Modafinil and Phenibut Stack: Effects and Benefits

Originally intended for treating narcolepsy or other sleep disorders, Modafinil quickly gained traction as a wakefulness-promoting drug used by all types of personnel – from military to factory workers.

It’s a highly potent cognitive enhancer that has been sweeping over Silicon Valley professionals and students seeking to boost their performance. Phenibut is known to treat anxiety and depression as well as used as a recreational med for other purposes like attaining “positive feelings”.

It’s usually mixed with other substances to enhance this effect. How about Modafinil and Phenibut stack? Should you use both of these drugs at the same time? Are there any side effects? Here is the full information.

What Is Modafinil?

It’s a highly potent drug helping millions of people treat narcolepsy, shift work sleep disorder, and other excessive sleepiness due to obstructive sleep apnea or hypopnea syndrome (OSAHS). Modafinil belongs to a drug class known as wakefulness-promoting (or nootropic) agents . Its primary function helps trigger or stimulate some brain parts that control sleep and wakefulness. But that’s not all. Modafinil is also used as off-label med for recreational purposes. Most notably, it’s used as a cognitive enhancer (or brain stimulant) by activating cortical and subcortical areas in the brain [1].

That’s why it is sometimes called “smart drug”.

It’s widely used by professionals to equip them with alertness and concentration on specific tasks like studying and performing complex workloads that require attention and wakefulness, thus improving decision-making and planning skills. It’s a drug that comes with the fewest side effects or without them [2].

Modafinil functions by stimulating the brain. Its mechanism of action is not fully known, but it’s thought to increase the amount of dopamine in the brain by effectively lowering the reuptake of dopamine into nerves. By showing the antioxidative and neuroprotective effects, a rise in cortical creatine or a decrease in brain oxidation promotes vigilance. The end effect of this activity, caused by Modafinil, exerts neuroprotective and wake-promoting effects [3].

The Silicon Valley executives and professionals are tweaking their brains with the potency of this “smart drug” to keep them awake and concentrate on their complex tasks that require more brain power [4]. Why should sleepiness and a lack of creativity hinder you from releasing your full potential? Changing the world means dedicating oneself and sacrificing other basic necessities such as working longer hours while being productive for optimal work output.

What Is Phenibut?

While Modafinil is a wakefulness and cognitive enhancer, Phenibut is a popular nootropic agent used to reduce anxiety. Individuals use this med to help themselves enhance their sleep quality, memory, and cognitive performance. It’s the most used drug that exists in many nootropic stacks, particularly for memory, and other stacks designed to enhance an individual’s mood as well as reduce stress levels and anxiety. As a derivative of gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA), Phenibut was first designed to treat post-traumatic stress disorder and several other problems such as insomnia, depression, and stuttering.

Phenibut attaches itself to two GABA receptors – GABAA and GABAB. It then stimulates the GABA neurotransmitter, resulting in the enhanced mood and stress levels when released (feelings of calm and relaxation). In essence, it stimulates the dopamine, which is a feel-good hormone, as well as beta-phenethylamine (PEA). There are both the prescription and off-label uses of this med. It’s about students, astronauts, professionals as well as factory workers who need to lower their levels of stress, anxiety and/or depression without hindering their performance on the job. Students use this drug particularly to boost their memory and cognitive performance when they are at the edge of big projects or exams.

Modafinil Vs Phenibut: Comparison Chart

It’s not clear how Modafinil works, but it’s known to affect several neural processes in the brain simultaneously, giving you the feeling of natural wakefulness – enhancing focus and quicker thought processes for better productivity. Phenibut, on the other hand, comes with several benefits, including anxiolytic, cardioprotective, ataractic, cognitive and neuroprotective. Its primary prescription is anxiolytic that is being in a state of lower levels of anxiety and stress. This effect puts an individual in a state of balance, calm, and worry-free experience. Here is a detailed comparison chart Modafinil vs Phenibut, depicting the difference as well as relations between them.

Modafinil	Phenibut
Provides a higher quality of life by improving cognitive function, particularly focus and motivation, resulting in increased productivity. It is used for the following purposes:   as a “smart drug” by office workers, students, soldiers, and transhumanists as well as other professionals to help them increase mental focus and evade sleep; as a cognitive enhancer improving attention, learning, and memory, especially where complex assessments are employed; as a “go pill” for fatigue management. Mostly used by armed forces in combat situations (or contingency plans) and lengthy missions where troops face sleep deprivation; optimizing performance while fatigued by astronauts on long-term missions such as aboard the International Space Station.	Used recreationally because of its power to induce anxiolysis and euphoria as well as boost sociability. For example, the use of this med may result in the following effects:   an overall sense of well-being; disinhibition; a sense of mental clarity; enhanced motivation; remarkable muscle relaxation; affection; hallucinations (in case of excessive use). It amplifies general mental function by easing improved communication between brain hemispheres.
Primarily prescribed to promote wakefulness and improve illness severity due to excessive sleepiness often associated with narcolepsy, fatigue, obstructive sleep apnea, and shift work sleep disorder, resulting in improved mood, sleepiness, fatigue, and cognition [5].	Primarily prescribed to treat anxiety and insomnia. There are also other off-label indications such as treatment of depression, Ménière’s disease, asthenia, alcoholism, alcohol withdrawal syndrome, stuttering, tics, post-traumatic stress disorder, vestibular disorders.
It has a longer duration of action with its half-life, ranging from 12 to 15 hours.	The onset of action of Phenibut is felt in about 2 hours after taking it; the peak effect occurs within 4 to 6 hours. Its duration of action is estimated to be from 15 to 24 hours.
It is taken orally. The recommended dose is 200 mg/day.	Available in the form of 250 mg pills for oral administration and the solution with a concentration of 10 mg/ml for infusion.
May have abuse/addictive possibilities.	Likely to incur abuse/addictive potential.
Used to accelerate recovery from anaesthesia after day surgery.	It’s also used to prevent motion sickness and stop anxiety prior to and/or after surgical procedures as well as other extreme painful diagnostic tests.

From the comparison chart, there are other recreational benefits and side effects resulting from the use of these drugs. More information is discussed below.

Effects of Modafinil and Phenibut Combined Usage

Combinations of meds may be beneficial or result in adverse effects. It’s necessary to always know which drug can interact negatively with another medicine. Modafinil plus Phenibut combination works very effectively provided that you stick to a prescribed plan. This combination is taken with a lot of considerations due to the reason that the use of Phenibut on a regular basis may lead to drug abuse (especially on recreational purposes). As a potent cognitive enhancer, Modafinil may also cause addiction. Here is the full information on both drug stack. Get to know what works and what doesn’t.

Is It Safe?

A combination of Modafinil and Phenibut is safe and productively, giving you the effects you need. It does not cause any interactions, and it is ideal for people who need to lower their anxiety while experiencing cognitive stimulation during work. Used recreationally, these drugs may lead to abuse. Modafinil is a powerful drug, and it’s necessary to take only the recommended dose strength or less. On the other hand, Phenibut is recommended to be taken once a week. Two tabs a week (or not more than 100 mg) still works fine, though. Excessive usage of Phenibut may lead to addiction or taking more than recommended, especially by individuals who need to intensify the high of the drug or to allow themselves to experience a quicker high.

Positive Effects

The reason why most people combine Modafinil and Phenibut is due to added benefit the stack brings. Being a very powerful nootropic, Phenibut is well known to boost memory and improve stress levels. As Phenibut lowers anxiety, lifts mood, and free up mental energy, Modafinil is a potent wakefulness-promoting agent that greatly sharpens the concentration and performance, resulting in enhanced productivity. The effects of mixing Phenibut and Modafinil are long-lasting. It helps individuals move with increased vigor and vitality. People enjoy a significant boost in mood (due to euphoria or the feeling of persistent excitement) and find it extremely easy to power through workloads. With such benefits, however, these nootropics may potentially cause addiction, and regulating their usage is absolutely necessary.

Side Effects

Using Modafinil and Phenibut stack may incur some additional side effects that come alongside the benefits. Negative reactions occur in the medical realm, and sometimes they are hard to avoid. Common side effects most people feel when they combine these meds include:

• headache;
• nausea;
• diarrhea;
• dizziness;
• insomnia;
• rhinitis;
• anxiety;
• vomiting;
• dyspepsia;
• anorexia;
• drowsiness;
• back pain;
• hyperhidrosis;
• emotional lability;
• agitation;
• chills;
• dysmenorrhea.

There are other drug interactions that you should be aware of. Drug precautions include administering a small portion of this stack if you are having renal and hepatic impairment. The other considerations before using this stack include:

• pregnancy;
• breastfeeding;
• geriatrics;
• illnesses related to acute myocardial infarction, hypertension, cardiac disease, angina, heart failure, and valvular heart disease.

There are other contraindications that a doctor should confirm to you before starting the treatment. It’s necessary to report to your medical specialist on any sign of a strange effect.

Withdrawal Time

Among the other kinds of stress and anxiety-related states, Phenibut is used for alcohol withdrawal. Although it is beneficial as a GABA analog, there are some risks associated with it due to its availability. Being unregulated, there is no standard tab dosage guidelines or set rules to determine the safety and/or authenticity of both drugs. This poses a risk of the formation of dependence. It’s easy to develop tolerance as well as dependence on Modafinil and Phenibut. An individual may easily continue using higher doses to get quick results. And in some cases, being dependent and suddenly stopping using these drugs may make an individual go through withdrawal.

Withdrawal symptoms vary, ranging from barely detectable to severe. Rebound ones are some of the common withdrawal symptoms of using Phenibut. They can include anxiety, rapid heartbeat, and insomnia as well as the other changes in sleep patterns. For some people, Phenibut/Modafinil addiction withdrawal can be hard to cope with. Major symptoms of withdrawal is not an issue with Modafinil. This means that, although there might be minimal symptoms, Modafinil shows a lack of them [6]. Symptoms occur due to the brain being dependent on the effects of Modafinil or Phenibut use. A sudden taken away or stopping of the drug makes the brain struggle to readjust. The experience of brain readjustment is what creates withdrawal symptoms. Other withdrawal symptoms include:

• extreme agitation;
• low energy;
• lack/reduced appetite due to changes in stress hormones;
• depression;
• restlessness;
• shortness of breath;
• fatigue;
• dizziness;
• heart palpitations;
• hallucinations (rare but possible, especially due to Phenibut withdrawal);
• poorer concentration;
• depersonalization;
• muscle tension;
• cognitive deficits such as brain fog.

These withdrawal effects can last for a week or two depending on dosage (including its duration), metabolism, organ function, the use of other supplements/drugs. The other symptoms, which are often called PAWS, can be long-lasting. It’s even possible for the effects to last for 24 weeks for high-dose Modafinil/Phenibut takers. It’s necessary to talk to a medical specialist if you are having trouble managing withdrawal symptoms of Modafinil/Phenibut.

What If Mix Such Combo of Drugs with Alcohol?

Mixing alcohol and a stack of Modafinil and Phenibut can lead to a variety of negative reactions, ranging from blackouts to notably increased alcohol tolerance. Alcohol and Modafinil have opposite effects on brain function/chemistry. Alcohol is known to boost the activity of the neurotransmitter GABA and reduce the action of glutamate. On the contrary, Modafinil is a GABA antagonist that lowers GABA production and raises glutamate production.

The effect resulting from combining these two active substances is a tug of war between incompatible neurotransmitters. That is, Modafinil stimulates brain function in one direction while alcohol depresses it in the opposite one. And the negative effects can be unpredictable – such as drowsiness and reduction of the effectiveness of Modafinil. On the other side, Phenibut, as a potentiate central nervous system depressant, can boost the effects of alcohol. This may result in mild to severe side effects such as nausea and vomiting as well as Phenibut’s hangover symptoms. The results of using Phenibut and alcohol together can make the withdrawal symptoms more severe and long-lasting.

Mixing with Another Nootropics

What other stacks can you mix with Modafinil? Several possible substances can be combined to provide peak performance or enhance the effects of this powerful nootropic. As depicted earlier, Modafinil has the power to boost an individual’s cognitive abilities, efficiency, and productivity. Its benefits include enhanced mood and alertness, reduced fatigue, increased motivation, better memory as well as improved reaction time. A combination of this substance with another nootropic can boost its potency. Here are some of the common Modafinil stacks that work very effectively:

• Modafinil and Ashwagandha – this stack makes you feel relaxed and boosts your creative thinking. It makes you work productively and fight the anxiety levels with no difficulty;
• Modafinil and Bacopa – Bacopa helps treat memory problems, and a combination with Modafinil results in enhanced thinking power. This stack is best for learning, retention as well as memorization;
• Modafinil and Piracetam – it helps boost brain activity (including mood senses and focus enhancement), blood flow, and oxygen usage in the body;
• Modafinil and Noopept – both are cognitive enhancers, and they should be taken in small quantities. In combination with Modafinil, Noopept raises motivation levels, mental clarity, alertness and improves memory recall;
• Modafinil and L-Theanine – it is a perfect match for boosting brain power while staying cool, calm, and collected;
• Modafinil and Choline – the stack is highly potent in enhancing the mobility of the brain synopsis network. It helps boost the activity of Modafinil while lowering its side effects.

The list is not complete. There are other stacks that work effectively to improve your cognitive ability while staying composed and collected. To stay healthy and limit reactions or interactions, try to understand the benefits, side effects as well as dosing schedule of the drugs you are using.

Conclusion

While our brain has the ability to function and stay focus and gives us the power to be more productive, there are situations where the dire need of these drugs come into play. Maybe you need to boost your cognitive processes or stay vigilant and awake because of something critical that demands attention and alertness. Modafinil is the safest drug that gives you the ultimate positive results if used effectively without abusing it. Taking too much can result in addiction as well as side effects, and it can incur additional withdrawal symptoms.

A combo of the aforementioned drugs has varying effects on individuals. Always use these substances with extra care and tracking of their performance. It’s necessary to consult a medical specialist before administering these tabs. Above all, take note of stack consequences such as negative effects and drug interactions.

References

1. The neurobiology of modafinil as an enhancer of cognitive performance and a potential treatment for substance use disorders. Maddalena Mereu, Antonello Bonci, Amy Hauck Newman, and Gianluigi Tanda. Psychopharmacology (Berl). 2013 Oct; 229(3): 415–434. Published online 2013 Aug 10. doi: 10.1007/s00213-013-3232-4. Ncbi.nlm.nih.gov.
2. Modafinil for cognitive neuroenhancement in healthy non-sleep-deprived subjects: A systematic review. R.M. Battleday, A.K. Brem. Retrieved 20 August 2015. Sciencedirect.com.
3. Mechanisms of modafinil: A review of current research. Paul Gerrard, and Robert Malcolm. Neuropsychiatr Dis Treat. 2007 Jun; 3(3): 349–364. Ncbi.nlm.nih.gov.
4. How Many Silicon Valley Startup Executives Are Hopped Up On Provigil? By Michael Arrington. Retrieved July 15, 2008.Techcrunch.com.
5. Approved and investigational uses of modafinil: an evidence-based review. Kumar R. Retrieved 2008. Ncbi.nlm.nih.gov.
6. Modafinil lacks withdrawal symptoms, researchers say. The Pharmaceutical Journal Vol 264 No 7090p504. Retrieved April 1, 2000. Pharmaceutical-journal.com.