Can You Mix Modafinil And Alcohol?
The short answer is, yes. Can I do it safely? Probably not...
Depending on how you use Modafinil, there's a possibility that the two substances might interact with each other in a way that could be dangerous.
Although mixing Modafinil and Alcohol together can cause quite a few complications, it is certainly possible to take Modafinil at the same time as drinking alcohol.
In fact, there are people who do this on a fairly regular basis. But it's certainly not recommended.
However, there are plenty of people out there who swear by this practice as a way to drink less while also getting hammered with no hangovers.
How Do Modafinil & Alcohol Work In Combination?
If you're taking Modafinil to treat your ADHD or narcolepsy, then the negative effect of combining Modafinil with alcohol probably isn't going to outweigh the positive effects of having a few drinks.
There are a lot of anecdotal reports online where people discuss how they've used Modafinil as a way to get drunk but with no hangovers.
Modafinil is a prescription drug that was originally created to treat sleep disorders such as narcolepsy and sleep apnea.
However, the effects of the drug were noticed early on and it's now often used off-label by many people who want to get stuff done.
Modafinil works in a variety of ways to improve wakefulness in users.
It stimulates the release of several neurotransmitters including histamine, serotonin, norepinephrine, epinephrine, dopamine and glutamate.
Modafinil also increases the expression of GABA-A receptors in the brain which leads to an overall calming effect on users.
The way this interacts with alcohol is pretty complex but basically this means that it can mess you up good if you combine these two substances together when you drink enough so that your blood alcohol content (BAC) gets above .04% or so.
Mostly you'll just be impaired by them both together (some people are very sensitive to Modafinil and Alcohol - instead of feeling energetic they actually become agitated and depressed).
What Are The Dangers?
In rare cases, you can have dangerous reactions that lead to seizures or even death.
But the chances of that are really really small.
When you drink any amount of alcohol, your body will release some amount of the neurotransmitter GABA in order to slow down or calm you down (this happens because alcohol is a very potent GABA inhibitor).
Modafinil works differently, but it's going to have the same effect on you: it will amplify the traditional effects of alcohol on your brain.
Modafinil is thought to be less habit-forming than most stimulants, especially if used responsibly and only for an intended purpose (like treating narcolepsy).
The safety record is very solid because there are no addictive substances in it and tolerance isn't really a thing with Modafinil like it is with nearly every other stimulant out there (including caffeine).
Modafinil's medical uses make combining it with alcohol akin to mixing alcohol and any other common prescription drug.
The primary danger of mixing Modafinil with alcohol is that your judgment will be impaired to the point where you need to be extra careful about everything you do.
This is true for a lot of people, but it's especially dangerous if you're already an alcoholic or just someone who has a tendency towards risky behavior when they drink.
Modafinil is also very strong in comparison to other stimulants so if you try mixing it with any other kind of drug - including alcohol - then you're going to dramatically increase your chance of having serious side effects.
Should You Mix Alcohol And Modafinil?
Mixing Modafinil and Alcohol is a really bad idea.
Modafinil is only meant to be taken with a clear mind - alcohol certainly isn't going to do that for you.
If you're going to drink alcohol with Modafinil, the best-case scenario is that you'll have a fun night but feel pretty worn out in the morning (though according to some anecdotal reports online, people actually experience zero hangovers the next day).
The worst-case scenario could be something much worse including unconsciousness, seizures or even death.
Modafinil on its own can cause side effects such as headaches, nausea, anxiety and insomnia in some users but these side effects are generally short-lived and only occur during the first few days of use.
Other side effects associated with long-term use of Modafinil include anxiety, lack of appetite and impaired judgment (which could make it dangerous to mix with alcohol).
If you use Modafinil as part of your lifestyle, then that's fine - but don't mix it with alcohol.
References:
- https://www.therecoveryvillage.com/modafinil-addiction/modafinil-and-alcohol/ (Mixing Modafinil With Alcohol)
- https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT00305292 (Modafinil-Alcohol Interactions in Healthy Volunteers)
- https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/23141152/ (Effect of modafinil on impulsivity and relapse in alcohol dependent patients)