Modafinil is a stimulant used to improve wakefulness in patients with sleep apnea, narcolepsy, or shift work disorder. Modafinil is a stimulant drug marketed as a 'wakefulness promoting agent' and is one of the stimulants used in the treatment of narcolepsy.
- Mechanism
- Curator reviewed
The exact mechanism of action is unclear, although in vitro studies have shown it to inhibit the reuptake of dopamine by binding to the dopamine reuptake pump, and lead to an increase in extracellular dopamine. Modafinil activates glutamatergic circuits while inhibiting GABA. Modafinil is thought to have less potential for abuse than other stimulants due to the absence of any significant euphoric or pleasurable effects. It is possible that modafinil acts by a synergistic combination of mechanisms including direct inhibition of dopamine reuptake, indirect inhibition of noradrenalin reuptake in the VLPO and orexin activation. Modafinil has partial alpha 1B-adrenergic agonist effects by directly stimulating the receptors.
- Primary indication
- To improve wakefulness in patients with excessive daytime sleepiness (EDS) associated with narcolepsy.Curator reviewed · 7 structured indications
- Formula / weight
- C15H15NO2S · 273.35 g/mol (avg)
- First approval
- Canada, 2014 · United States, 1998
- Code names
- CEP-1538 · CRC-40476 · CRL-40476 · DEP-1538
- Brand names
Resolves to
YFGHCGITMMYXAQ-UHFFFAOYSA-NSMILESNC(=O)CS(=O)C(C1=CC=CC=C1)C1=CC=CC=C1What you can answer from here — as of September 23, 2026
Which drugs share a target with Modafinil, and which of those have an active Phase 3 trial?
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