Modafinil is Available for Purchase in Australia in 2023
Curious about Modafinil?
Count yourself among the ever-growing number of individuals who are. When most people first hear about it, they find themselves intrigued by the stated effects and potential applications.
We might be getting ahead of ourselves a bit here, though. Let’s step back for a moment.
Modafinil is another smart drug in the long line of drugs that have been researched and developed to keep people from falling asleep.
It’s a eugeroic, or wakefulness-promoting agent that was originally developed to help individuals with narcolepsy stay awake during the day. Over time, researchers found that the drug had other applications.
Now seen as both an effective prescription drug and a potent off-label supplement, everyone from students to CEOs is trying to get their hands on it in the hopes that it will help them maintain alertness when they need it most.
Unfortunately, it’s not always easy to obtain Modafinil, as the laws regulating its sale and use differ from country to country.
What’s the low-down on buying Modafinil in Australia?
That’s exactly what we’ll be delving into today, along with information about Modafinil’s uses and some alternatives you might want to take a look at.
What is Modafinil?
As a eugeroic, Modafinil drug falls into the category of drugs designed to keep the user from falling asleep. Most commonly, it’s used by narcoleptics, as well as those with other sleep disorders.
Researchers found it could induce wakeful states in people with other sleep conditions, like shift work sleep disorder and sleep apnea, and now it is often prescribed to help with a range of disorders.
Off-label, there’s evidence suggesting that Modafinil provides a nootropic effect, something that is backed up by many users who have taken it for personal reasons.
The cognitive boost associated with Modafinil usually manifests in the form of enhanced working memory, more motivation, and better reaction time.
You’d be forgiven for being wowed by ads and claims online that this is the “it” smart drug, capable of unlocking your hidden potential by allowing you to work longer and more focused than ever before.
While it’s not quite a super drug, savvy users might notice that its potential applications are broad, particularly for so-called “high-performers” who want an edge in the workplace.
That same savvy lot might also wonder what makes Modafinil such a popular choice when there are other stimulating drugs that will provide similar effects.
But Does It Work?
We can address the answer to that while simultaneously exploring questions regarding Modafinil’s efficacy.
Modafinil works. For most people, it works as well as amphetamines at helping people stay awake, and the cognitive benefits are equal to, and even exceed those of amphetamines in the opinion of many users.
Unlike amphetamines, Modafinil does not present a significant risk of abuse or addiction. In fact, studies have shown that Modafinil may be an effective medication when used to treat drug users with certain addictions.
Beyond it’s prescribed use, and it’s potential to treat drug addiction, there are other positive effects associated with Modafinil as well.
The effect that Modafinil has on memory and focus, in particular, is highly positive.
What makes it superior to amphetamines in the eyes of the masses is that it does not keep users awake at night and unable to sleep (like amphetamines might), allowing users to maintain a normal sleep pattern.
In addition to that, using Modafinil in a sleep-deprived state to help stay awake does not result in rebound hypersomnia afterward.
When using stimulants like amphetamines, users run the risk of becoming even more tired when the drugs wear off. Not the case with Modafinil, which, again, contributes to its popularity.
Modafinil’s level of efficacy is so great that it has seen applications in militaries, where it is used as a “go-pill” for sustaining alertness during long operations.
Fighter pilots, in particular, have been given Modafinil in order to maintain their focus and alertness during missions. That may sound crazy, but if the US military is giving this drug to soldiers, you better believe it works.
It is also highly desirable in fields where competition is high, and participants seek out whatever edge they can find to claw ahead of their rivals.
While studies on Modafinil haven’t shown much effect on simple brain functions, there may be significant evidence that it has a positive impact on higher-level brain functions.
According to Dr. Ruairidh Battleday, Modafinil may affect “higher cognitive functions—mainly executive functions but also attention and learning.”
If the off-label effects of Modafinil are starting to sound familiar to you, you may recognize that the drug and others like it have inspired many Hollywood stories of late, including the hit movie Limitless, starring Bradley Cooper.
And is it Legal?
This question is a bit more tricky than our previous one, and can’t be brushed aside with a simple “yes,” or “no.”
That’s because the answer is both “yes,” and “no,” depending on where you are in the world. Furthermore, “yes” means different things in different countries. Allow us to explain.
In the United States, Modafinil is legal to use. It is a Schedule IV controlled substance, though, so that legality comes with caveats. You must have a prescription to buy it.
You cannot import it without cause. You can only bring it with you from abroad if you have the proper paperwork justifying your need, and even then, the amount you can bring is quite limited.
Even though the potential for abuse and dependence is low and the off-label applications are numerous, marketing surrounding Modafinil is strictly controlled, and cannot normally mention the secondary applications.
Just south in Mexico, though, the policies regarding Modafinil are less strict.
Modafinil is not a controlled substance here, and individuals can buy it more freely. They can even order it online and have it shipped without fear of confiscation or seizure by authorities.
Australia, for its part, follows the American model in some respects. Modafinil is regulated in Australia as a Schedule 4 drug.
When it comes to drug scheduling, drugs are scheduled by their medical benefit as well as their potential for misuse. Schedule 1 drugs are drugs that are currently believed to have no medicinal benefits.
Schedule 2 drugs are drugs with a medical benefit and high risk of abuse, and so on. Schedule 4 drugs have a low potential for abuse, but they are still controlled and require a prescription for use.
Since Modafinil is a Schedule 4 drug in Australia, it can’t be obtained without a prescription. Doctors in Australia will prescribe the drug to treat sleep disorders under the brand name Modavigil.
It is less likely that a doctor will prescribe the drug for any of its off-label benefits here. But, that certainly varies from doctor to doctor.
If you have a legitimate cause for taking the drug, you should consider consulting with a physician and explaining your circumstances.
That way, even if you’re not a candidate for modafinil, they can still steer you towards the most suitable alternative for your needs.
How Can I Buy Modafinil in Australia?
The options in Australia boil down to obtaining a prescription and buying it in the country, or ordering online and having it shipped.
Bear in mind that without a prescription there could be difficulties with getting imported shipments, but, many users throughout forum posts and message boards have claimed to be able to order from some vendors with no hassle.
Two such vendors are Duckdose (update 2018: DuckDose no longer works) and BuyModa, which ships various brands, including Modalert, Artvigil, Modvigil, and Waklert. They are very well-received by their customer base for fair pricing and the quickest delivery times.
Trying to purchase Modafinil through these channels could constitute breaking the law in Australia. If you do decide to buy it online, I can’t stop you…
The Prescription-Free Alternative
For those thinking the hassle surrounding Modafinil is too much, Adrafinil is another option.
You’ll notice the similar names, which is no mere coincidence. Adrafinil is an earlier stimulating drug, developed in the 1970s by French researchers at Lafon Laboratories. It became widely available in the 1980s under the brand name Olmifon.
It has a lot in common with Modafinil. It is used to treat many of the same disorders, helps promote wakefulness, staves off fatigue, and sleepiness.
It might even have some of the same cognitive enhancing properties and perhaps some mood-elevating ones as well. Some of the differences come in how Adrafinil works in comparison to Modafinil.
Modafinil is faster acting. It gets into the body and then gets to work shortly thereafter (in about 30-40 minutes).
For Adrafinil to achieve the desired effects, the human body has to metabolize it, break it down into a new substance via the liver, then distribute it through the body.
Hence, it takes longer to get to work and could contribute to liver damage in more cases than Modafinil.
Adrafinil is also less regulated than Modafinil in many locales, making it a superior option for people wanting to avoid legal headaches when obtaining their nootropic-like stimulants.
Adrafinil has been discontinued since 2011 in stores like GNC and Walmart due to tighter FDA regulations, but there are still plenty of vendors who stock it and can ship to various parts of the world.
Considering that Adrafinil is no longer easy to buy at your local store, and is metabolized through the liver, it’s certainly a less attractive option than Modafinil is.
However, if you’re interested in trying a similar drug to Modafinil without the risk of engaging in illegal activity, it may be a good choice for you.
There are also a handful of more natural alternatives to Modafinil, which you can check out here.
Last Word
So, in summary, Modafinil is a potent wakefulness-promoting agent used clinically to treat narcolepsy and other conditions that cause excessive daytime sleepiness.
It is used the world over, but not legal to the same degree from country to country.
Some places, like Mexico for example, allow its use more freely, others restrict it somewhat, and some have banned it altogether.
In Australia, the drug can be bought with a prescription, and there are a few online vendors that will ship to you.
Those not wishing to deal with Modafinil, though, have the option of sourcing some Adrafinil instead. It has similar effects but is not as tightly controlled in many areas.
Whatever route you take, make sure to continue reading up, and good luck with finding the option that’s right for you.
[catlist excludeposts=this template="div" conditional_title_tag="h6" conditional_title="More on taking Modafinil" id="116" tags="using"] [catlist excludeposts=this template="div" conditional_title_tag="h6" conditional_title="Where to buy Modafinil" id="116" tags="buying"] [catlist excludeposts=this template="div" conditional_title_tag="h6" conditional_title="Modafinil alternatives" id="116" tags="alternatives"] [catlist excludeposts=this template="div" conditional_title_tag="h6" conditional_title="Modafinil vs other products" tags="modafinil-vs"]