How to Get a Modafinil Prescription | What You Must Know

Tomas Thorne

Last Updated: February 2, 2023

How to Get A Modafinil Prescription

Smart drug users are eager to learn how they can get a Modafinil prescription for themselves.

Unless these nootropics enthusiasts happen to be in one of the few countries where Modafinil is sold over-the-counter,  the old-fashioned way appears to be the only viable option: See a physician to be issued a script for Modafinil to treat a legitimate medical issue.

But how does one go about getting a Modafinil prescription without running afoul of the law in their country?

Why do people need a prescription for Modafinil in the first place?

And is it possible to get your hands on Modafinil for a purpose outside or off-label of FDA approval for this medication?

Disclaimer: The contents of Modafinil.com are for informational and educational purposes only. We do not provide legal advice. Likewise, we do not provide medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Please consult your physician prior to consuming Modafinil or related nootropics. Your access to Modafinil.com is subject to our full Disclaimer and Terms of Use.

What Is Modafinil?

Let’s examine what Modafinil does and why it is heralded as such a powerful pharmaceutical drug.

Modafinil is a wakefulness-promoting agent that is officially approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for treating various sleep disorders [1]:

  • Obstructive sleep apnea
  • Narcolepsy
  • Shift work sleep disorder

Although Modafinil was approved by the FDA in 1998 for treating narcolepsy, it was already approved in 1994 for the same purpose in France. Back then, Modafinil was marketed under the brand name “Modiodal.”

Due to Modafinil’s ability to treat excessive daytime sleepiness in sleep-deprived individuals, curious biohackers wanted to see if the same effects would take place in healthy adults without sleep problems.

To their surprise, Modafinil led to an entire range of cognition-enhancing benefits [2] such as increased focus, improved information processing, better long-term memory, and elevated mood.

Word spread quickly and people from all walks of life wanted to get their hands on Modafinil for off-label use [2]:

“The number of patients receiving modafinil increased almost 10-fold during the study period, from 57 768 in 2002 to 555 691 in 2009.

On-label use increased by less than 3-fold, whereas off-label use increased more than 15-fold.”

This study was published in 2013 [2] and it’s not unreasonable to suspect that Modafinil use has increased many times over since them.

As you can see, people were — and still are — visiting their doctors in droves to get a Modafinil prescription.

Modafinil Side Effects and Safety Concerns

Seeing that Modafinil is a prescription drug, it inevitably comes with a host of side effects and safety concerns.

The side effects of Modafinil seem both rare in occurrence and mild in their severity. In the few cases where Modafinil side effects appear, there are proven strategies for quickly reducing and/or eliminating them.

Here are the most common side effects of Modafinil in the medical literature [3]:

  • Headache
  • Nausea
  • Dizziness
  • Diarrhea
  • Dry eyes and mouth
  • Insomnia

There are some rarer yet more serious side effects that can take place, such as (but not limited to):

  • Severe skin rash
  • Chest pain
  • Hallucinating
  • Difficulty breathing

Anyone experiencing any of the serious Modafinil side effects or observing common side effects that persist long after taking Modafinil, is advised to stop taking Modafinil and see a medical professional immediately.

For those of you who are into genetic profiling, check if you have a genetic mutation that makes CYP2D6 — the enzyme responsible for metabolizing Modafinil — less efficient. This would make you a “poor” metabolizer of Modafinil, and more of the drug would exist in your system than usual [4].

If that’s the case, you and your doctor would need to adjust the dose accordingly.

 width=

Do You Need a Prescription For Modafinil?

Do you need a prescription for Modafinil in order to get your hands on the smart drug?

In the majority of countries, this is indeed the case. You will definitely want to do your due diligence and research Modafinil’s legal status in your country.

Here’s how select countries treat Modafinil and the implications for getting a Modafinil prescription [5, 6, 7]:

United States of America – Schedule IV controlled substance; illegal to sell or possess Modafinil without a prescription

Canada – Schedule F controlled substance; prescription for human and animal use required

Russia – Schedule 2 controlled substance; can only be possessed if you have a prescription

Mexico – not a controlled substance; sold over-the-counter as “Modiodal”

India – not a controlled substance; available over the counter

China – Class 1 psychotropic drug; not approved for medical use, and a licensed physician can only prescribe it for a three-day use

Australia – Schedule IV controlled drug; prescription required for use

 European Union countries – prescription is required to possess and use Modafinil

When in doubt, assume that Modafinil is a controlled substance where it is illegal to possess or sell it without a doctor’s prescription.

Yet this has not stopped people getting their hands on Modafinil in any way they can. According to an article written by ABC News, “prescription sales for this class of drugs have increased by 73% in 4 years, from $832,687,000 in 2007 to $1,440,160,000 in 2011” [8].

When avid nootropic users want to learn how to get a Modafinil prescription, the first thing they investigate is what Modafinil is typically prescribed for.

What is Modafinil Prescribed to Treat?

To get a Modafinil prescription, you’ll have to demonstrate to your doctor that you have a medically-approved reason for needing Modafinil.

Across the US, for example,  it is perfectly acceptable for your doctor to sign off a prescription to a drug like Modafinil for off-label use [9]:

“…once the FDA approves a product for marketing, physicians may prescribe it for indications or patient populations not included on the label. They may also prescribe drugs at dosages or using methods of administration not specified on the label.

However, off-label prescriptions in most jurisdictions come with a number of legal and medical risks for the prescribing doctor.

And if you’re trying to get Modafinil prescription for the sole purpose of pharmacological cognitive enhancement, there’s a slim-to-none chance you’ll succeed. Even if you do, don’t expect your insurance company to cover it [10].

FDA-Approved Medical Conditions For Prescribing Modafinil

Here is a scenario as an example, let’s assume you’re in the United States and you want to get Modafinil prescribed for an approved condition. In the 3 following cases, you likely would not have an issue getting a Modafinil prescription [11]:

  • Narcolepsy

Narcolepsy can be defined as a sleep disorder where people will suddenly fall asleep and find it difficult to stay awake during normal hours of the day due to excessive daytime sleepiness [12].

Since it can be life-threatening to have narcolepsy in certain careers and daily actions (such as driving), narcolepsy requires immediate medical attention.

Your doctor will likely subject you to a series of blood tests and laboratory tests and take certain measurements to assess your sleep patterns. Only when you meet the necessary diagnostic criteria will you be prescribed a drug like Modafinil.

  • Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA)

Like narcolepsy, OSA is a serious medical issue that requires immediate treatment. Patients with OSA have restricted air flow while sleeping to the point where the normal flow of air is stopped multiple times. This most often leads to snoring, but can also cause severe health problems such as hypertension and heart disease if left untreated [13].

Modafinil is NOT meant to be a replacement for proven OSA treatments, but as an adjunct [14].

And as with narcolepsy, your doctor will most likely subject you to a series of sleep tests and blood work, followed by a diagnosis to see if you have OSA, which will then lead to a decision as to whether Modafinil will help you with your daytime sleepiness or not.

  • Shift Work Sleep Disorder (SWSD)

Here is the official medical definition of SWSD [15]:

“Shift Work Sleep Disorder (SWSD) is a type of circadian rhythm sleep disorder resulting from a sleep-wake pattern that is dyssynchronous with one’s internal biologic rhythm.”

Symptoms include low energy, difficulty with concentrating, continually feeling tired after adequate sleep, and excessive sleepiness during times of the day where you need to be fully alert [15].

Any business owner, freelancer, or just about any self-employed individual who works online can claim that they have frequent moments where they pull all-nighters. On the following days, they suffer from excessive daytime sleepiness resulting from shift work disorder.

However, some doctors will require an employer to provide a reference and confirm that late-night working hours are a regular part of the patient’s weekly schedule.

Indications That May Prevent You From Getting a Modafinil Prescription

Even if you check off all of the boxes, your doctor may find other reasons to deny you a Modafinil prescription.

This is by no means a comprehensive list, but it will give you an idea of what a physician looks for [16, 17]:

  • Mothers who are breastfeeding their children
  • Pregnancy (a few small studies have shown birth defects in newborn babies)
  • Heart disease
  • Suboptimal liver function
  • Drug abuse/dependence
  • Use of birth control (Modafinil can reduce its effectiveness)
  • Drug interactions with existing medications whereby negative side effects occur and/or Modafinil will reduce the effectiveness of said medications

In the event you happen to get the green light for a Modafinil prescription, your doctor may periodically follow up and re-assess your need for Modafinil.

 width=

How to Get a Modafinil Prescription

Based on all of the information we have presented; you probably have a good idea of  how to get a Modafinil prescription.

But this goes without saying:

DO NOT fake your symptoms under any circumstance to trick your doctor into thinking you have a certain disease or disorder. Doctors are increasingly aware of young adults who attempt to get a diagnosis for prescription stimulants such as Adderall [18].

This is known as “malingering” and there may be legal consequences if you are caught doing so [19].

However, we do have input from readers and team members who have successfully obtained Modafinil prescriptions around the world — whether for shift work sleep disorder or off-label.

Here are their tips to readers who think they might need a Modafinil prescription:

  • Do your research in advance

If you suffer from a certain condition where Modafinil has been shown to be safe and effective in a few human studies, read the corresponding studies well before your appointment and understand exactly how Modafinil may help you.

Some of the off-label conditions that patients have received a Modafinil prescription for include [2, 10]:

  • Fatigue brought on by conditions such as multiple sclerosis
  • A work schedule where night shifts are common (mention the risks of falling asleep on your job)
  • ADD/ADHD
  • Moderate levels of depression

Alternatively, you may seek alternatives to solutions you have found to be ineffective in the past:

  • Coffee makes you too jittery and anxious
  • Adrafinil, the pro-drug to Modafinil, is widely known to cause issues with liver function
  • Adderall can lead to withdrawal symptoms

Be fully informed about all aspects of Modafinil — the side effects, the benefits, and the appropriate therapeutic dosages. This will show your physician that you can responsibly use Modafinil without abusing it.

  • Describe your symptoms in your OWN words

Be specific about your symptoms — how severe they are, dates and times when they started, and how they have affected your ability to function normally.

But do not regurgitate the symptoms you read off WebMD verbatim. A good physician will know when a patient is merely trying to find a convenient way to get a Modafinil prescription.

  • Be polite and punctual

Show up on time and behave professionally and politely. There is nothing more doctors hate than a patient who is chronically late or speaks demandingly.

If you set up your appointment in advance, tell the receptionist in clear terms why you want to see the physician (e.g., “I struggle with staying awake throughout the day and I may be suffering from chronic fatigue”).

We do not advise mentioning you want a prescription for a particular drug, such as Modafinil. A doctor might very well suspect you are “pill farming” and may refuse to write a prescription for you.

  • When all else fails, try a different doctor

This is NOT a recommendation to carelessly hop from doctor to doctor until you finally find one who will give you a Modafinil prescription.

Being reckless in your approach may lead to “drug-seeking” being added to your medical chart, which will make it significantly more difficult to get a prescription for a controlled substance in the future.

However, a lot of physicians may not even be familiar with Modafinil, let alone be up-to-speed on the latest medical literature. .

In any event,  doctors have their own experiences and preferences in prescribing medications. Some physicians might have no problem providing a prescription for Modafinil, while others will be extremely hesitant to do so.

Buying Modafinil Online Without Prescriptions | 2023 Guide

Is it possible to get Modafinil without having to present a prescription?

The short answer is “yes.”

Compared to the “get a Modafinil prescription” route, it is far cheaper to buy Modafinil online, and the process is far easier, and the Modafinil tablets are delivered directly to your door.

30 tablets of Modafinil at 200 mg per tablet may cost $0.70-2.50USD per pill from an online pharmacy but paying for a prescription could cost up to $10USD per pill [20]!

There are a few legal considerations when buying Modafinil online, so here’s what has been observed from thousands of our readers who have successfully purchased Modafinil online…

Possession of Modafinil for personal use is not illegal in the majority of countries. We do not have knowledge of anybody ever being arrested for having Modafinil shipped to their home for personal use.

However, it is illegal for retail pharmacies in most countries to sell Modafinil to patients if they do not have a doctor’s prescription.

In the worst-case scenario, a Modafinil package might be sent back to the online pharmacy by customs, or it might be delayed at customs.

Most reputable online Modafinil vendors know this, which is why they will either re-ship your package or give you a full refund.

Order Modafinil online from our top-rated vendor.
Great prices, fast shipping, and guaranteed delivery.

Click Here!

Modafinil Prescriptions | The Verdict

In conclusion, getting a Modafinil prescription is possible if your doctor deems it to be a suitable medical treatment for you.

However, buying Modafinil online through a trusted vendor is ultimately the far more economical and faster  way to safely receive your Modafinil.

You’ll receive Modafinil that is chemically identical to that prescribed by a doctor.

Just be sure to thoroughly research the laws that may be applicable to you, and under no circumstances should you attempt to distribute or resell your Modafinil tablets.

waklert armodafinil

References

  1. Kredlow MA, Keshishian A, Oppenheimer S, Otto MW. The Efficacy of Modafinil as a Cognitive Enhancer: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis. J Clin Psychopharmacol. 2019;39(5):455‐461. doi:10.1097/JCP.0000000000001085
  2. Peñaloza RA, Sarkar U, Claman DM, Omachi TA. Trends in on-label and off-label modafinil use in a nationally representative sample. JAMA Intern Med. 2013;173(8):704‐706. doi:10.1001/jamainternmed.2013.2807
  3. Modafinil. Retrieved May 15, 2020. medlineplus.gov
  4. Modafinil. Retrieved May 15, 2020. rxwiki.com
  5. Modafinil. Retrieved May 17, 2020. psychonautwiki.org
  6. Modafinil. Retrieved May 16, 2020. drugsandme.com
  7. Modafinil. Retrieved May 17, 2020. wikipedia.org
  8. Provigil: The Secret to Success? Retrieved May 19, 2020. abcnews.go.com
  9. Dresser R, Frader J. Off-label prescribing: a call for heightened professional and government oversight. J Law Med Ethics. 2009;37(3):476‐396. doi:10.1111/j.1748-720X.2009.00408.x
  10. Off-label Use of Modafinil. Retrieved May 20, 2020. modafinilfacts.com
  11. MEDICATION GUIDE PROVIGIL® C-IV. Retrieved May 18, 2020. fda.gov
  12. Narcolepsy. Retrieved May 21, 2020. mayoclinic.org
  13. Obstructive Sleep Apnea. Retrieved May 20, 2020. healthline.com
  14. PRODUCT MONOGRAPH: AURO-MODAFINIL. Retrieved May 20, 2020. auropharma.ca
  15. Gude D. Waking up to modafinil in shift work sleep disorder. Ind Psychiatry J. 2011;20(2):145. doi:10.4103/0972-6748.102533
  16. Modafinil (Oral Route). Retrieved May 21, 2020. mayoclinic.org
  17. Apo-Modafinil. Retrieved May 19, 2020. pharmachoice.com
  18. Rabiner DL. Stimulant prescription cautions: addressing misuse, diversion and malingering. Curr Psychiatry Rep. 2013;15(7):375. doi:10.1007/s11920-013-0375-2
  19. Malingering. Retrieved May 20, 2020. wikipedia.org
  20. Modafinil Prices, Coupons and Patient Assistance Programs. Retrieved May 23, 2020. drugs.com

Table of Contents
    Add a header to begin generating the table of contents