How Long Does Modafinil Take To Work?

Modafinil is a nootropic that helps in treating sleep ailments. But the question arises, “How long does it take to start working?” The blog here contains all the questions raised.

What Is Modafinil?

Modafinil is a prescription medication that helps to treat excessive daytime sleepiness associated with conditions such as narcolepsy, obstructive sleep apnea and shift work sleep disorder.  It is a schedule IV controlled substance. The FDA approved the use of the medication in 1998.

Working Mechanism Of Modafinil

The exact working mechanism of Modafinil is complex in nature and is not well known.. Modafinil after administration starts  working in the hypothalamus region of the brain and increases the chemical neurotransmitters such as orexin, histamine, serotonin and dopamine. It decreases the level of GABA (Gamma-aminobutyric acid), which leads to a decrease in excessive day-time sleepiness.

How Long Does Modafinil Take To Work?

Modafinil starts its working within 30 minutes after consumption.The effects are also felt amongst most people within an hour. There are certain factors that might affect the drug’s onset of asction. The two basic factors are:

Age: Modafinil in people over 65 years slows down the metabolism rate.

Health Conditions: People with kidney or liver dysfunctrion, the metabolism process of Modafinil slows down.

Other two factors contributing to Modafinil’s onset of action are: diet and weight.

However, if you are facing delayed effects of the drug, consult your doctor immediately.

How Long Does Modafinil Stay In The System?

The duration of Modafinil staying in the system depends upon its half-life.

Half-life- The time required by a  medication to reduce by it’s half (50% removed). Generally, a medication takes 4-5 half-lives to be completely removed from the system.

Modafinil Half-Life

The half-life of Modafinil  is 12-15 hours. Therefore, it will take 60-75 hours for Modafinil to be completely removed from the system. The effects of the medication lasts for about 24-30 hours.

Factors That Influence How Long Does Modafinil Stay In The System

The three important factors that influence how long Modafinil stays in the system are as follows-

1. Dosage : A higher dosage of Modafinil always consumes more time to wear off as compared to a lower dosage.

2. Age : The metabolic rate of a person decreases with age, therefore, older people may have longer effects of Modafinil compared to younger people.

3. Kidney and liver dysfunction : Liver malfunction and poor kidney function can slow down the metabolism of Modafinil. As a result, the duration of the effects of Modafinil increases.

Modafinil Drug Test

Modafinil Drug tests are done in different scenarios. It is basically done in the world of athletes, truckers, and the corporate world.  If the drug is completely excreted from the body, the test will be negative.

To determine Modafinil’s presence, drug tests are done in different parts of the body, like blood, urine, and hair.

You should always ensure that you discontinue the medication for 80-105 hours (3-4) days before the drug tests are done so that the results turn out to be negative.

Modafinil’s Duration In Your Blood, Urine, And Hair?

The duration of Modafinil is different in three different parts of the body.

Duration of Modafinil in Urine

The traces of Modafinil are detected in Urine between 48-72 hours.

Duration of Modafinil in Blood

The presence of Modafinil in blood is found between 10 and 12 hours.

Time Period of Modafinil’s Presence in Hair Follicle

Modafinil may stay in the hair for 12-15 hours. However, there is still ongoing research going on on how long it stays in your hair follicle.

How To Remove Modafinil Safely From The System?

One of the important points to keep in mind to remove Modafinil from the system safely is to reduce the dosage intake for a specific period of time. Reducing the dosage strength will gradually adjust with your body to less medication. However, removing the medication suddenly might cause you several withdrawal symptoms.

Six withdrawal symptoms of Modafinil are listed below-

1. Decrease in concentration level.
2. Shortness in your breath.
3. Low energy.
4. Sleep disorders or difficulty in sleeping.
5. Symptoms of depression
6. Excessive fatigue.

Our Final Outlook

Based on our findings, we can conclude the blog by summarizing the following key points –

• The effects of Modafinil start within 30-60 minutes after administration.
• The nootropic is reduced by half after 12-15 hours, which is known as the half-life of the medication.
• Generally, a medication requires 4-5 half-lives to be completely removed from the system. Therefore, it takes 60-75 hours for Modafinil to be completely removed from the system.
• There are various factors that influence how long the nootropic stays in the system.