Modafinil vs Adderall: What To Know

Modafinil and Adderall generics or biosimilars

A generic drug contains an exact copy of the active ingredient in a brand-name medication.

• modafinil:
  • Available as a generic: yes (modafinil is a generic drug for the brand-name drug Provigil)
  • Active ingredient: modafinil
• Adderall:
  • Available as a generic: yes
  • Active ingredient: mixed dextroamphetamine/amphetamine salts

If your doctor prescribes Adderall and you’re interested in taking the generic version instead, talk with your doctor or pharmacist.

Uses for modafinil and Adderall

Modafinil and Adderall are both prescribed to treat narcolepsy. Modafinil and Adderall have other uses as well.

The following table includes details on the conditions each drug treats.

To learn more about using modafinil or Adderall to treat your condition, talk with your doctor.

* Adderall XR (extended-release) capsules are not approved for this use, but may still be prescribed off-label for treating narcolepsy. With off-label use, doctors prescribe a drug for a purpose other than what it’s approved for.

Modafinil or Adderall and children

Adderall immediate-release tablets are used to help treat attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) in children ages 3 years and older. Immediate-release Adderall tablets are also used to treat narcolepsy in children ages 6 year and older.

Adderall XR capsules are approved for treating ADHD in children ages 6 years and older.

Modafinil may be used off-labe to treat ADHD in children. With off-label use, doctors prescribe a drug for a purpose other than what it’s approved for.

For more information about Adderall, Adderall XR, and modafinil and children, talk with your child’s doctor.

Dosage, forms, and administration for modafinil and Adderall

Here’s an overview of modafinil and Adderall dosages and how you would take these drugs for the conditions they both treat.

Modafinil is also used to improving wakefulness in adults with obstructive sleep apnea or shift work disorder. And Adderall is also used to treat ADHD, but these uses aren’t addressed here. To learn more about the dosages for all conditions these drugs help treat or prevent, see the modafinil dosage article and Adderall dosage article.

Dosage for narcolepsy

Side effects of modafinil and Adderall

If you take modafinil or Adderall, you may experience mild or serious side effects.

For more information about possible side effects, see the modafinil side effects article and Adderall side effects article.

Mild side effects

Modafinil and Adderall may cause mild side effects. The following table lists examples of mild side effects that have been reported with these drugs.

This table may not include all mild side effects of these drugs. For more information on mild side effects, see the modafinil prescribing information and Adderall prescribing information.

Serious side effects

Serious side effects may also occur in people using modafinil or Adderall. The following table includes serious side effects reported with these drugs.

To learn about your specific risk of serious side effects from modafinil or Adderall, talk with your doctor or pharmacist.

* Adderall has a boxed warning for this side effect. A boxed warning is the most serious warning from the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). To learn more, see the “What are the warnings of modafinil and Adderall?” section.

Allergic reaction

For some people, modafinil and Adderall can cause an allergic reaction.

In general, symptoms of an allergic reaction can be mild or serious.

What might help

If you have mild symptoms of an allergic reaction, such as a mild rash, call your doctor right away. They may suggest a treatment to manage your symptoms and can determine whether you should keep taking modafinil or Adderall.

If you have symptoms of a severe allergic reaction, such as swelling or difficulty breathing, call 911 or your local emergency number right away. These symptoms could be life threatening and require immediate medical care.

If your doctor confirms you’ve had a serious allergic reaction to modafinil or Adderall, they may have you switch to a different treatment.

FAQ about modafinil and Adderall

Get answers to some frequently asked questions about modafinil and Adderall.

How do Adderall and modafinil compare vs. Vyvanse?

Adderall and Vyvanse are similar medications. They’re both stimulants used to treat ADHD in adults and certain children. Adderall is also approved for treating narcolepsy, while Vyvanse is also approved for treating moderate to severe binge eating disorder in adults.

Unlike Adderall and Vyvanse, modafinil is not approved for treating ADHD. Instead, it’s prescribed to treat fatigue and improve wakefulness in adults with narcolepsy, obstructive sleep apnea, or shift work sleep disorder. In addition, modafinil is a generic drug, while Adderall and Vyvanse are both brand-name drugs.

If you’d like to learn more about how these drugs compare, talk with your doctor or pharmacist.

How do Adderall and modafinil compare vs. Ritalin?

Ritalin and Adderall are similar drugs. Both are stimulants which are approved for treating ADHD and narcolepsy in adults and certain children. Adderall contains mixed dextroamphetamine/amphetamine salts as the active ingredient, while methylphenidate is the active ingredient in Ritalin.

Modafinil is approved for treating fatigue and improve wakefulness in adults with narcolepsy, obstructive sleep apnea, or shift work sleep disorder. Unlike Ritalin and Adderall, modafinil isn’t used to treat ADHD. And, modafinil isn’t approved for any use in children.

Talk with your doctor or pharmacist if you’re interested in learning more about how these medications compare.

Are modafinil and Adderall approved for weight loss? If so, can you tell me how they compare for this use?

No, neither modafinil nor Adderall are approved for weight loss. To learn more about the conditions these medications are approved for, see “Uses for modafinil and Adderall” in this article.

Weight loss was reported as a side effect in studies of Adderall, but was not a side effect in modafinil’s studies. If you’re concerned about weight loss while taking Adderall, let your doctor know. They can review strategies to maintain a weight that’s satisfactory for you.

If you’re interested in medications approved for weight loss, your doctor or pharmacist can review these treatments with you.

Effectiveness of modafinil and Adderall

Modafinil and Adderall are both used to treat narcolepsy in adults. Studies of modafinil and Adderall have shown that both drugs are effective for this use.

In addition, the American Academy of Sleep Medicine Association includes both drugs in its treatment recommendations for narcolepsy.

It’s important to note that your results from modafinil or Adderall may differ from those seen in studies. Talk with your doctor about whether one of these drugs is right for you.

If you’d like to read more about how each drug performed in studies, see the prescribing information for modafinil and Adderall.

Cost of modafinil and Adderall

Whether you have health insurance or not, cost may be a factor when you’re considering these drugs.

For more details about the cost of these drugs, see the modafinil cost article and Adderall cost article.

Keep in mind that what you’ll pay for either drug will depend on your treatment plan, health insurance, and the pharmacy you use.

Modafinil is the generic form of the brand-name drug Provigil. Adderall is a brand-name drug that also has a generic form. You’ll usually pay more for brand-name drugs than generics. If you’re interested in using the generic form of Adderall, talk with your doctor.

What are the warnings for modafinil and Adderall?

Modafinil and Adderall may not be right for you if you have certain medical conditions or other factors that affect your health. The prescribing information for these drugs refers to these factors as warnings.

The drugs share some of the same warnings, but they also have different ones. Some of these warnings are mentioned here. Before you start using modafinil or Adderall, be sure to talk with your doctor to check whether these warnings apply to you.

Boxed warning: Risk of misuse and dependence

Adderall has a boxed warning. A boxed warning is the most serious warning from the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). It alerts doctors and patients about drug effects that may be dangerous.

Risk of misuse and dependence. Stimulants, including Adderall, have a high risk for misuse and dependence. With misuse, a drug is taken in a way other than how a doctor prescribes it. And with dependence, your body needs the drug to function as usual. Misusing Adderall can lead to stimulant use disorder, a type of substance use disorder. In rare cases, misusing Adderall can cause serious side effects or death. Using Adderall at higher doses, as well as taking it long-term, increases the risk for dependence.

Before prescribing Adderall, your doctor should evaluate your risk for Adderall misuse and dependence. If they prescribe Adderall to you, they’ll monitor for symptoms of misuse throughout treatment. You should also monitor yourself for symptoms of Adderall misuse, such as using the drug to feel “high” or skipping school or work obligations due to misusing the drug. While you’re taking Adderall, be sure to keep the drug stored securely in a place where others cannot access it.

Other warnings

In addition to boxed warnings, modafinil and Adderall have other warnings.

Before using modafinil or Adderall, talk with your doctor if any of the following conditions or health factors apply to you.

• Warnings for Adderall:
  • if you have Raynaud phenomenon or another condition affecting blood flow
  • if you have seizures or have had them in the past
  • if you have taken a monoamine oxidase inhibitor (MAOI) drug, such as phenelzine (Nardil), in the past 14 days
• Warnings for both modafinil and Adderall:
  • if you’ve had an allergic reaction to either drug or any of its ingredients
  • if you’re pregnant or planning to become pregnant
  • if you’re breastfeeding or planning to breastfeed
  • if you have depression, bipolar disorder, or another mental health condition
  • if you have or have had suicidal thoughts or behaviors
  • if you have heart disease, including high blood pressure or if you’ve had a heart attack
  • if you have Tourette syndrome, or another condition which causes verbal or motor tics
  • if you have a substance use disorder
  • if you have a kidney problem, such as chronic kidney disease
  • if you have a liver problem, such as fatty liver disease

To learn more about these drugs, see these modafinil and Adderall overviews.

Switching between modafinil and Adderall

Modafinil and Adderall are both approved for treating narcolepsy in adults. You may be able to switch between modafinil and Adderall with your doctor’s approval.

Details: If you’re an adult taking modafinil or Adderall for narcolepsy and are interested in switching to the other drug, talk with your doctor. Your doctor can discuss whether the other drug is safe for you to take, and if so, they’ll instruct you on the proper way to switch treatment.

Reminder: You should not switch drugs or stop your current treatment unless your doctor recommends it.

Disclaimer: Healthline has made every effort to make certain that all information is factually correct, comprehensive, and up to date. However, this article should not be used as a substitute for the knowledge and expertise of a licensed healthcare professional. You should always consult your doctor or another healthcare professional before taking any medication. The drug information contained herein is subject to change and is not intended to cover all possible uses, directions, precautions, warnings, drug interactions, allergic reactions, or adverse effects. The absence of warnings or other information for a given drug does not indicate that the drug or drug combination is safe, effective, or appropriate for all patients or all specific uses.