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Feb 06, 2024 
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Modafinil stays in the system for 60–75 hours and is reduced by half in 12–15 hours. Modafinil drug tests have been done, and traces of the nootropic are found in the blood between 10 and 12 hours and in urine between 48 and 72 hours.
Modafinil is a medication used to treat sleep disorders like narcolepsy, obstructive sleep apnea, and shift work sleep disorder.
Many people have the query in their minds, “How long do the Modafinil effects last?” or “How long does Modafinil stay in the system?”
The blog here contains all the answers to the questions raised.
Modafinil: An Overview
Modafinil is a psychostimulant and wakefulness-inducing compound that helps treat excessive daytime sleepiness associated with narcolepsy, obstructive sleep apnea, and shift work sleep disorder.
The Schedule IV drug was discovered in the 1970s in France, and its use was approved by the FDA in 1998.
The drug's chemical name is 2-[(diphenylmethyl)sulfinyl]acetamide, with a molecular weight of 273.35. It is sold under different brand names, such as Modalert, Provigil, and Modvigil.
The standard recommended dosage of Modafinil is 200mg/day, and 400 mg is the maximum dosage of Modafinil [1].
Modafinil Working Mechanism
Modafinil is a generic drug that works in the hypothalamus (a region of the brain) by increasing certain brain chemicals, such as histamine, serotonin, orexin, and dopamine, and decreasing the levels of GABA (Gamma-Aminobutyric Acid), which induces sleepiness [2].
How Long Does Modafinil Take To Work?
Modafinil starts working within 30 minutes after consumption. Most people might also feel the effects within an hour. The factors that might influence the drug’s onset of action are age, certain health conditions, and dosage.
Diet and weight can also be contributing factors to the slower metabolism of the medication.
However, if you are constantly facing delayed effects of the drug, then you should consult with your doctor.
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 half (50% of the medication is . Generally, a medication takes 4-5 half-lives to be completely removed from the system.
Modafinil Half-Life
Modafinil's half-life is 12–15 hours. Therefore, it will take 60–75 hours for Modafinil to be completely removed from the system.
Based on the elimination process, a time chart is given as follows:
|
Hours |
Amount of Modafinil |
|---|---|
|
15th hour |
65 mg (50% left) |
|
30th hour |
32.5 mg (25% left) |
|
45th hour |
16.25 mg (12.5% left) |
|
60th hour |
8.125 mg (6.25% left) |
|
75th hour |
4.063 mg (3.125% left) |
|
90th hour |
2.031 mg (1.56% left) |
|
105th hour |
1.016 mg (0.78% left) |
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 takes 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 more 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 [3].
Modafinil Drug Test
Drug tests are generally made for substances that are illegally abused.
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 [4].
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.
