modafinil

Also known as Provigil®, 2-((diphenylmethyl)sulfinyl)acetamide, Modafinilum, Modafinilo, Moderateafinil, Alertec

Modafinil, sold under the brand name Provigil among others, is a central nervous system (CNS) stimulant medication used to treat narcolepsy, sleep apnea, and shift work sleep disorder. It is taken by mouth. Modafinil is a first-line treatment for narcolepsy in the United States and Europe.

Key facts

Drug.image: Modafinil structure.svg
Drug.image_class: skin-invert-image
Drug.width: 215px
Drug.caption: Modafinil skeletal formula
Drug.image2: (S)-Modafinil molecule ball.png
Drug.image_class2: bg-transparent
Drug.width2: 225px
Drug.caption2: Esmodafinil ball-and-stick model
Drug.tradename: Provigil, others
Drug.MedlinePlus: a602016
Drug.DailyMedID: Modafinil
Drug.pregnancy_AU: D
Drug.dependency_liability: Relatively low
Drug.addiction_liability: Low
Drug.routes_of_administration: Oral (tablets)
Drug.ATC_prefix: N06
Drug.ATC_suffix: BA07
Drug.legal_AU: S4

via Wikipedia infobox

Chemical data

Formula: C15H15NO2S
Molecular weight: 273.4 g/mol
IUPAC name: 2-benzhydrylsulfinylacetamide
SMILES: C1=CC=C(C=C1)C(C2=CC=CC=C2)S(=O)CC(=O)N
InChIKey: YFGHCGITMMYXAQ-UHFFFAOYSA-N
XLogP: 1.7
Polar surface area: 79.4 Å²
H-bond donors: 1
H-bond acceptors: 3
Formal charge: 0

via PubChem

Research

2,378 papers

Modafinil for poststroke patients: A systematic review.International journal of clinical practice · 2019
Cognitive enhancement effects of stimulants: a randomized controlled trial testing methylphenidate, modafinil, and caffeine.Psychopharmacology · 2021
Modafinil and orexin system: interactions and medico-legal considerations.Frontiers in bioscience (Landmark edition) · 2019
Modafinil Versus Amphetamine-Dextroamphetamine For Idiopathic Hypersomnia and Narcolepsy Type 2: A Randomized, Blinded, Non-inferiority Trial.CNS drugs · 2024
Repurposing of modafinil as an anti-inflammatory drug: a systematic review of experimental studies.Naunyn-Schmiedeberg's archives of pharmacology · 2025

via PubMed

Wikidata facts

Mass: 273.08235

Show 5 more facts

chemical formula: C₁₅H₁₅NO₂S
Commons category: Modafinil
canonical SMILES: C1=CC=C(C=C1)C(C2=CC=CC=C2)S(=O)CC(=O)N
defined daily dose: 0.3
social media followers: 40956

Sources (9)

via Wikidata · CC0

~38 min read

Article

46 sections

Contents

Uses
Medical
Sleep disorders
Multiple sclerosis-related fatigue
Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder
Bipolar disorder
Occupational
Non-medical
Sports
Available forms
Contraindications
Adverse effects
Tolerance
Addiction and dependence
Overdose
Interactions
Pharmacology
Pharmacodynamics
Pharmacokinetics
Absorption
Distribution
Metabolism
Elimination
Specific populations
Chemistry
Enantiomers
Detection in body fluids
Structural analogues
History
Society and culture
Legal status
Brand names
Economics
Patent protection and litigation
Social views
Research
Psychiatric conditions
Major depressive disorder
Substance dependence
Schizophrenia
Motivational disorders
Cognitive enhancement
Postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome
Other conditions
References
External links

The mechanism of action is not fully understood, but modafinil acts mainly as an atypical dopamine reuptake inhibitor, increasing dopamine levels without the rapid or overt signaling seen with classical stimulants such as amphetamine or cocaine. Unlike these drugs, modafinil has low addiction and dependence potential and does not produce strong euphoria, which contributes to its classification as a Schedule IV controlled substance in the United States. It is a prescription medication in most countries.