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Weight loss is a process that requires long-term commitment and lifestyle changes. However, there are short-term solutions that can help boost your weight loss efforts.
Could Modafinil be one such solution?
Some studies have also suggested that Modafinil may help with weight loss. While Modafinil is not specifically approved by the FDA for weight loss, it has been shown to help people lose weight in some studies. One study showed that Modafinil helped people lose an average of 5% of their body weight over a period of 12 weeks. Other studies have also shown similar results.
However, there are some potential side effects of Modafinil that should be considered before taking the medication.
In this guide, we will go over what you need to know when it comes to Modafinil and weight loss.
Let's just into it!
What is Modafinil and what are its effects on the body?
Modafinil is a prescription drug that is used to treat narcolepsy, shift work sleep disorder, and obstructive sleep apnea. Modafinil is a wakefulness-promoting agent that works by increasing the release of histamine and norepinephrine in the brain. It has also been shown to increase serotonin and dopamine levels.
While Modafinil has been shown to improve cognitive function and vigilance, the evidence for its efficacy in weight loss is mixed.
Some studies have found that Modafinil may help with weight loss, while others have not.
The bottom line is that more research is needed to determine whether Modafinil is effective for weight loss.
How would Modafinil help with weight loss?
Modafinil is not a weight-loss drug per se, but it can help with weight loss in certain cases.
For instance, if you are taking Modafinil to treat sleep apnea or narcolepsy, you may find that you lose weight as a result of the increased wakefulness and energy levels that the drug provides.
In addition, it has been found that people who suffer from depression or other mental health conditions often find their appetite decreases when they take Modafinil, leading to weight loss.
Finally, some research suggests that Modafinil can boost metabolism and thermogenesis, both of which could lead to weight loss. The exact mechanism is not fully understood, but it is thought to help you burn more calories and fat, and also reduces your overall desire to eat.
We'll break each of the different mechanisms by which we think Modafinil is likely to cause weight loss.
Loss of appetite
When users initially start taking Modafinil, they frequently report feeling less hungry. The reduction in appetite is comparable to that experienced by a person on an amphetamine, and both are due to surges in dopamine. When you aren't as hungry, you're more likely to eat fewer calories - resulting in weight loss.
Enhanced cognitive performance
Nootropics are one of the most popular categories of brain supplements. They can help with memory, attention, and overall cognitive function. Many individuals notice an increase in their decision-making skills as a result of better thinking. Although these are indirect benefits of boosting cognition, they may play a role in weight reduction.
Dopamine
Although the mechanism of action behind Modafinil is still unclear, it has been shown to boost dopamine levels. The experience of being "rewarded" and subsequently less inclined to seek out pleasure such as food causes people to feel happier. People who have low dopamine levels are hungrier and more prone to compulsive overeating. A person is more likely to feel sated without eating when dopamine is increased.
Energy levels
Modafinil is especially good for those who have trouble staying awake during the day because of tiredness, hunger or thirst. It can improve attention and give people a big boost in energy and mood. The increase in energy frequently leads to a person being more physically active and occupied. People with more energy are more inclined to exercise, move about, and complete tasks – as opposed to being sedentary throughout the course of the day.
Higher motivation
Taking Modafinil has been shown to increase motivation in many people. The drug increases dopamine levels, a neurotransmitter associated with motivation. Motivation may improve in all aspects of life, including exercise and dietary habits - both of which can lead to weight reduction.
Increased physical activity
It's very possible that you'll feel like a new person once you start taking this medication. Many individuals experience such an increase in energy that they begin to engage in more physical activity than they previously had. Any increase in physical activity will result in more calories burned and a faster metabolism, both of which are associated with weight reduction.
Symptoms and side effects
The nausea rate among those who take Modafinil is around 11 percent. An unpleasant side effect to say the least, so being nauseous can make eating difficult. You won't feel like eating much food if you're constantly nauseous... Other adverse effects such as constipation and vomiting are to blame for weight reduction for obvious reasons. Not the most attractive or appealing way to potentially shed a few pounds! It's important to know all the same.
Self-discipline
The fact that Modafinil improves cognitive function and cortical activation, as well as self-awareness and control, is a typical effect. People who had brain activity in certain areas of the brain be unable to resist impulses such as eating junk food or watching TV rather than exercising may have been due to a lack of activity in those regions. The higher cerebral arousal might assist a person in increasing their self-control instead of eating or watching less than healthy quantities over the course of the day.
Higher metabolism
Another notion is that Modafinil directly affects the metabolism. If you were eating the same quantities and engaging in the same amount of physical activity before and during drug usage, but nevertheless lost weight, it's probably owing to metabolic changes within your body.
It is important to keep in mind that everyones' methods for shedding pounds may vary significantly. One person might experience severe nausea and a loss of appetite while taking Modafinil, making it difficult to eat, whereas another person can experience such an increase in energy and motivation that they begin exercising and eating healthy and lose weight that way. Hopefully you'll experience the latter, but it can not be guaranteed and will largely depend on your biological makeup, as well as other factors that are outside your control.
What factors influence weight loss with Modafinil?
You're likely already aware that there are a range of other aspects that influence how much weight you might lose while taking Modafinil. These factors include (but aren't limited to) your dosage, how long you've been on the drug, your lifestyle, genetic variation, and whether you take any additional medications.
Your Modafinil dosage
In many circumstances, the dose relative to your bodyweight will influence how much weight you lose while taking it. For example, a tiny person taking a high dose may wind up losing more weight than a big guy doing the same thing. In general, the greater the dosage, the stronger the drug's impact on your physiological processes. Makes sense right?
The standard dose of Modafinil is 200 mg per day, but many believe that there isn't any improved benefit in taking more for general alertness purposes. All things aside, it's uncertain whether greater dosages would aid in weight reduction. There is still a lot of research that needs to be done in this space. It theoretically makes sense that the impact of the medication would be amplified as the amount is increased, therefore if you don't want to lose weight, it's likely better that you take a lower dosage.
I'd recommend checking out our other blog post that goes into more detail on understanding what the optimal Modafinil dosage might be for you.
Tolerance and duration
How much weight you lose could be dependant on the length of time you've been taking Modafinil. Those who have only used this Modafinil for a short time should not expect to see results right away. Most people will notice the most significant weight loss after a year on Modafinil (you read that right - a full year!). After several years of "treatment", most individuals observe that their weight reduction begins to slow down.
Because of the body's increasing tolerance to the drug's effects, people who take it for a long time may have less significant changes in weight. In some situations, individuals may gain a little bit of weight back that they had previously lost after being medicated for an extended period of time. The bulk of weight reduction, according to certain case studies, usually happens during the first year of therapy.
Lifestyle and general routine
It's vital to consider your lifestyle and daily routine when determining how much weight you've lost. People who don't get enough sleep as a result of taking Modafinil risk eating an unhealthy diet, neglect their exercise routine, and as a result might not see much weight reduction. Maybe even worse, the might gain weight!
Someone who makes it a goal to exercise on a regular basis, consume nutritious meals, and attempt to reduce their overall day-to-day stress levels may lose quite a lot of weight. Despite the fact that many people lose weight regardless of their daily behaviour, certain individuals are perplexed as to why they can't shed pounds and don't consider that it might be due to their unhealthy lifestyle.
Biological makeup
Another thing to think about is the degree of genetic variability that one person has from another. We're all different. It is understood that variations in genes influence whether a medication will be beneficial for your situation and, if so, whether you will experience any negative effects or undesirable reactions.
There are, however, new technologies in the works, which uses certain genetic variations to predict how you'll respond to drugs such as Modafinil. Some individuals may lose weight more quickly while taking this drug because of these genetic variances. In the future, we'll hopefully have a much better idea of how to best optimise our bodies to achieve peak performance during our day-to-day lives. The technology is just not quite there yet.
Other medications
It's also critical to think about any other medicines you're taking. If you're gaining weight, it's possible that other medications, such as SSRIs or antipsychotics, are offsetting and/or overpowering the effects of Modafinil.
It might be due to the fact that if you're losing weight extremely rapidly, you may be on another medicine linked with weight reduction like Topamax. If you want to learn more about how certain medicines may be affecting your weight, it's best to have an honest talk with your doctor.
Modafinil's intended purpose
While Modafinil has been reported to aid in weight loss for some people, it's primarily meant to promote wakefulness. Many individuals lose sight of the initial problem they are attempting to treat with this medication (e.g., insomnia) and instead attempt to shed weight; this is not a recommended approach.
Where to buy Modafinil
While Modafinil can be purchased from your local pharmacy with a valid prescription, it can also be purchased online easily enough without a prescription.
That being said, it isn't obvious to know where to purchase from and which vendor you can trust. This is why we've prepared some detailed vendor reviews to help you find a supplier that best suits your needs based on how much you're looking to spend and what country you live in.
Remain productive and stay safe!