Adrafinil Reference

Plain English

What it is

Adrafinil is a lab-made compound that the liver turns into modafinil, a wakefulness drug. It is not approved by the FDA, and France removed it from its market in 2011. In the US it is sold as a research chemical and has shown up in some supplements, even though that use is not legal.

What people use it for

People take it hoping for more alertness, energy, and focus, often as a stand-in for modafinil. Because the body converts it into modafinil, the felt effects are similar.

What the science shows

Older French studies, mostly in older adults, found it was well tolerated but had little real effect on alertness. Strong proof that it improves thinking or memory in healthy people is lacking.

The catch

Because the liver does the work of turning it into modafinil, raised liver enzymes have been reported with long-term use, which can be a warning sign of liver strain. France pulled it over a poor balance of risk and benefit, and it is banned in sports. Its effects come from modafinil, which is itself a prescription-only, controlled drug.

Reference summary

Older French clinical literature in elderly attention / vigilance trials. Pharmacology is dominated by hepatic conversion to modafinil.

Regulatory and posture

Categories

Nootropic

Aliases

Olmifon, Modafinil prodrug

Evidence posture

human - Not FDA-approved. Withdrawn from the French market in 2011. Hepatic conversion to modafinil makes the practical effect modafinil-equivalent at higher doses. Liver-enzyme elevation has been reported with chronic adrafinil use.

Regulatory status

No FDA-approved adrafinil drug label. Withdrawn from the French market in 2011. Sold in the US as a research chemical / dietary supplement; metabolizes to modafinil in the liver. Not currently controlled in the US.

Content review status

research reference