Adrafinil Research Overview (also known as Olmifon, CRL-40028)
Adrafinil is a synthetic eugeroic compound developed as a prodrug that is metabolized primarily in the liver to modafinil, the wakefulness-promoting agent responsible for most of its pharmacological effects. It has a slower and less predictable onset than modafinil and has been studied for wakefulness and cognitive function, but it is no longer marketed as Olmifon and chronic or unsupervised use raises particular concerns about liver effects.
What Is Adrafinil?
Adrafinil is a synthetic wakefulness-promoting compound and prodrug of modafinil. After oral administration, the body converts adrafinil in the liver into modafinil, along with inactive or less active metabolites including modafinilic acid. Modafinil is therefore the principal pharmacologically active product associated with adrafinil. Because conversion must occur before substantial modafinil exposure is achieved, adrafinil generally has a slower, less predictable onset and a different pharmacokinetic profile from taking modafinil directly. It was investigated as a eugeroic, a term commonly used for agents intended to promote alertness without the broad stimulant profile of classical amphetamine-like drugs.
Adrafinil was developed in France in the 1970s by Lafon Laboratories and was subsequently marketed in France under the trade name Olmifon for indications related to reduced alertness and cognitive symptoms. Olmifon is no longer manufactured or marketed. In the United States, adrafinil is not scheduled under the federal Controlled Substances Act, but that fact does not make it an approved medicine, dietary supplement, or proven cognitive enhancer. Regulatory treatment varies by country, and products sold through online or research-chemical channels may not have reliable identity, purity, dose accuracy, or contamination controls. The absence of federal scheduling should not be interpreted as evidence of safety or legality for commercial sale, importation, or personal use.
Research Indications
Wakefulness & Fatigue
Excessive daytime sleepiness
Adrafinil is a prodrug converted in part to modafinil, a wakefulness-promoting agent studied in disorders involving excessive daytime sleepiness. Direct modern clinical evidence for adrafinil itself is limited.
Fatigue-related alertness
Research and historical use describe increased alertness and reduced subjective fatigue; effects can vary substantially with sleep debt, baseline fatigue, and conversion to modafinil.
Cognitive Performance
Attention during sleep loss
Evidence from the active metabolite, modafinil, suggests preservation of vigilance and some executive functions during sleep restriction. This should not be interpreted as replacing adequate sleep.
Executive-function tasks
Studies of modafinil in non-sleep-deprived participants report mixed, task-dependent effects on planning, attention, and decision-making; direct adrafinil trials are sparse.
Mood & Motivation
Apathy and reduced drive
Older literature and anecdotal reports describe possible effects on initiative and psychomotor slowing, but robust contemporary controlled evidence is insufficient.
Subjective mood effects
Improved energy may be perceived as improved mood in some users, while anxiety, irritability, or insomnia may worsen mood in others.
Mechanistic Research
Prodrug conversion
After oral administration, adrafinil undergoes hepatic metabolism to modafinil and an inactive metabolite, making onset and exposure less predictable than direct modafinil administration.
Dopamine transporter activity
Modafinil has been shown to interact with dopamine transport processes, among other neurochemical systems; the complete basis of wakefulness promotion remains unresolved.
Research Protocols
As reported in cited literature and research-community logs (see Research Citations below) — not a personal dosing recommendation.
| Research Application | Dose | Frequency | Route |
|---|
| Initial tolerability assessment | 150–300 mg | Once, early day | Oral |
| Wakefulness research range | 300–600 mg | Once daily | Oral |
| Higher historical protocol range | 600–900 mg | Once daily | Oral |
| Intermittent research use | 300–600 mg | As protocolled; not late day | Oral |
Timing
Oral adrafinil has a delayed and variable onset because it requires metabolic conversion to modafinil. Research-oriented use is generally placed early in the day; late administration can interfere with nighttime sleep. Food, liver function, and individual metabolism may alter timing and intensity.
Peptide Interactions
May add to insomnia, anxiety, tremor, palpitations, and elevated blood pressure. Conservative stimulant exposure is prudent.
Adrafinil is converted to modafinil; combining them can create unpredictable total exposure and duplicate adverse-effect risk.
Amphetamine- and methylphenidate-class medicines may produce additive stimulation and cardiovascular or psychiatric adverse effects.
Modafinil-related enzyme induction may reduce exposure to some steroidal contraceptives; professional contraceptive advice and backup methods may be needed.
Modafinil can affect drug-metabolizing enzymes. Medicines with narrow therapeutic windows require pharmacist or prescriber review.
Alcohol may impair judgment despite perceived alertness and can complicate assessment of adverse effects, sleep disruption, and liver-related risk.
Reported Research Timeline
010–2 hours: oral absorption and metabolic conversion begin; many people report little immediate effect compared with direct modafinil.
022–4 hours: wakefulness-related effects may become more noticeable as modafinil exposure rises; onset is variable between individuals.
034–8 hours: alertness, task persistence, reduced sleepiness, headache, appetite changes, or nervousness may be most apparent.
048–14 hours: residual stimulation can persist. Late-day dosing may delay sleep onset or reduce sleep quality.
05Next day: poor sleep, excessive stimulation, or an inadequate recovery period may offset any perceived cognitive benefit.
06Repeated use: monitor sleep, mood, blood pressure where relevant, and liver-related symptoms; ongoing use should be clinician-supervised.
Safety Notes
Included for harm-reduction awareness only, in the event this compound is encountered outside its labeled research use. Inclusion here does not imply RUO Codes endorses, recommends, or instructs human use.
Adrafinil is hepatically metabolized and has been associated with liver-enzyme concerns; avoid unsupervised long-term use and discuss liver monitoring with a clinician.
Commonly reported stimulant-like effects include headache, nausea, dry mouth, appetite suppression, nervousness, and insomnia.
Avoid use near bedtime and do not use wakefulness-promoting compounds to compensate for chronic inadequate sleep.
Use caution with anxiety disorders, panic symptoms, hypertension, arrhythmias, bipolar-spectrum conditions, or a history of psychosis.
Review all prescription medicines, particularly hormonal contraceptives, anticoagulants, antiseizure medicines, and psychiatric medicines, with a pharmacist or prescriber.
Seek Medical Attention If:
A rash, blistering, mouth sores, facial swelling, fever, or other signs of a serious hypersensitivity reaction occur.
Chest pain, fainting, severe palpitations, shortness of breath, or a sustained marked increase in heart rate occurs.
Yellowing of the skin or eyes, dark urine, persistent abdominal pain, unusual fatigue, or persistent vomiting develops.
Severe agitation, mania-like symptoms, hallucinations, suicidal thoughts, or dangerous behavioral changes emerge.
Quality Indicators
Verified Marker
Batch-specific certificate of analysis
A credible COA identifies the lot number, test date, testing laboratory, analytical method, and measured adrafinil content.
Verified Marker
Independent HPLC or LC-MS identity and purity testing
Prefer third-party chromatographic testing that reports identity confirmation and quantified purity rather than an unverified vendor claim.
Verified Marker
Heavy-metal and microbiological screening
Oral products should have current third-party results for lead, arsenic, cadmium, mercury, and relevant microbial contaminants.
Acceptable Range
Accurate capsule or tablet labeling
The declared milligrams per unit, excipients, serving size, and lot number should be clearly stated and consistent with the supporting assay.
Quality Concern
Missing, generic, or unverifiable laboratory documents
Avoid products with no lot-specific COA, implausibly perfect results, no laboratory traceability, or testing that does not identify the finished oral product.
Research Citations
- Modafinil: a review of neurochemical actions and effects on cognition
Minzenberg, M. J., Carter, C. S., et al., 2008, Neuropharmacology - Modafinil for cognitive neuroenhancement in healthy non-sleep-deprived subjects: A systematic review
Battleday, R. M., Brem, A. K., et al., 2015, European Neuropsychopharmacology - Clinical pharmacokinetic profile of modafinil
Robertson, P., Hellriegel, E. T., et al., 2003, Clinical Pharmacokinetics - A systematic review of modafinil: Potential clinical uses and mechanisms of action
Ballon, J. S., Feifel, D., et al., 2006, Journal of Clinical Psychiatry - A double-blind, placebo-controlled study of modafinil in the treatment of pathological somnolence in narcolepsy
Mignot, E., Nishino, S., Guilleminault, C., Dement, W. C., et al., 1994, Sleep
Research Focus
wakefulness, modafinil prodrug, liver metabolism, cognitive enhancement, nootropic, elderly
Frequently Asked Questions
What should researchers watch for with Adrafinil?
Included for harm-reduction awareness only, in the event this compound is encountered outside its labeled research use. Inclusion here does not imply RUO Codes endorses, recommends, or instructs human use.
What should researchers expect over time with Adrafinil?
0–2 hours: oral absorption and metabolic conversion begin; many people report little immediate effect compared with direct modafinil.
How is Adrafinil typically administered in research?
As reported in cited literature and research-community logs (see Research Citations below) — not a personal dosing recommendation.
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