A lot of sleep disorders cause excessive daytime sleepiness. People feel drowsy and lethargic at unwanted times. From biological clock dysregulation to insomnia, there are numerous causes of such problems. At the end of the day, such issues cause long term effects. They cause you to lose productivity, become irritable, interfere with relationships, and give rise to more health problems.
Modafinil and armodafinil are two popular medications to treat sleeping disorders. These are prescription-medicines that make you more alert and awake. Both of these medications are FDA-approved for the treatment of narcolepsy, obstructive sleep apnea, and shift work sleep disorder.
Let us know more about the generic forms of these drugs- Waklert (armodafinil) and Modalert (modafinil).
Waklert and Modalert: Similarities
Modalert and Waklert are based on modafinil and armodafinil, respectively. These are very similar drugs with minor differences. In this section, we will discuss the similarities between Waklert and Modalert.
Chemical nature
Modafinil is a mixture of two chemicals- R-modafinil and S-modafinil. These chemicals are enantiomers, i.e., mirror images of each other. This means they have the same chemical composition but differ structurally. The R isomer present in modafinil is armodafinil. Hence, due to their similar chemical structure, they have the same properties.
Abuse potential
Both modafinil and armodafinil are classified under Schedule IV of the Controlled Substances Act (CSA). This means that these drugs are less likely to cause addiction but need a doctor’s prescription for consumption. Generally, CNS stimulants cause you to feel “high,” which means feeling euphoric, excessively joyful, and hyper-energetic. This can cause you to become addicted. Modalert and Waklert do not produce such excessive reactions, although there can be some psychotropic effects.
Mode of Action
The exact mechanism by which Modalert and Waklert promote wakefulness is not known. However, studies on these drugs revealed that they increase dopamine levels in your brain. Dopamine, as we know, regulates a lot of functions, including the sleep cycle. However, they do not increase dopamine production but keep it from re-entering the neurons. Theoretically, both modafinil and armodafinil make you awake by increasing dopamine levels.
Comparison of Waklert and Modalert
In the earlier section, we saw how modafinil and armodafinil have very similar chemical properties. They, however, do differ in their pharmacological profiles. Studies on modafinil and armodafinil gave the following results:
Modafinil is metabolized quicker as compared to armodafinil. The plasma concentrations of both chemicals were tested at the end of the day. It was found that the concentration of armodafinil was higher than modafinil. This means that armodafinil stays longer in your body than modafinil
Hence, armodafinil is required at a lower concentration than modafinil to give the same effect. This is why we see that the recommended dosage of Modalert is 200 mg, while that of Waklert is 150 mg for the same treatment.
The table below summarizes the similarities and differences between Waklert (armodafinil) and Modalert (modafinil).
| Modalert (modafinil) | Waklert (armodafinil) | |
| FDA approval in | 1998 | 2007 |
| Type of drug | Stimulant | Stimulant |
| Category according to CSA | Schedule IV | Schedule IV |
| Mode of action | Increase in dopamine levels | Increase in dopamine levels |
| On-label treatment for | Narcolepsy, obstructive sleep apnea and Shift work sleep disorder | Narcolepsy, obstructive sleep apnea, and Shift work sleep disorder |
| Administration | Oral tablets | Oral tablets |
| Recommended dosage | 200 mg per day | 150 mg per day |
| Who can use it? | Adults over 18 years | Adults over 18 years |
| Average cost per 30 tablets | $217.21 for 200 mg | $206.49 for 150mg |
Conclusion: Making the Decision
Waklert and Modalert are great options to treat your excessive sleepiness. Both of these have less potential to cause addiction compared to amphetamines-drugs. However, there are minor differences between the two medications. If your body cannot tolerate the minimum required dosage of modafinil, you might work well with armodafinil.
As mentioned earlier, Modalert and Waklert are prescription drugs. You cannot consume these by your own will. Also, remember that these are brain stimulants. So, the best course of action would be to discuss it with your doctor. Your doctor, based on your health and medical history, will decide which of the two drugs are the best for you.