modafinil blood pressure

Are you curious if “ Modafinil blood pressure” can be damaging? Or Can Modafinil cause high blood pressure?

The Modafinil Nootropic is a CNS stimulant with wakefulness-promoting properties. Several Nootropic users wonder about the impact of Modafinil on blood pressure due to its potential health risks. But why is it important to learn about this interaction? A report by CDC states that approximately 47% of adults in the USA suffer from hypertension [1].

On the other hand, the estimated Modafinil prescription in the USA is 926,626 [2]. Most Modafinil users are inclined towards getting Modafinil online for its ease and hassle-free transactions. This creates a high possibility of people using the medication without the basic product information, thus increasing the risk of taking Modafinil in high blood pressure. Such Nootropic interactions can result in lower efficacy in addition to elevating the occurrence of severe side effects.

This blog intends to answer questions such as Does Modafinil increase blood pressure in users? Or is Modafinil bad for your heart to help people make an informed decision?

Modafinil And Blood Pressure- An Overview

Modafinil is a compound approved by the FDA for its eugeroic effects that helps in promoting wakefulness and alertness in people with Excessive Daytime Sleepiness. It is also known for its off-label benefits that help in promoting better cognition along with boosting energy and mental health conditions.

In healthy users, the intake of Modafinil 200mg can cause hypertension, also commonly termed high blood pressure. So, what is blood pressure?

Blood pressure is described as the pressure of blood that is pushing against the wall of your arteries (they carry blood from the heart to other parts of the body).

Can You Take Modafinil With High Blood Pressure?

Modafinil is not advisable for people with high blood pressure as it can worsen the condition resulting in severe side effects. Patients with a cardiovascular disorder should only take Modafinil dosage with prescription and regular health monitoring.

A major interaction is known to cause if Modafinil is taken with high blood pressure. This interaction can further develop disorders such as-

• Heart attacks.

• Metabolic syndrome.

• Difficulty with memory.

• Lightheadedness.

• Blurry vision.

Correlation Between Nuvigil And High Blood Pressure

Nuvigil is the brand name of Armodafinil that shows similar effectiveness as its generic version. It is formulated with 150 mg of Armodafinil as the active compound.

A study by Indu Taneja suggests the effect of Modafinil on the cardiac system and the autonomous nervous system [5].

The study theorizes the following about Modafinil and Blood pressure-

• The use of Modafinil can increase the resting heart rate, resting diastolic blood pressure, and resting systolic blood pressure. These changes in the heart rate and blood pressure suggest sympathetic activation.

Experiencing sympathetic activation in the heart increases heart rate, rate of conduction, and the force of contraction.

• An increase in sympathetic activity is also caused by the increase in the plasma norepinephrine levels.

• Modafinil disturbs autonomic cardiovascular regulation by elevating blood pressure and heart rate.

The study thus suggests the use of Modafinil 200 dosage with caution in people with cardiovascular disease.

Is Modafinil Bad For Your Heart?

Modafinil acts as a stimulant, thus raising concern about its usage in cardiac patients. The use of Modafinil affects the heart in the following ways-

• The use of Modafinil 200mg causes adrenergic activation that affects the involuntary regulation of heart function in compromised patients.

• It causes a minor heart rate and blood pressure elevation in healthy users. However, concerns remain with patients with a cardiac disorder history.

• Modafinil can affect the elimination process of propranolol. Moreover, this medication is prescribed for treating high blood pressure and irregular heartbeat.

Scientific Evidence On How Modafinil May Affect The Cardiovascular System

Studies by the European Medicines Agency (EMA) also suggest the effect of Modafinil on the heart. According to a study, 873 cases of cardiovascular events were recorded from taking Modafinil dosage. The use of Modafinil is reported to cause the following heart conditions-

• Mitral Valve Prolapse- It is a heart disorder that affects the valves of the left heart chamber.

• Ischemic Heart Disease- It is a heart condition that is caused by the narrowing of the heart arteries that helps in supplying blood to the heart muscle.

• Cardiomyopathy- A heart disorder that is characterized by the inability to pump blood.

• Left-Ventricular Hypertrophy- It is a condition where there is an increase in the left ventricular mass and wall thickness.

• Cardiac Arrhythmias- It is also known as irregular heartbeat. It is a disorder of the heart rate or rhythm.

The interaction of Modafinil and high blood pressure can alter the promising effects of the Nootropic and lower its effectiveness. It further escalates the blood pressure of the person, thus resulting in cardiac disorder. Therefore, the use of Modafinil 200mg in patients with heart issues is not approved by the FDA and should be supervised by a medical practitioner. All patients taking the Modafinil dose should monitor their heart rate and blood pressure regularly.

Clinical Evidence On Modafinil Blood Pressure

Modafinil, blood pressure studies, have been widely conducted to identify the impact of Nootropic on hypertension.

A study by Richard De La Garza et al. evaluates the effects of Nootropics on heart and blood pressure. The investigation was conducted on 12 patients at UCLA General Clinical Research Center.

The graph here records the diastolic and systolic blood pressure with Modafinil and Placebo. It is a clear depiction of elevated heart rate and blood pressure from Modafinil.

However, there are many studies that contradict these findings and suggest that the use of Modafinil does not have a prominent effect on heart and blood pressure.

One such study conducted in 2004 by Sackner-Bernstein Jonathan suggests that the use of Modafinil does not cause major changes in the heart rate and blood pressure in Narcoleptic patients with Excessive Daytime Sleepiness [8].

Another similar study agrees with these observations, suggesting Modafinil's blood pressure is normal when compared to other stimulants [9].

Interaction Between Blood Pressure Pills And Modafinil

Modafinil drug interactions with blood pressure pills can potentially lower the efficacy of the medications, resulting in longer to show effective results. So, let us have a look at how Modafinil interacts with two common Blood pressure medications [8].

Taking Modafinil With Beta-Blockers

Beta-blockers are medications that help in reducing blood pressure. Taking Modafinil dosage with beta-blockers such as atenolol, metoprolol, clonidine, guanabenz, methyldopa, and prazosin is not recommended.

Interaction Of Modafinil With Propanolol

Interaction of Modafinil with Propanolol, an anti-hypertensive drug for treating irregular heart rate and blood pressure, can cause slow down or speed up the removal of the medication from the body.

These medications are known to have a moderate interaction and require a dosage adjustment or frequent monitoring by a physician to take both these medications together safely.

Taking Modafinil with anti-hypertensive drugs can also induce a state of resistant hypertension [3]. This is a condition where the patient does not react well to treatment for hypertension. Such users show no alteration in their blood pressure from using any medications.

Effect Of Short-Term Treatment With Modafinil In Patients With Hypertension

A study by J Heitmann, published in 1999, evaluates the effect of short-term treatment with Modafinil on Blood pressure in patients with obstructive sleep apnea. The study suggests that short-term use of Modafinil does not cause any significant response with the main endpoint. However, cardiac issues were reported during physical and mental load [6].

It is significantly more prevalent in people with existing cardiovascular disorders who perform strenuous physical activity.

Safety Evaluation Of Taking Modafinil In High Blood Pressure

Modafinil is a tolerant Nootropic with a lower tendency to cause side effects. However, the Modafinil side effects in connection with hypertension are severe. Although it has a lower chance of occurrence. Some of the key pieces of advice by physicians while prescribing Modafinil 200mg to cardiac patients are [7]-

• The administration of Modafinil 200mg is not for people with diastolic hypertension of 100 mmHg or more before the treatment.

• The use of the Nootropic is discontinued in users who develop hypertension and arrhythmia during treatment.

The effects of Modafinil and blood pressure interaction on cardiac health are-

• Chest pain

• Agitation

• Palpitation or fast pounding heart

• Shortness of breath

• Excitement

The use of Modafinil 200mg, when taken with blood thinners such as Clopidogrel, can decrease efficacy. This thus widens the chances of the occurrence of stroke and heart attack.

Modafinil High Blood Pressure- The Right Treatment

High blood pressure associated with Modafinil should not be treated with antihypertensives (hypertension medications) as they can interact to cause side effects.

People with high pressure from Modafinil should take medication after consulting a doctor. However, some effective ways to manage Modafinil blood pressure are noted below.

• Lowering the dose of Modafinil.

• Get a good night's sleep.

• Exercise regularly.

• Avoid smoking as it can damage the walls of your blood vessel, cause inflammation, and narrow down your arteries.

• Limit the intake of salt in your food, as a high intake of salt may increase blood pressure.

• Lower your intake of refined carbohydrates and sugar. It does not directly help in lowering your blood pressure but is effective for people with obesity. Such people taking a low-carb diet saw a drop in their diastolic blood pressure by about 5 mm Hg and 3 mm Hg in their systolic blood pressure in 6 months.

Does Modafinil Raise Blood Pressure- Our Final Verdict

To sum it up, we can say that-

Modafinil and blood pressure do interact with each other, but it is more significant in people who overdose on the Nootropic, have an existing cardiac disorder, or are taking Modafinil dosage with other medications.

Modafinil's effect on blood pressure can be controlled and kept in check with lower doses of the Nootropic.

Young and healthy people are less susceptible to suffering from hypertension from Modafinil 200mg. Also, short-term use of the Nootropic induces no effects on the person's blood pressure.