Drug & supplement interaction

Adrafinil + Modafinil

Modafinil brand names: Provigil, Sparlon, Alertec.

Major Interaction
Medically reviewed by · Updated September 2026
The bottom line Major

Modafinil falls into 3 drug categories that Adrafinil can interact with; the most serious is rated major. Concomitant use might increase the risk for serious adverse effects.

Read the full interaction report
SeverityMajor
LikelihoodLikely
Interactions3
EvidenceD
What do Severity, Likelihood & Evidence mean?
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Interaction report

Adrafinil and Modafinil

These two interact in 3 distinct ways. Each one is explained separately below.

Why Are There 3 Interactions?

Adrafinil interacts with whole categories of medication. Modafinil falls into 3 of those categories, so it can interact with Adrafinil in 3 different ways. We’ve listed each one below — your overall risk is driven by the most serious of them (Major).

Major

MODAFINIL (Provigil)

1 of 3
Concomitant use might increase the risk for serious adverse effects.
Adrafinil is a precursor to the stimulant prescription drug modafinil. Concomitant use with modafinil would be expected to result in increased clinical and adverse effects.
Severity Major Likelihood Likely Evidence D

Well-controlled human studies have demonstrated the likely existence of this interaction.

Dr. Brian Staiger, PharmD, BCPS
Dr. Brian Staiger explains PharmD, Clinical Pharmacist

Here's the key thing to understand: your body turns adrafinil into modafinil. So if you're already taking prescription modafinil and add adrafinil on top, you're essentially stacking two sources of the very same active drug. That doesn't create a brand new interaction so much as it doubles up on what you're already getting.

The practical worry is too much modafinil at once. That can mean a pounding headache, jitteriness, a racing or irregular heartbeat, higher blood pressure, anxiety, nausea, and trouble sleeping. Adrafinil also puts extra strain on the liver, which adds to the concern. This is based on how these compounds work rather than formal studies, but the logic is solid. Please don't combine them on your own. Talk with your doctor or pharmacist first.

Contact Dr. Brian directly if you have additional questions on this interaction
References
  1. Provigil (modafinil) [package insert]. North Wales, PA: Teva Pharmaceuticals USA, Inc. Published: January 2015. Accessed on: Nov 11, 2022.
Moderate

CYTOCHROME P450 3A4 (CYP3A4) SUBSTRATES

2 of 3

Why this applies to Modafinil

Modafinil falls under CYTOCHROME P450 3A4 (CYP3A4) SUBSTRATES — the group Adrafinil interacts with.

Theoretically, adrafanil might reduce levels and clinical effects of CYP3A4 substrates.
Adrafinil is a precursor to the stimulant prescription drug modafinil. Modafinil has been shown to weakly induce CYP3A4 activity.
Severity Moderate Likelihood Possible Evidence D

Interaction has been documented in animal or in lab research, or the interaction has been documented in humans but is limited to case reports or conflicting clinical research exists.

Dr. Brian Staiger, PharmD, BCPS
Dr. Brian Staiger explains PharmD, Clinical Pharmacist

Here's the key thing to understand: adrafinil and modafinil are essentially the same drug working through your body. Adrafinil is a prodrug that your liver converts straight into modafinil. So taking both together is really just taking more modafinil than you might realize, which can stack up the effects.

On top of that, modafinil mildly speeds up a liver enzyme called CYP3A4. That can lower the levels of some other medications cleared by that enzyme. With two sources of modafinil on board, you may notice more of its usual effects, like trouble sleeping, headache, jitteriness, a racing heart, or higher blood pressure. This concern is mostly theoretical, based on how the drug behaves. Still, please check with your pharmacist or doctor before combining them.

Contact Dr. Brian directly if you have additional questions on this interaction
References
  1. Urban AE, Cubala WJ. The role of eugeroics in the treatment of affective disorders. Psychiatr Pol. 2020;54(1):21-33. PubMed
  2. Provigil (modafinil) [package insert]. North Wales, PA: Teva Pharmaceuticals USA, Inc. Published: January 2015. Accessed on: Nov 11, 2022.
Moderate

STIMULANT DRUGS

3 of 3

Modafinil also falls under STIMULANT DRUGS.

Theoretically, taking adrafinil with stimulant drugs might have additive stimulant effects.
Adrafinil is a precursor to the prescription drug modafinil, which has stimulant effects.
Severity Moderate Likelihood Possible Evidence D

Interaction has been documented in animal or in lab research, or the interaction has been documented in humans but is limited to case reports or conflicting clinical research exists.

Dr. Brian Staiger, PharmD, BCPS
Dr. Brian Staiger explains PharmD, Clinical Pharmacist

Here's the key thing to understand: adrafinil isn't really a separate drug from modafinil. Your liver actually converts adrafinil into modafinil. So if you're already taking prescription modafinil and you add adrafinil on top, you're essentially stacking two sources of the same active compound. That's why this is flagged as a possible additive interaction.

The likely result is simply too much modafinil effect. Think headache, jitteriness, a racing or pounding heart, trouble sleeping, anxiety, nausea, and higher blood pressure. There's also a real liver safety concern with adrafinil specifically. This warning is theoretical and based on how these compounds work, not on hard study data, but the logic is sound. Please don't combine them on your own. Talk with your doctor or pharmacist first.

Contact Dr. Brian directly if you have additional questions on this interaction
References
  1. Urban AE, Cubala WJ. The role of eugeroics in the treatment of affective disorders. Psychiatr Pol. 2020;54(1):21-33. PubMed
  2. Chariot J, Appia F, Vaille C, Rozé C. Effect of modafinil on pancreatic exocrine secretion in rats. A comparison with adrafinil and related drugs. Fundam Clin Pharmacol 1987;1(4):243-52. PubMed

What These Ratings Mean

Every interaction above is graded three ways — here’s the key to each label.

Severity how clinically significant the interaction is
Major

Clinically significant. Avoid the combination, or use only under close professional supervision.

Moderate

Usually worth avoiding or managing — may need monitoring, a dose change, or timing apart.

Minor

Generally not serious. Be aware of it and mention it to your pharmacist.

Likelihood how strong the evidence is that the interaction actually happens in people
  • LikelyWell-controlled human studies have demonstrated the likely existence of this interaction.
  • ProbableInteraction has not been documented in well-controlled studies, however, the interaction has been demonstrated in some small human studies or in controlled animal studies in conjunction with multiple case reports.
  • PossibleInteraction has been documented in animal or in lab research, or the interaction has been documented in humans but is limited to case reports or conflicting clinical research exists.
  • UnlikelyInteraction has been demonstrated in animal or in lab research but has been shown not to occur in humans.
Evidence the quality of the studies behind the rating (graded A–D)
  • AHigh-quality meta-analysis (quantitative systematic review).
  • BCase-control study.
  • CConsensus.
  • DAnecdotal evidence.

These ratings are for information only. Never start, stop, or otherwise change your therapy before speaking with your provider.

Keep it in perspective

Adrafinil Also Interacts With Other Medications

Adrafinil has 1,056 moderate known drug interactions in our database — the Modafinil one above is among them. If you take anything else, check it against the full list below.

Moderate 1,056 No known interaction 1,774 (incl. Modafinil)
Taking anything else?

Check Another of Your Medications Against Adrafinil

Covers the 2,830 medications we’ve checked against Adrafinil. Pick one to open its full report.

Everything else you take

See Every Supplement That Interacts With Modafinil

This page covers Adrafinil only. If you take other supplements — a multivitamin, a sleep aid, something for joints — the Modafinil page lists 197 supplements it has a documented interaction with, worst first, each one explained.

The most serious there right now: Activated Charcoal (major), Ephedra (major), Grapefruit (major), Peyote (major) and Rauvolfia Vomitoria (major).

By severity: 8 major · 150 moderate · 39 minor.

From our pharmacist’s overview on the Modafinil page

“Of the 197 supplements and herbs flagged for modafinil (Provigil, Alertec), eight carry a major rating, and those deserve real caution. Most of the rest fall into two themes.”

Reviewed by 2 · Jul 18, 2026

Open the Modafinil interaction page

One more smart check

Taking Adrafinil as Part of a Dietary Supplement Product? Check It for Interactions

We hold 7 real supplement products containing Adrafinil, each one broken down to its full ingredient list — and combination products often carry several ingredients besides Adrafinil. Your product may carry other ingredients that interact with Modafinil too, on top of Adrafinil — and those would not show on this page. Find your product and we’ll check every ingredient on its label:

How much people look this up

Where Adrafinil and Modafinil Sit Against Everything Else

Out of every supplement and medication people look up on HelloPharmacist, here is where these two land this week — and which way each has been moving.

Supplement Adrafinil
Top half

#500 of 1,452 supplements looked up here in the last 7 days

29 days ago today
Medication Modafinil
Top half

#1,246 of 2,830 medications looked up here in the last 7 days

29 days ago today

Position among everything looked up on this site, not a measure of how commonly either one is used or how important it is. A supplement can climb this list because of a news story. It counts every request to the page, automated ones included, and nothing here identifies anyone.

Supplement

About Adrafinil

What is Adrafinil?

Adrafinil
  • Wakefulness and alertness
  • Fatigue
  • Focus and concentration
  • Cognitive enhancement (nootropic)
  • Daytime sleepiness

Adrafinil is a synthetic compound that the body converts into modafinil, a prescription wakefulness-promoting drug. It is sometimes sold as a nootropic supplement, but it is unregulated, carries real risks (especially to the liver), and is banned in some sports and countries. Talk with a doctor or pharmacist before using it.

Read the full Adrafinil monograph & all interactions
Medication

About Modafinil

What Is Modafinil Used For?

Brand names: Provigil, Sparlon, Alertec

Modafinil (also sold as Provigil) is used to improve wakefulness in adults who experience excessive sleepiness due to narcolepsy, obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), or shift work disorder (SWD).

In OSA, modafinil treats the sleepiness — not the underlying airway obstruction itself. It is used alongside standard treatments such as CPAP (a breathing device worn during sleep), not as a replacement for them. If CPAP is appropriate for you, your doctor will want you to use it consistently even while taking modafinil.

See full Modafinil drug information
Keep checking

Other Drugs & Adrafinil

Browse every other medication we’ve checked against Adrafinil — both the ones with a known interaction and the ones without. Select any drug for the full detail.

0Major
1,056Moderate
0Minor
1,773No known interaction
1,056 Moderate 1,773 No interaction
Moderate

1,056 interactions

Showing 60 of 1,056 moderate interactions — see all 1,056 on the Adrafinil page.

No interaction 1,773 drugs checked — show the list

We also checked Adrafinil against these medications and found no known interaction in our sources. Open any page to confirm.

Showing the 60 most looked-up of 1,773 medications checked with no known interaction — see the full Adrafinil list.

See the full Adrafinil interactions page
See every supplement checked against Modafinil, ranked by severity
Sources

Sources & How We Checked

Interaction details are evidence-graded and sourced from the Natural Medicines database. The medication overview comes from MedlinePlus.

Content is written and reviewed by licensed HelloPharmacist pharmacists. See our data sources and editorial standards for how this information is built and checked.

Parts of this content are provided by the Therapeutic Research Center, LLC.

DISCLAIMER: Currently this does not check for drug-drug interactions. This is not an all-inclusive comprehensive list of potential interactions and is for informational purposes only. Not all interactions are known or well-reported in the scientific literature, and new interactions are continually being reported. Input is needed from a qualified healthcare provider including a pharmacist before starting any therapy. Application of clinical judgment is necessary.

© 2021 Therapeutic Research Center, LLC

Keep exploring
Adrafinil monograph › Uses, safety, and every drug interaction in one place Modafinil supplement interactions › Every supplement checked against Modafinil, ranked by severity Modafinil drug information › The full plain-English guide to this medication Supplement interaction checker › Check any supplement or product against your medications Browse medications A–Z › Every drug we've checked against herbs & supplements Ask a pharmacist › Free, personal answer from our licensed team
Pharmacist Counseling Corner

Taking Adrafinil and Modafinil Together: Common Questions

Can you take Adrafinil with Modafinil?
This is rated a major interaction, so the combination is best avoided unless your doctor or pharmacist has specifically told you otherwise. Read the full details on this page and confirm with your pharmacist before combining them.
Why are there 3 interactions listed for Adrafinil and Modafinil?
Modafinil belongs to more than one drug category, and Adrafinil interacts with each of those categories a little differently. We list every one so nothing is missed — your overall risk is driven by the most serious of them.
How serious is the Adrafinil and Modafinil interaction?
We rate it Major. This is a clinically significant combination that is generally best avoided, or used only under the direct supervision of your physician or pharmacist.

Written and reviewed by the HelloPharmacist editorial staff. Our editorial policy

Still Have a Question About Modafinil and Adrafinil?

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This information is for education only and is not a substitute for professional medical advice. Always check with your pharmacist or doctor before starting, stopping, or combining supplements and medications.