Adrafinil is a pharmaceutical product that increases alertness without leading patients to develop tension and stress. It is part of a class of drugs known as eugeroics or “good arousers,” which are drugs that have stimulating effects with less of the harmful side effects associated with stimulants. A closely related drug is modafinil, which is actually a metabolite of adrafinil. When people take adrafinil, the drug is metabolized into modafinil in the body.
The drug is often marketed under the brand name Olmifon. This compound was discovered in the 1970s by pharmaceutical researchers at Group Lafon, a French pharmaceutical company. It has been approved for use in Europe and as of 2010, was not regulated by the Food and Drug Administration in the United States. People in the U.S. can order the drug in small amounts for personal use.
This drug is approved for use in older patients who experience fatigue and sleepiness. It is also used by people with narcolepsy, shift workers, and other people who experience daytime sleepiness. People may also use the drug as a mood brightener or elevator. Adrafinil takes time to act in the body because it must be metabolized into an active form, and it can take several weeks for people to start to experience the full effect of the drug. It helps people stay alert and aroused, but is not associated with symptoms like tremors, stress, and increased heart rate.
Adrafinil does have liver-related side effects. It can cause liver enzymes to rise and may cause damage to the liver if a patient has an existing liver condition or takes the drug for an extended period of time without being monitored. It can also cause skin and stomach irritation. Because it acts by stimulating the central nervous system, people with existing central nervous system conditions may experience additional side effects.
People taking adrafinil should be aware that the drug will cause them to fail anti-doping tests administered at sports events. This stimulant has been deemed a performance enhancing drug and its use is not permitted at drug-free events. For drug tests administered in connection with employment, adrafinil should not cause problems, but people may want to disclose that they are using it in case there are questions about drug test results. It is also important to make sure that doctors and pharmacists know when a patient is on the drug so that they can look out for harmful drug interactions.
