meets quality standards.
The bottle comes with the main ingredient, adrafinil and Science.bio’s product contains approximately 100 mg of Adrafinil per 1 mL. The entire bottle contains around 3000 mg of adrafinil.
Adrafinil Powder
Science.bio’s adrafinil powder comes in a .2 oz jar and contains 5 grams of Adrafinil. Each jar comes in a slightly overweighed jar to compensate for adhesion. Their powder is free of flow agents, excipients, and pollutants to ensure the product is of top quality.
Potential Health Benefits & Effects of Adrafinil
Many of the health benefits associated with adrafinil are strictly based on user reviews. As mentioned earlier, there has been a lot of research on its metabolite, modafinil.
Here are a few of the unapproved health benefits associated with adrafinil:
Wakefulness
Most of the early research done on adrafinil is associated with use in the elderly population to help keep them awake and alert and boost energy. There are also studies[1] linking its use to help people with narcolepsy stay awake.
Improved Cognition
Though there have been no human studies to date to link adrafinil intake with improved cognition, one animal study[5] from 2000 reported potential positive cognitive effects in dogs that were administered adrafinil.
However, a newer animal study[6] from 2003 found that adrafinil consumption led to decreased cognition and performance.
Many users report increased focus and reaction time and this is why adrafinil is considered to be a “smart drug.”
Antidepressant
Many users associate adrafinil with improved mood and having an antidepressant-like effect. Again, studies are minimal, but one study[1] conducted over a two-month period in older adults found intake of adrafinil produced similar antidepressant effects as the drug clomipramine but with fewer side effects.
An older animal study[7] found that adrafinil intake may improve age-related conditions that can lead to depression.
Potential Side Effects
As with any stimulant, there are potential side effects. Studies are lacking in showing potential side effects in humans since research remains scant.
One study[8] found that higher doses of 900 mg of adrafinil over ten months may result in orofacial dyskinesia. Symptoms did not resolve on their own after stopping the drug for four months. Eventually, symptoms resolved with additional treatment.
Because adrafinil metabolizes in the liver, there is some concern[1] about the potential negative effect of adrafinil ingestion on liver enzymes and liver damage. Again, there is no human evidence behind this because there have not been enough human studies completed to date.
Additionally, as with many nootropics, adrafinil could lead to tolerance issues, and many users recommend cycling the drug to maintain effectiveness.
Some of the side effects[9] associated with its metabolite, modafinil include:
- Chest pain
- Headache
- Diarrhea
- Chills
- Anxiety
- Elevated blood pressure
Pros
- Low Cost
- No prescription needed
- Easily accessible for research purposes
- Positive user reviews
Cons
- Needs to be cycled
- Lack of scientific evidence
- May cause addiction
- Banned by WADA
- May cause elevated liver enzymes
Adrafinil Reviews: What do Real Users Say?
As with all products, there are positive and negative reviews.
Here are a few real-life adrafinil reviews from Reddit:
“so here’s the deal it’s pretty awesome given that it is the same thing as modafinil but allowed to be sold for 1/10 of the price. Of Course there is the ‘liver issue’ but supplement milk thistle alongside and you should be okay, especially if your not using this day and night. For me it works best in the morning, with a cup of coffee with MCT oil in it to be had 15 minutes after taking Adrafinil, the high and focus lasts about 5 hours, and it is not a ‘numbing focus’ like Adderall either, it is a motivational, brute force power type focus!”
Teak
“Well, I’m on day four of Adrafinil, and I don’t have jumping-for-joy results yet. On the first day, I took 300 mg. Nothing. On the second and third days, I tried 600 mg. Nothing. So today I am trying 900 mg. I took it a few hours ago, and I don’t feel any modafinil-like effects so far. From having taken modafinil for several years, I know what it ought to feel like. Very subtle, but noticeable. All day long yesterday I was sleepy and could hardly stay out of bed. That did not fit with having modafinil in my system! I ordered it from a good nootropics company, so the Adrafinil should be the real thing. 900 mg. happen to work, I won’t be able to afford to order it again, since the bottles are only 30 capsules. I know that powder would be a better deal, but if adrafinil doesn’t work, then there would be no point.” Feeling kind of discouraged at the moment…
Eliza
“Typical day with Adrafinil: arrive at work at 10, when Adrafinil should start to show its effects, I try to skip coffee as when I take it I’m a bit edgy, non-stop work till I get home. In 6 weeks I’ve opened Reddit at work a couple of times. I arrive at home, work on my personal projects for 2/3 hours and my day is over, satisfied.”
Ryan
Where to Buy Adrafinil?
Bio.Science is one of the most popular sellers of adrafinil. As mentioned above, they are an established brand and sell quality products. Unfortunately, they often sell out of both their powder and liquid concentrated adrafinil.
In this case, you can also buy adrafinil from Nootropics Depot[10]. This vendor is similar to Bio.Science and sells smart drugs, including adrafinil. They also ensure quality products are being sold and shipped out. Nootropics Depot carries both capsule and powder forms of adrafinil.
Final Thought
It appears adrafinil may be a promising alternative to modafinil. Although many users may take adrafinil to improve energy, increase mental clarity, and focus, I would still be very cautious when using adrafinil.
Many may choose adrafinil in the place of modafinil because adrafinil is a prodrug to modafinil, does not require a prescription, and is ultimately metabolized into modafinil in the body.
Studies are still lacking solid evidence, and most suppliers note that this drug is only intended for research at this time and is not FDA-approved.
This adrafinil review is strictly for educational purposes based on current research and user reviews. No claims are being made about any of the above products to treat, cure, or prevent any health condition. If you have any questions about the safety or effectiveness of using adrafinil or any other drugs, you must reach out to your healthcare provider for medical advice.
Frequently Asked Questions
More studies should be completed on the safety of adrafinil, but most users report minimal side effects.
While adrafinil is legal in the United States, many other countries consider it a controlled substance and is not allowed for sale.
Adrafinil metabolizes to modafinil in your body, so they have similar effects. Many people also claim that modafinil is more potent as a smart drug but typically have to have a prescription. Although adrafinil is primarily sold for research purposes, you can legally buy it.
+ 10 sources
Health Canal avoids using tertiary references. We have strict sourcing guidelines and rely on peer-reviewed studies, academic researches from medical associations and institutions. To ensure the accuracy of articles in Health Canal, you can read more about the editorial process here
- Milgram, N.W., Callahan, H. and Siwak, C. (2006). Adrafinil: A Novel Vigilance Promoting Agent. CNS Drug Reviews, [online] 5(3), pp.193–212. Available at: https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/pdf/10.1111/j.1527-3458.1999.tb00100.x [Accessed 4 Sep. 2021].
- Ivanenko, A., Tauman, R. and Gozal, D. (2003). Modafinil in the treatment of excessive daytime sleepiness in children. Sleep Medicine, [online] 4(6), pp.579–582. Available at: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/14607353/ [Accessed 4 Sep. 2021].
- Repantis, D., Schlattmann, P., Laisney, O. and Heuser, I. (2010). Modafinil and methylphenidate for neuroenhancement in healthy individuals: A systematic review. Pharmacological Research, [online] 62(3), pp.187–206. Available at: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/20416377/ [Accessed 4 Sep. 2021].
- THE WORLD ANTI-DOPING CODE INTERNATIONAL STANDARD PROHIBITED LIST. (2020). [online] . Available at: https://www.wada-ama.org/sites/default/files/wada_2020_english_prohibited_list_0.pdf.
- Siwak, C.T., Callahan, H. and Norton W, M. (2000). Adrafinil: Effects on behavior and cognition in aged canines. Progress in Neuro-Psychopharmacology and Biological Psychiatry, [online] 24(5), pp.709–726. Available at: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/11191710/ [Accessed 4 Sep. 2021].
- Siwak, C. (2003). Adrafinil disrupts performance on a delayed nonmatching-to-position task in aged beagle dogs. Pharmacology Biochemistry and Behavior, [online] 76(1), pp.161–168. Available at: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/13679229/ [Accessed 4 Sep. 2021].
- Europe PMC (2016). Europe PMC. [online] Europepmc.org. Available at: http://europepmc.org/article/MED/1864252 [Accessed 4 Sep. 2021].
- Thobois, S., Xie, J., Mollion, H., Benatru, I. and Broussolle, E. (2004). Adrafinil-induced orofacial dyskinesia. Movement Disorders, [online] 19(8), pp.965–966. Available at: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/15300665/ [Accessed 4 Sep. 2021].
- Modafinil. (2020). Modafinil Side Effects | Long-Term, Interactions, and More. [online] Available at: https://www.modafinil.com/modafinil-side-effects/ [Accessed 4 Sep. 2021].
- Nootropicsdepot.com. (2021). Nootropics Depot. [online] Available at: https://nootropicsdepot.com/search.php?search_query=adrafinil§ion=product&sscid=91k5_qnrw [Accessed 4 Sep. 2021].
Written by:
Lindsey Desoto, RDN, LD
Medically reviewed by:
Medically reviewed by:
