Everyday stress is a regular part of modern living. Exams, interviews, job pressures, financial pressures, family arguments, traffic, & time management are merely a few of the “stressors” you are confronted with daily. For some individuals, stress can be overwhelming, leading to anxiety & insomnia and ultimately decreasing productivity. Luckily, there are safe & effective nootropics that produce prompt effects when you need to be productive. One of the best ones is modafinil. It helps you gain an edge in various undertakings, but it may come with some adverse reactions. Some people are finding ways to either enhance its effects or counteract the side effects it comes with. One such way is to combine it with a natural supplement like L-theanine.
This guide covers what to expect if stacking L-theanine and modafinil, as well as their interactions with food, alcohol, & other meds.
Modafinil, dubbed the “world’s first safe ‘smart drug,’” is a powerful medication originally developed to treat the symptoms of shift work sleep disorder (SWSD), narcolepsy, & obstructive sleep apnea (OSA). Although that is what the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved it for, it’s more commonly taken off-label by healthy individuals to ameliorate cognitive function since it positively affects the brain [1]. People who use the “smart drug” for this purpose report achieving the following benefits:
Today, some physicians prescribe modafinil off-label to treat attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) because of its impressive mood-augmenting effects. It may also be used to manage several other health conditions including jet lag, Parkinson’s & Alzheimer’s diseases, multiple sclerosis fatigue, major depressive disorder, etc.
The “smart tab” comes in 100 mg & 200 mg dose strengths. Initially marketed under the brand name Provigil, it’s now available in a generic form under multiple trade names. Some of the most popular ones are Modavinil, ModaXL, Modafil MD, Modalert, & Modvigil. These generics provide the same benefits as Provigil, but they cost up to 5X less.
In a nutshell, modafinil is safe & well-tolerated. However, it remains essential to consult a physician before starting therapy with it, as it’s a prescription med.
L-theanine is a type of amino acid with robust cognitive-augmenting effects found in green tea, black tea, & some mushrooms. Widely known for its ability to help individuals relax, L-theanine has some other health advantages, including the following:
What’s more? Some research indicates that L-theanine is beneficial for a night’s sleep because it aids in promoting relaxation. Doses of 250–400 mg of the supplement greatly ameliorate sleep. Besides, 200 mg of L-theanine helps lessen resting heart rate, pointing to its capability to heighten relaxation. The amino acid also helps boys diagnosed with ADHD sleep better, as well as augmenting sleep quality for those diagnosed with schizophrenia [10][11].
For the majority of individuals, the “smart drug” alone sufficiently ameliorates alertness, heightens memory, boosts focus, & provides peak productivity. Nonetheless, a select few may discover that they need to take it alongside some other products to achieve better cognitive enhancement. This is where the modafinil and L-theanine stack comes in. If you have a hard time staying awake & getting things done during work time & are looking for awesome supplements you can take alongside modafinil for even more beneficial effects, L-theanine should be your choice.
Yes, mixing these products is safe. The FDA has recognized L-theanine as a safe product [12]. Although it can interact with some drug classes, it doesn’t interact with modafinil. A combination of modafinil + L-theanine will only offer the impressive benefits mentioned below.
L-theanine is considered to be one of the most popular natural nootropics among nootropic enthusiasts, and for good reason: it’s super safe & effective. The product stacks well with modafinil. The mix effectively improves focus, heightens alertness, elevates mood, & promotes a feeling of well-being by regulating the levels of some neurotransmitters in the brain.
In general, L-theanine acts to boost the effects of modafinil. It also offsets the negative reactions caused by the “smart drug.” It effectively lessens anxiety, promotes relaxation, & reduces stress without sedation. Together with modafinil, L-theanine can aid users in fostering a state of calmness & promote attentive wakefulness. Such a mix has positive effects on the mental & physical symptoms of stress.
Taking the supplement an hour or two before bed, several hours after popping a modafinil tablet, helps combat the wakefulness of the “smart drug” & helps you chill out before dozing off. During the day, after mixing both nootropics, you can notice less brain fog, a boost in productivity, and a decrease in the urge to procrastinate. In combination with L-theanine, the “smart drug” will work much better for you. Finally, the amino acid is a fantastic addition to modafinil.
However, it’s essential to talk to your physician before mixing both nootropics.
Although there are no reported negative effects from taking L-theanine, ingesting large amounts of green tea can induce irritability, nausea, & upset stomach because of the caffeine content. The amino acid might also induce mild negative effects, such as headaches and sleepiness. Doses of up to 900 mg daily can safely be used for 8 weeks, but it isn’t clear if L-theanine is safe to use for longer periods. All in all, it’s probably safe when used short-term.
As for modafinil, it can make a user irritable & can also cause some negative effects categorized as common & less common. Some of them can be severe but occur in rare cases [13]. Common negative effects include headache, nausea, diarrhea, nervousness, & backache. It’s always good to take modafinil as prescribed & avoid an overdose. With that said, the chances of side effects of mixing both products are low; however, note that each nootropic has its negative effects.
L-theanine interacts with some meds like antihypertensive drugs. It might lower blood pressure, so mixing with meds used to treat hypertension might trigger the blood pressure to go too low. It’s also best to avoid stimulants, such as those used to treat ADHD, & supplements containing caffeine while on L-theanine. The amino acid can be ingested either with meals or on an empty stomach. If you haven’t lately eaten when administering L-theanine, you may feel the effects a bit faster & more intensely (similar to drinking caffeine with a meal versus on an empty stomach). There’s no danger of using L-theanine with alcohol.
Besides, modafinil interacts with up to 449 meds if mixed [14]. Such interactions may either reduce the effects of one or more of the drugs coadministered or even boost the risk of negative reactions. It interacts with the following classes of meds:
Modafinil interacts with alcohol in a way that can increase the risk of negative effects. Though the “smart drug” doesn’t interact with most foods, ingesting it right before or after eating fatty meals can delay its onset of effects.
Modafinil is an effective cognitive enhancer, and it works for the majority of enthusiasts who take it as a stand-alone med. It is safe, well-tolerated, has few negative effects, & a low potential for addiction. If you want to enhance modafinil’s effects or need to counteract certain side effects of the nootropic, supplementing with L-theanine can help. The amino acid mixes well with modafinil and offers some excellent benefits. Besides, L-theanine together with modafinil fosters calmness & boosts cognition. It also helps counteract some of the most unpleasant negative effects of modafinil such as insomnia & anxiety. Besides, it can “smoothen” focus provided by the “smart drug” via enhancing sustained attention & lessening the frequency of mind-wandering.
If you decide to mix both products, it’s advisable to consult a physician first to assess your health & determine if the stack is good for you.
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