Vilafinil is a powerful medication that many “smart drug” enthusiasts use to enhance their cognitive function and ultimately boost their productivity at work or school. Many who use it say that it is effective, but does it really work? Is it safe, and what are the side effects? This review guide answers all. It also sheds light on the main features of the drug, its mechanism of action, and the appropriate dosage.
Let’s dive in!
Main Features of Vilafinil
Vilafinil belongs to a class of drugs commonly called wakefulness-promoting medications. Its active ingredient is modafinil, meaning that it is a generic version of the drug. Generic drugs are drugs that different pharmaceutical companies develop to provide the same level of safety, effectiveness, and strength as a brand-name drug after its patent expires. They typically cost about 5X less than their brand-name counterparts because their manufacturers do not spend money on research, development, trials, and marketing as the company behind the main drugs do.
Modafinil is a popular drug that the Food and Drug Administration approved to treat 3 major disorders [1]:
- obstructive sleep apnea (OSA);
- narcolepsy;
- shift work sleep disorder (SWSD).
Vilafinil may be used to treat the same conditions as it contains modafinil. It is sometimes prescribed by doctors to treat Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD). However, most people who use it today are healthy individuals who take it for its cognitive enhancing benefits. Many who take it have said that they experience increased alertness, faster mental-processing speed, better short-term memory, improved focus, and motivation to work, which ultimately helps them increase productivity.
Working Aspect of Vilafinil Drug
Based on its active ingredient, Vilafinil works by increasing and adjusting the levels of certain neurotransmitters in the brain. Neurotransmitters are chemical messengers that carry signals or information regarding body functions from one neuron to another. The levels of dopamine, histamine, serotonin, gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA), and other neurotransmitters in the body have been found to impact alertness and the wake-sleep cycle [2][3]. Vilafinil works by controlling the reuptake of the chemical messengers into the nerves.
Vilafinil Medication Dosage
Vilafinil is mostly available in the dose strength of 200 mg — this is the recommended dose for use in the treatment of narcolepsy, SWSD, and OSA. It is also the dose used by healthy individuals who take it strictly to enhance their cognitive abilities. The tablet is to be swallowed whole with a substantial amount of water. It is highly inadvisable to split, crush, or dissolve the tablet in water, as such actions can alter the dose required to be effective.
It is worth noting that the time to administer the drug may vary based on the condition looking to be treated. When used to treat SWSD, a single 200 mg tablet is to be taken about an hour before the start of the shift. For narcolepsy treatment, a single 200 mg tablet is to be taken very early in the morning. The kick-in-time is typically between 30 minutes and 1 hour, and its duration of effects is often 10+ hours. Thus, popping the pill late in the day can make sleeping at night a challenge.
Generally, more than a single dose should never be taken per day. However, a doctor may decide to place you on a higher or lower dose, based on your response to the 200 mg dose. Be sure to consult your doctor before starting treatment with Vilafinil or any other drug.
What Are the Side Effects of Taking Vilafinil?
Every drug has a tendency to cause side effects, and Vilafinil is not an exception. However, the negative reports regarding its negative after-effects appear to be a lot! Many users have reported experiencing severe headaches after taking it. One user on a popular forum even described what he felt as a “skull bludgeoning” headache. It appears that this issue is peculiar to Vilafinil, as many other generic versions of modafinil, such as Modavinil, Modvigil, and Modalert, among others, do not have as many complaints.
The other common adverse effects associated with Vilafinil include:
- nausea;
- upset stomach;
- dizziness;
- increased thirst;
- anxiety;
- nervousness.
More serious side effects may also result from taking the drug. Some of them include chest pain, mental depression, clumsiness, vomiting, dryness of the mouth, and a tingling sensation on the skin. Note that other adverse effects not listed here may occur in some users. It is advisable to seek urgent medical attention if noticed.
What’s more, it is worth noting that Vilafinil may not be safe for everyone. For starters, it is not to be used by individuals who are younger than 17 years of age. Its use is highly discouraged in pregnant and breastfeeding mothers, as the possible effects on the baby are unknown. Consult a doctor before taking this drug.
Conclusion
Vilafinil is a popular medication, and many people take it to boost their cognitive abilities and ultimately improve performance wherever they find themselves unproductive. However, it may not be the best option, and here is why. Over the years, more and more people have complained about experiencing severe headaches (as we mentioned earlier) and some other serious adverse effects after taking it.
There are also huge concerns that surround the manufacture of the drug, and most of the complaints stem from review websites and forums like Reddit, Bulletproof, and LongeCity. Most drugs typically have their brand name or a name or symbol peculiar to their brand embossed on them.
The information embossed on Vilafinil is quite questioning. Rather than its brand name, the phrase “200 mg modafinil BP” is what you will find on its tablets. And this happens to be exactly the same words printed on Modaheal – another popular generic version of modafinil. This points to the fact that Vilafinil and Modaheal may be one and the same drug, just marketed with different packaging. Evidence-based Vilafinil review guides shed a lot of light on these concerns, you can learn more by reading them.
If you had plans to buy and use Vilafinil before reading up to this point, it may be a great idea to change it. Modalert and Modvigil are much better alternatives worth considering. They have a ton of positive reviews, which indicate that a majority of users are satisfied with them.
References
- Approved and investigational uses of modafinil: an evidence-based review. By Raminder Kumar. Retrieved: July 18, 2022. Pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov.
- Neurotransmitters: What They Are, Functions & Types. Medically reviewed by a Cleveland Clinic medical professional. Retrieved: July 18, 2022. My.clevelandclinic.org.
- Vilafinil 200 mg - Buy Vilafinil [Modafinil] Online. Retrieved: July 18, 2022. Buymoda.org.