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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 5 of 5. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by BekkaH on July 20, 2002, at 23:38:44
Hi. Aren't Modafinil and Adrafinil very similar? Doesn't one of them metabolize into the other? Why is one available in the U.S. but the other is not?
Posted by JonW on July 21, 2002, at 3:17:11
In reply to Modafinil vs. Adrafinil, posted by BekkaH on July 20, 2002, at 23:38:44
> Hi. Aren't Modafinil and Adrafinil very similar? Doesn't one of them metabolize into the other? Why is one available in the U.S. but the other is not?
Hi BekkaH,
I'm not sure, but I bet money has something to do with it :-) It's advisable to get your liver tested while on adrafinil. This isn't necessary with modafinil. I've been on both. Adrafinil gave me a horrible headache while modafinil did not. Their effects were very simsilar for me. I know modafinil is rediculously more expenseve than adrafinil. Anyway, I hope I've provided some insight.
Good Luck,
Jon
Posted by Iago Camboa on July 21, 2002, at 8:47:12
In reply to Modafinil vs. Adrafinil, posted by BekkaH on July 20, 2002, at 23:38:44
Yes, the two drugs are chemically very similar and are both members of the same class of pstims.
It's also true that modafinil is an active metabolite of adrafinil but it is not clear the extent (percentage) of the transformation adrafinil > modafinil in the human body. It seems, though, that from an adrafinil initial amount of 300mg (= 1 pill), less (probably much less) than 100mg of modafinil become available to the body for further pstim. action and subsequent degradation. There seems to be no other active metabolite(s) of adraf. and/or modaf. so the two chemicals account for all the observed effects of adrafinil; obviously only modafinil is available
in the Provigil (= modafinil) pills.
The reason only modafinil is available in the US is probably economic: adrafinil is a drug 7 times cheapper than modafinil and there seems to be no economical stimulus for the investment needed to get through the whole process of approval of the drug by FDA.Kind regards,
Iago> Hi. Aren't Modafinil and Adrafinil very similar? Doesn't one of them metabolize into the other? Why is one available in the U.S. but the other is not?
Posted by Iago Camboa on July 22, 2002, at 6:28:58
In reply to Re: Modafinil vs. Adrafinil » BekkaH, posted by JonW on July 21, 2002, at 3:17:11
It is true, as Jon pointed out, that liver enzymes (SGOT, SGPT, GGPT & hepatic alkaline phosphatase) should be checked every 6 months (against a baseline previously established) for those who take 'adrafinil' in higher doses for extended periods of time; if abnormalities appear, the dose should be reduced or the drug discontinued.
On the other hand headaches/migraines have been referred with 'adrafinil' as well as with 'modafinil'. There have been several examples on PB of people who took 'adrafinil' during many months (e.g. our co-boarder IsoM) without ever referring any headaches at all with it as well as examples of people who only experimented 'persistent headaches' with Provigil (e.g. our co-boarder JohnL, posting here about a year ago). What is more, JohnL testified here about one year ago that the effects of the two drugs (adraf. & modaf.) on himself were 'completely different'.
The importation of adrafinil into N. America (via overseas offshore firms) seems to be on the increase as the recent augment of the price of the drug by some leading firms seems to indicate.Best regards,
Iago
> > Hi. Aren't Modafinil and Adrafinil very similar? Doesn't one of them metabolize into the other? Why is one available in the U.S. but the other is not?
>
> Hi BekkaH,
>
> I'm not sure, but I bet money has something to do with it :-) It's advisable to get your liver tested while on adrafinil. This isn't necessary with modafinil. I've been on both. Adrafinil gave me a horrible headache while modafinil did not. Their effects were very simsilar for me. I know modafinil is rediculously more expenseve than adrafinil. Anyway, I hope I've provided some insight.
>
> Good Luck,
> Jon
Posted by BekkaH on July 23, 2002, at 23:05:15
In reply to Modafinil vs. Adrafinil, posted by BekkaH on July 20, 2002, at 23:38:44
This is the end of the thread.
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