While adrafinil is known for its capacity to improve wakefulness and boost cognitive function, it is not without side effects and risks. We’ll discuss five reasons to try an adrafinil alternative and recommend one of the best nootropic brands on the market.
Adrafinil was initially discovered by French drug company L. Lafon Ltd in 1974. However, it wouldn’t land in the hands of patients for another few years after that. Those prescribed adrafinil were largely narcoleptic because the drug is a central nervous system stimulant that alleviates excess drowsiness and keeps you focused. While the drug was used for some odd years in Europe and – to a lesser extent – the U.S., its adverse side effects and inconsistent results led to the development of replacements relatively quickly.
Indeed, so many safer, more effective alternatives to adrafinil have since been developed that its original manufacturer discontinued adrafinil production in 2011. It is still possible to find adrafinil on shelves in the U.S. However, below we’ll explain why you should consider an alternative.
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5 Great Reasons to Try an Adrafinil Alternative is an original (HealthXWire) article.
Reasons to try an adrafinil alternative:
1. The side effects are dangerous
With regular usage, adrafinil can cause a build-up of harmful enzymes in the liver. When adrafinil reaches the liver, it becomes modafinil—a stimulant and a prodrug of adrafinil. This process may increase enzyme levels in the organ, as it strains the liver. If the enzyme level rises high enough, long-term liver damage may result, with an ultimate end effect of liver failure in the most severe cases.
The chance of hepatoxicity when taking adrafinil is only increased by certain lifestyle choices, including consuming alcohol, unhealthy foods, and caffeine. When taken with caffeine, other nefarious side effects arise, including increased blood pressure and heart-related issues such as arrhythmias.
Reasons to try an adrafinil alternative:
2. Other adverse side effects
Aside from elevated liver enzymes, adrafinil can also cause skin irritation and rashes, orofacial dyskinesia—a rare condition that results in involuntary movements in the face and mouth—headaches, nausea, increased anxiety, and poor sleep quality. Hydration is vital when taking adrafinil, but even so, some users have reported dry mouth or throat and dehydration-related headaches. If you take adrafinil for several months and suddenly stop taking it, the withdrawal symptoms can also be detrimental, including fatigue, irritability, vomiting, and poor focus.
Reasons to try an adrafinil alternative:
3. It’s unregulated
While modafinil, which is what adrafinil converts to in the body, is a prescription drug fully approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), adrafinil is not. Therefore, while buying it over-the-counter is legal, the lack of regulation and modern research into adrafinil means that scientists and doctors, let alone the average person, don’t understand the full scope of its effects. While its total legality originally made adrafinil relatively easy to find, the rise of prescription modafinil and natural alternatives to both supplements has made it increasingly more challenging to track down.
Reasons to try an adrafinil alternative:
4. It’s harder to find
The French company behind adrafinil, L. Lafon Ltd., was purchased by Cephalon in 2001. While that company managed adrafinil production for the next decade, the drug’s failing performance and unreliable test results led Cephalon to discontinue adrafinil production in 2011. Sure, there are other adrafinil brands on the market, but none came near the size of its French creator; its end to adrafinil production led to an ongoing shortage on the market. Given this, it’s far more accessible and reliable to turn to one of the many adrafinil alternatives.
Reasons to try an adrafinil alternative:
5. There are many natural substitutes
These days, there are a plethora of alternatives to drugs like adrafinil and modafinil, many of which rely on entirely natural formulas. One such natural supplement is GAMMA BrainLuxury, a liquid that comes in 2-ounce bottles (with a serving size of no more than one per day) and has no caffeine or adrafinil.
GAMMA BrainLuxury’s ingredient list touts essential fatty acids, including algae oil, flaxseed oil, MCT oil from coconuts, and amino acids, which include creatine, L-Phenylalaline, and tryptophan. Additionally, the GAMMA BrainLuxury formula features orange juice for flavor, making it just that much simpler to incorporate into a daily routine.
According to co-founder Axel Bouchon, “GAMMA contains the precursor nutrients to natural dopamine and serotonin creation in your brain. So, you can achieve longer periods of focus and experience your days at the optimum. You are the best version of yourself while feeling energized, focused – yet calm.”
By combining these ingredients, GAMMA BrainLuxury claims to support learning and memory, natural brain function, and a healthy heart and immune system. The amino acids, especially tryptophan, help create serotonin naturally within the body, ensuring that mental fatigue may be lessened and wakefulness increased. In addition, sleep, mood, and appetite may be more easily maintained, which is rarely the case when taking any stimulant, prescribed or otherwise.
A natural solution to adrafinil may prove equally effective
Though adrafinil was groundbreaking and one-of-a-kind when it first launched, providing energy and focus for those with daytime fatigue and difficulty concentrating, the drug isn’t a good representation of supplements that improve cognition and wakefulness on the market today. Natural alternatives to prescription medications are also widely available, meaning you don’t have to jump over hurdles to find a solution that works for you.
For further research:
Mayo Clinic: Drugs and Supplements: Modafinil (Oral Route)
Noom: 13 Natural Stimulants That Aren’t Caffeine
Psych Central: Self-Care and Natural Treatments for Narcolepsy
Important Note: The information contained in this article is for general informational purposes only, and should not be construed as health or medical advice, nor is it intended to diagnose, prevent, treat, or cure any disease or health condition. Before embarking on any diet, fitness regimen, or program of nutritional supplementation, it is advisable to consult your healthcare professional in order to determine its safety and probable efficacy in terms of your individual state of health.
Regarding Nutritional Supplements Or Other Non-Prescription Health Products: If any nutritional supplements or other non-prescription health products are mentioned in the foregoing article, any claims or statements made about them have not been evaluated by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, and such nutritional supplements or other health products are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.
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