Fladrafinil Review in 2024: Benefits, Dosage, and Side Effects

Brain boosters such as coffee and energy drinks do a great job of increasing energy levels, alertness, and mental processing speed. However, they cause serious energy crashes as their effects wear off. This makes it difficult to concentrate; many people find that they become highly unproductive for several hours after.

“Smart drugs” are generally better, as they are designed to deliver a consistent level of alertness until they leave the body. Fladrafinil is one of several “smart drugs” available on the market. Read on to find out all you need to know about it.

What Is Fladrafinil?

Fladrafinil (also known as CRL-40,941) is a medication that belongs to a class of drugs called eugeroics. It was developed in the ’70s – around the same time that modafinil was developed as well – and was used to produce cognitive-enhancing effects. However, it is not approved by the United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA).

Fladrafinil is a derivative of adrafinil, but it is believed to have some differences, which will be looked at in a bit. Although it is not so popular, some individuals take it to promote wakefulness, increase alertness, boost focus, and ultimately increase productivity.

It is also purported to be effective in treating excessive daytime sleepiness caused by sleep disorders such as narcolepsy, obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), or shift work sleep disorder (SWSD). However, it is not clear whether or not it is effective for this purpose, as there is a limited study or even user reviews to back it up.

Fladrafinil is a prescription medication and should only be used after consulting a doctor or healthcare provider.

How Does Fladrafinil Work?

Nearly all the processes in the body are controlled by the level of certain neurotransmitters; this includes brain functions [1]. Like modafinil, armodafinil, and several other “smart drugs” that belong to the eugeroic family, Fladrafinil works by changing the levels of the neurotransmitters in the brain that control wakefulness, increase alertness, and influence the wake-sleep cycle. Some of the chemicals include dopamine, serotonin, and norepinephrine, among others.

At this point, it is worth noting that the long-term effects of this drug or others that regulate brain chemicals or neurotransmitters on health are not clear. This is why it is advisable to use them only as prescribed by a doctor.

About Fladrafinil Ingredients

Fladrafinil tablets contain 30 mg or 80 mg of Fladrafinil as its active ingredient and several inactive ingredients that aren’t explicitly listed on its packaging. This isn’t exactly good, as being able to recognize drug ingredients helps many people identify products that they are allergic to or that may interact with other medications they’re taking.

Consult your doctor before starting treatment with this drug. Do well to inform them of all the drugs you may be taking, so they can help you decide whether or not to go ahead with the treatment.

Main Fladrafinil Benefits

Fladrafinil is a wakefulness-promoting medication with strong cognitive-enhancing effects. Its main benefits include increasing alertness, boosting focus, easing depression, improving memory, and promoting wakefulness. Some of its other uses include weight loss and treating excessive daytime sleepiness caused by sleep disorders.

Let’s shed more light on these benefits.

Increase Alertness

As a stimulant, the drug is known to increase mental alertness considerably. Consequently, users may find that they become more attentive, detailed, and thorough in the execution of their work.

Boost Focus

Focus is one of the bedrocks of productivity. Although alertness is important, without being able to focus or concentrate on tasks long enough, it will be difficult to be productive. Fladrafinil is believed to help users stay concentrated for 14 to 16 hours without interruption.

Ease Depression

To promote wakefulness and increase alertness, Fladrafinil slows down or prevents the reabsorption of dopamine, a neurotransmitter that is known to improve mood. It also regulates serotonin and other chemicals that, together, bring about the feeling of happiness and overall well-being.

Improve Memory

Fladrafinil is believed to improve memory retention ability. Some users even believe that it has the ability to help retrieve old memories and that it proves very helpful to seniors who have a hard time remembering as a result of Alzheimer’s disease or other forms of dementia. Note that these aren’t set in stone, as there is no scientific evidence backing them up. Clinical research is needed to ascertain how effective the drug is in boosting memory and the effects in the long term.

Promote Wakefulness

Dopamine is a feel-good hormone, but it also influences wakefulness. Fladrafinil promotes wakefulness by increasing the abundance of dopamine in the brain. This is why it is considered effective for treating excessive daytime sleepiness caused by sleep narcolepsy and some other sleep disorders.

Fladrafinil is said to be 3-4 times stronger than modafinil and adrafinil; however, this is not proven, and there is hardly any scientific evidence to support the claim [2].

Fladrafinil Dosage, Side Effects, and Safety

Fladrafinil is available in powder and capsule form, but the latter is generally more common on the market. It is typically available in strengths of 30 mg and 80 mg. Note that it is advisable to always start from the lower dose and only increase the dosage if it proves ineffective. This is to prevent the occurrence of unnecessary side effects.

Only a single tablet is to be taken per day. It should be swallowed whole with a full amount of water. Note that taking more than one tablet within a 24-hour period could increase the risk of adverse effects.

What’s more, note that the time of administration may vary based on the condition looking to be treated. To improve productivity during the day, it is advisable to take it early in the morning; taking it later in the day could make it interfere with night sleep. If the purpose of its use is to treat SWSD, take it about 1 hour before the start of a work shift.

Side Effects

At this point, it is worth noting that the drug is not without side effects. The common ones are typically mild and tend to go away without treatment. Some of them include:

• headache;
• nausea;
• insomnia;
• euphoria;
• stomach upset;
• noticeable urine odor.

More serious negative after-effects can also result from using this drug; however, they are mostly caused by taking high doses. Be sure to consult your doctor before starting treatment with this drug, as well as if you notice any serious adverse effects.

Capsules vs Powder

Earlier, we mentioned that this drug is available in both capsule and powder form. But which form is better, and which should you take?

Well, most people generally prefer capsules. This is because it is easier to carry around; all you need to do is carry a few capsules in a pill container, and you can have them at any time of the day. This is not to mention that capsules work better for people with delicate stomachs, thanks to the timed release property [3].

On the other hand, the powder version requires that you carry a jar for mixing along with you. Many people find this inconvenient, so they just stick to capsules. Regardless, both forms of the drug work effectively, so you can take whichever one you prefer. Note that the dosage may be different for the powdered version. Refer to the instruction leaflet to acquaint yourself with the correct way to take it. Also, consult your doctor to help you with guidance.

Is Fladrafinil Like Modafinil?

Yes, Fladrafinil (Fluorafinil) is like modafinil. They both belong to the same class of drugs called wakefulness-promoting drugs; they metabolize in the liver and are used for similar purposes. What’s more, they have a similar mechanism of action: they work by changing the abundance of certain neurotransmitters in the brain.

Modafinil and Fladrafinil share similar benefits and side effects, but the latter is considered to be 3 to 4 times stronger [2]. However, modafinil is considerably safer. This is because it has been clinically tested for years and has been confirmed to be safe and effective for both short- and long-term use. Fladrafinil has not been tested extensively; thus, its effects in the long term aren’t confirmed.

Fladrafinil vs Adrafinil

Fladrafinil vs. Adrafinil: which is a better option? Well, both products belong to the same class of drugs and have similar benefits and mechanisms of action. The United States FDA does not approve both drugs, but in Australia, Adrafinil is approved as a prescription-only medication.

Adrafinil has been studied more extensively, and its short- and long-term effects are known. There are also lots of research papers and findings on it, but this isn’t the case with Fladrafinil.

Fladrafinil vs Flmodafinil

Flmodafinil is the bisfluoro analog of modafinil; this means that its physical structure is similar to that of modafinil [4]. While this means that they may provide similar physical properties, their effects on the body may differ.

The manufacturers of Flmodafinil claim that it surpasses Adrafinil and modafinil in both safety and effectiveness, but this is yet to be confirmed as there are limited studies that support the claim. However, when it comes down to the question of Fladrafinil vs. Flmodafinil, the latter is a much better choice as it has been better studied.

Where Can You Purchase Fladrafinil Online?

Fladrafinil is available for purchase online. Several online drugstores sell both the powder and capsule versions, and they can be found by doing a simple Google search. However, it is worth noting that lots of counterfeits are in circulation, and it can be incredibly difficult to spot a trusted vendor.

Buying known brands such as modafinil and armodafinil that have been extensively used, tested, and have trusted distributors may be the best thing for you to do. Modafinil, armodafinil, and their generic versions do an excellent job promoting wakefulness and increasing boosting cognitive abilities. If you decide to go for these brands, some trusted online pharmacies you can source them from are ModafinilXL.com, Afinil.com, and BuyModafinilOnline.com.

Remember to consult your doctor before starting treatment with nootropics or any drug at all.

The Verdict: Fladrafinil Review

Fladrafinil is a cognitive enhancer, but it is just that. There are limited studies that support its safety and its effectiveness for both short- and long-term use. This is not to mention that it is not FDA-approved. Most of the information shared here about its benefits, dosage, and side effects is anecdotal — they are based on the experience of users. The vast majority of people who use it do so because they believe it is stronger than Adrafinil, armodafinil, and modafinil (these are drugs that are better studied and widely used).

We always advocate for the use of “smart drugs” that are FDA-approved, have been extensively studied, and used by people worldwide. Modafinil and armodafinil will provide you with better wakefulness-promoting and cognitive-enhancing benefits without causing serious side effects. However, if you’re going to buy them, do some from trusted pharmacies such as ModafinilXL or BuyModafinilOnline so that you can be sure you will get the real deal.

Do not forget to consult your doctor before starting treatment with any drug.

References

1. Endocrine System: What Is It, Functions & Organs. Retrieved: May 8, 2022. My.clevelandclinic.org.
2. CRL-40,941. Retrieved: May 8, 2022. Wikipedia.org.
3. Capsules or Powder? How to Take Your Medicine. Retrieved: May 8, 2022. Ampfloracel.com.
4. CRL-40,940. Retrieved: May 8, 2022. Wikipedia.org.