What it is
A wakefulness-promoting agent available as oral tablets. Schedule IV controlled substance in the US.
How it works
The exact mechanism is not fully characterized. Modafinil weakly inhibits the dopamine transporter and influences orexin, histaminergic, and noradrenergic systems involved in arousal.
Where it's used
Used to improve wakefulness in narcolepsy, obstructive sleep apnea with residual sleepiness, and shift work sleep disorder.
FDA-approved use
Narcolepsy, obstructive sleep apnea (as adjunct to standard treatment), and shift work sleep disorder.
Tracking it
Modafinil is oral, which makes consistency the whole game — a simple daily check-off with a reminder beats memory every time. with a half-life of about 15 hours, a dose log also lets a tracker model the relative amount still in your system between doses.
Source
OpenFDA
Last reviewed 2026-06-11