Snorting Modafinil is not approved by the FDA and can damage the muscus gland, causing severe nose bleeds. People who snort Modafinil by crushing the pill have a higher risk of experiencing side effects and overdosing.
Can you snort Modafinil?
This is one question that most people with a history of substance abuse often think about.
Snorting is using prescription or recreational drugs by crushing or chopping them for nasal administration.
Modafinil snorting is gaining popularity for its faster efficacy and higher abuse potential. But is it ideal for one to snort it, and what may be its repercussions?
This comprehensive blog investigates the benefits and detrimental effects of snorting Modafinil tablets.
Snorting Modafinil- Knowing The Basics
Modafinil is a wake-promoting eugeroic compound that was first marketed in the 1990s as a treatment for excessive daytime sleepiness associated with Obstructive sleep apnea, Shift work sleep disorder, and Narcolepsy. Modafinil is retailed under the brand name Modalert, which showcases a similar efficacy and safety profile as its generic version.
Its faster onset of action (within 30 minutes) and numerous off-label benefits are major reasons people buy Modalert 200 mg online.
Modafinil (Modalert) has a low abuse potency but can produce euphoric and psychoactive effects on the central nervous system when taken in larger doses.
People planning to snort Modafinil must be aware of its potential health risks. Even though snorting Modafinil can produce faster results, the FDA and physicians advise otherwise.
So, let us understand how drugs are processed in the body.
How Does Snorting A Drug Affect The Body?
As snorting of a drug is different from oral administration, it affects the brain differently. While snorting a medication, including Modafinil, the drug is absorbed through the nasal membrane. It then goes into the surrounding blood vessels.
The blood vessels then carry the drug to the heart and through the bloodstream to the brain, where it interacts with the receptors of the brain. It also allows the drug to enter the bloodstream quicker than when swallowed. This thus causes the effect of the drug on the body to be much quicker than oral administration. This results in a faster and more intense effect of the drug.
Why Do People Snort Modafinil?
Snorting Nootropics is not recommended by the FDA guidelines and is often associated with abuse and addiction. However, two notable reasons for people snorting Modafinil include-
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People often snort Modafinil for sedation and euphoric effects. It also helps people achieve a sense of “high” when taken as monotherapy or in conjugation with other compounds. Most people often consider snorting prescription drugs to be safer compared to street drugs. However, this is not the case. Prescription medications such as Modafinil are formulated to be taken in a particular way. Diverting from its original route of administration can have serious health risks [4].
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Snorting medication affects the brain and body, making them want to get more or keep using it. Further, it releases dopamine in the body, which induces a "pleasurable behavior or feeling" that may often result in abuse.
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The low cost of Modafinil compared to the most commonly available Nootropics makes it a much preferred choice. With the advancement of online pharmacies, reports of Modafinil and Modalert online purchases have risen. This ease of accessibility and availability of Nootropics may also contribute to the higher risk of abuse.
Reasons Why Modafinil Snorting Is Not Recommended
There are numerous reasons why one should avoid snorting Modafinil even though it showcases promising efficacy and clinical results, some of which are listed below.
Pharmaceutical Formulation And Development -
Modafinil is an oral pill, and it is formulated for oral ingestion. The formulation of Nootropic contains fillers that stabilize the drug in tablet form. In addition, following other routes of administration can potentially elevate the risk of experiencing adverse effects.
Non-Availability Of Powder Form-
Modafinil and its brand drugs, such as Modalert and Provigil, are only available as tablets. Therefore, to snort Modafinil, it must be crushed into a fine powder, which may alter its pharmacodynamics, making the nootropic act faster.
Water Insoluble-
Modafinil is a hydrophobic compound (which does not dissolve well in water), as suggested by the website PubChem. Thus, nasal administration is extremely painful.
Dosing Concern-
The recommended dose of Modafinil is 200mg as a single tablet once in the morning. Overdosing on Nootropics can cause signs of anxiety, agitation, confusion, disorientation, restlessness, and digestive changes such as diarrhea, nausea, and vomiting [2].
When Modafinil is crushed, monitoring the dosage can be challenging, especially when it is done solely for abuse.
While snorting Modafinil, people often fail to snort the entire dose, creating room for errors. Such people often develop tolerance, and gradually, Modafinil stops working. Thus, the best way to administer the dose is to take it orally. For smaller doses, you can split the pill into halves or take a lower dose of Nootropic.
Recognizing the Signs of Modafinil Misuse
Snorting Modafinil is one of the key signs of abuse. Its ability to cause faster and higher effects is a key reason for abusing Modafinil by snorting. It can also be a significant concern among teens. Thus, identifying the signs of snorting and misuse can help both individuals and parents monitor and prevent Modafinil abuse.
The physical signs of misusing Modafinil include [5]:
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Nosebleed
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Difficulty swallowing and breathing
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Runny nose
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Nasal problem or chronic sinus
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Sores on nose or mouth
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Hoarseness
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Allergic signs of cold
Modafinil can cause tension headaches in a few individuals who abuse or overdose Nootropics.
Will Modafinil Show Up On A Drug Test If It Is Snorted?
Yes, even if it is snorted, Modafinil will show up in a drug test if it is conducted specifically to detect its presence or if it is done before the elimination of the compound.
Is Modafinil More Effective When Snorted?
One of the main reasons people snort Modafinil is that it allows the Nootropic to enter the bloodstream quickly. Thus, snorting Nootropics works faster compared to oral administration.
The scientific reasons contributing to its faster efficacy and mode of action are:
Modafinil Snort Enables A More Direct Route To The Bloodstream-
The nose has numerous tiny blood vessels that inject drugs directly into the bloodstream. The large surface area of these capillaries enables the medicine to get into the bloodstream efficiently.
On the other hand, the oral administration of the Modafinil pill involves numerous metabolic pathways before entering the bloodstream. The route of oral intake of Modafinil includes the stomach's acidic environment and the alkaline nature of the duodenum, followed by interactions with other compounds taken as food and drinks.
The absorption rate of Modafinil in the bloodstream through oral administration is about 40 to 60%.
Efficacy Is Independent Of Metabolization In The Liver-
Another reason contributing to the faster effectiveness of snorting Modafinil is that the compound begins to act before getting metabolized in the liver.
The liver is responsible for detoxifying the compounds that enter the body. The metabolism in the liver breaks down the compound, thus reducing the amount of the active compound and slowing down the onset of action.
Snorting Modafinil reduces the nootropic's metabolism rate, allowing the effects to act faster and better.
Modafinil Snort: Clinical Study On Its Intranasal Delivery
A study conducted by Mary Ann Katherine Greco et al. to establish a clear understanding of the efficacy and demerits of modafinil snorting suggests that a deep intranasal delivery of Modafinil in rats showed altered sleep-wake behavior with a dramatic reduction in the dose to stimulate wakefulness.
The outcome of the study can be summarized in the points mentioned below.
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The rats woke up within one minute post intranasal administration of Modafinil. Whereas the control rats after 4 to 5 minutes after termination of the anesthesia.
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Hypnogram representations indicate induction of wakefulness in rats at a 100-fold lower dose through modafinil snorting.
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Intranasal attempts to deliver a dose equivalent to the oral dose overcame the effects of anesthesia and woke the animal.
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The study showcases that snorting Modafinil shows similar effects at 0.25 to 0.50% of the oral dosage.
Dangers Of Snorting Modafinil
Snorting works much faster than oral administration, but the question here is,
“Do its benefits outweigh its health risks?”
Snorting Modafinil can have numerous health consequences. Since they are not formulated for nasal administration, snorting Nootropics can be detrimental and can cause health issues, as mentioned in the image below.
Modafinil, when taken through the nasal passage, causes the chief concern associated with its administration is the damage to the respiratory system. It can damage the mucus membrane, making normal breathing difficult. In severe cases, snorting Modafinil can affect the sense of smell [4].
A damaged mucus membrane can escalate the risk of contracting blood-borne diseases such as HIV and hepatitis C. It is more prevalent in people sharing snorting paraphernalia.
Frequent or long-term Modafinil snorting can damage the septum (the cartilage between the nostrils).
Further, Modafinil tolerance is also likely to develop in people who snort the medication.
A few other health effects of snorting are palpitation, constipation, vomiting, dizziness, and shaking [4].
How Do I Take Modafinil?
Modafinil is an oral tablet that should not be snorted but should be swallowed with water. A few other administration guidelines that should be considered while taking Modafinil to avoid misuse and abuse are listed below-
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Do not overdose.
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Avoid taking other medications and supplements with Modafinil.
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Avoid breaking and crushing the pill before intake.
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Do not consume alcoholic beverages with Modafinil.
Can Modafinil Be Cut In Half?
Modafinil is a scored tablet, which means the manufacturer has placed a line down the middle of the pill to indicate that it can be split in half.
Reviews And Anecdotes Of Modafinil Snorting
Nootropic enthusiasts and addicts often discuss Snorting Modafinil. And what can draw a better image than user reviews on taking Nootropics through the nasal route?
So, here is an anthology of anecdotes of Modafinil snorting from Reddit and Quora [7,8].
Treatment And Medical Help
Modafinil snorting and abuse symptoms can be improved with the following treatment options-
Medical Detox-
This is an effective way to control withdrawal symptoms following an abuse. It allows a patient to discontinue the treatment under medical supervision. A medical detox program provides assistance with the side effects of addiction.
Dual-Diagnosis Treatment-
It is also known as the co-occurring treatment that deals with both abuse and associated mental health issues. Modafinil abuse symptoms often include sleepiness, low mood, and reduced focus with underlying signs of depression that can be effectively treated and improved with a Dual-diagnosis treatment.
Intensive Outpatient and Outpatient Therapies-
These sessions with a counselor discuss adequate coping skills and recognize the trigger points. Since Modafinil is often used off-label as a study study or to stay focused, discontinuing the treatment often results in people struggling in these areas.
Thus, your counselor will help you find strategies to improve your focus and let you study well without needing the Nootropic.
Snorting Modafinil- The Verdict
Modafinil is not formulated or developed for intranasal delivery and, thus, is unavailable in powder form. Crushing and breaking the Modafinil pill for snorting the Nootropic has a potential risk of overdosing and side effects. So, let us run down the findings along with the merits and demerits of snorting Modafinil.
Outlook Of The Health Risks Associated With Modafinil Snorting-
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The only benefit of snorting Modafinil is faster efficacy. However, its potential health risks outweigh its benefits.
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Modafinil is formulated with fillers to stabilize the medicine in tablet form. Inhaling these stabilizers while snorting Modafinil can cause severe nose bleeding, further damaging the mucus glands of the individuals.
We recommend the traditional method of administering Modafinil (swallowing the tablet through the mouth) over intranasal delivery. The oral ingestion of the pill is much safer, with a low risk of experiencing side effects.