Have you ever wondered how Vyvanse and modafinil differ from one another?
Although there are some parallels between the two—both are used off-label to improve attention and concentration— there are some significant variations that you should be aware of. 
Vyvanse is a brand-name medication with brand-name costs. It’s also an amphetamine, similar to Adderall, a well-known smart drug. Amphetamines have a number of drawbacks that aren’t present in next-generation smart medications like modafinil.
In this article, we’ll discuss the differences between the two drugs to help you find out which is best.
What Are Stimulants?
Prescription Stimulants (aka psychostimulants) are prescribed to treat conditions such as Attention Deficit Disorder, anxiety, depression, Tourette’s syndrome, insomnia, and more. The most common prescription stimulants are Adderall, Concerta, and Dexedrine. All these medications stimulate the brain to release dopamine, a chemical that makes people feel happy and motivated. Many of these medications have a “high,” so they are also referred to as recreational drugs.
The effects of these drugs often last several hours. Many people who take prescription stimulants also take other medicines to treat health conditions.
Prescription medications that contain amphetamine or methamphetamine have been used to treat a variety of medical conditions for more than 80 years. They can help improve attention and concentration and are used to treat obesity.
The three most common prescription stimulants are Adderall, Ritalin, and Concerta. They are all medications that are used to treat attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). Adderall is usually a combination of methylphenidate and amphetamine. Ritalin is usually a combination of methylphenidate and dextroamphetamine. Concerta contains only methylphenidate and is commonly used to help treat narcolepsy and other sleep disorders. All three medications may cause dizziness or nausea if taken too quickly or at the same time as another medication.
Another popular stimulant is Modafinil, which is also known as Provigil. It’s used to treat narcolepsy and other sleep disorders and can help people stay awake. It is also used to treat excessive daytime sleepiness in people with obstructive sleep apnea. It’s used off-label to treat ADHD.
Stimulants can cause some serious side effects. These include high blood pressure, anxiety, depression, hallucinations, seizures, and psychosis. People who have heart problems, high blood pressure, or sleep apnea are at greater risk of these side effects.
See also Adrafinil vs Modafinil: How They Stack Up
Why Take Stimulants?
Many of the persons who use these stimulants have hard workloads or high performance expectations. Stimulants are used by CEOs, students, business professionals, and designers to get more work done. These drugs are also used in other businesses in unusual ways.
E-sports competitors use it to improve response times during contests, and truck drivers use it to remain awake on lengthy, overnight hauls. Even the military has used it to stay alert and vigilant on long nocturnal missions in special forces units.
Stimulants can help anyone who has to get a lot of things done or who wants to finish a difficult, time-consuming work. The problem is that, because of all the stimulants available in the market for purchase, picking the correct one can be difficult.
What is Vyvanse?
Vyvanse is a prescription drug that belongs to a class of medications called selective norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors, which means it works by affecting how the brain processes signals related to sleep and wakefulness.
It is basically medication for the treatment of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) in children, adolescents, and adults and for the treatment of binge eating disorder in adults. Vyvanse contains lisdexamfetamine dimesylate, an amphetamine analogue approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for the treatment of ADHD. It is not a substitute for psychostimulants, such as Adderall, prescribed for the treatment of ADHD.
What is Modafinil?
Modafinil (Provigil) is a prescription drug that has been used in the United States for more than 20 years. It contains modafinil, a medication that improves sleepiness for people who are extremely sleepy or unable to stay awake during the day. It is approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to improve daytime alertness and quality of life for people who suffer from excessive sleepiness related to narcolepsy, shift work sleep disorder, and obstructive sleep apnea/hypopnea syndrome (OSAHS).
Vyvanse Vs Modafinil: How They Compare
You might be wondering how Provigil compares to medications like Vyvanse. Both Provigil and Vyvanse (lisdexamfetamine) are stimulant drugs, however they have slightly different effects on the brain.
Modafinil improves alertness and wakefulness. Vyvanse can elicit drowsiness as well as sensations of calm and focus in people with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD).
Modafinil is FDA-approved for treating daytime sleepiness caused by narcolepsy, sleep apnea, and shift work sleep disorder. Vyvanse is used off-label for these uses.
Modafinil is used for the treatment of excessive sleepiness associated with narcolepsy. It is the only medication approved for this purpose. Vyvanse is used to treat ADHD.
Modafinil Vs Vyvanse: Side Effects
While side-effects of Provigil are similar to those of Vyvanse, they can be quite different and are worth knowing about. Side effects of Vyvanse are more commonly nausea, weight loss, sleepiness, and dizziness.
The most serious adverse reactions to Provigil include psychotic reactions, suicidal ideation, mood swings, aggressive behavior and hallucinations.
Vyvanse has been studied for its ability to lower triglycerides in patients who have low levels of HDL cholesterol. Vyvanse is also used in combination with phenylpropanolamine and caffeine.
See also Sunosi vs Modafinil: How They Stack Up
Vyvanse Vs Modafinil: Which Is More Effective?
These drugs have not been directly compared in clinical research for the treatment of ADHD. Vyvanse, on the other hand, appears to be more effective than Provigil for treating ADHD in adults, according to a review of clinical research.
In clinical investigations aimed at reducing daytime drowsiness in persons with narcolepsy or other diseases, these medicines have not been directly compared. However, it’s worth noting that Provigil is the first-line treatment for this condition, while Vyvanse is an option.
Verdict
Modafinil and Vyvanse are both popular choices for treating attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and excessive daytime sleepiness. They are similar in their effectiveness and side effects. Both are considered safe for short-term use. Indeed, if you’re wondering how vyvanse vs modafinil compare to adderall, the answer is that they all perform very similarly.
Vyvanse is a widely prescribed ADHD drug. It raises dopamine levels slightly more effectively than modafinil, but it misses the majority of modafinil’s other benefits.
Vyvanse, for example, isn’t nearly as effective as modafinil at delaying exhaustion and comes with a slew of drawbacks.
Vyvanse’s unreliability is frequently mentioned in anecdotal stories from people who have used the medicine. It works some of the time and some of the time it doesn’t.
Because Vyvanse is an amphetamine, it causes tolerance and addiction, making it difficult to go without it after a while.
For these reasons above, we think modafinil is the better smart drug and the one we would choose to take on a daily basis.
Summary
A smart drug is a medication that is intended to enhance cognitive function.
Modafinil and Vyvanse are both examples of smart drugs. They are both classified as central nervous system stimulants.
Modafinil is FDA-approved for the treatment of excessive daytime sleepiness associated with narcolepsy, shift work sleep disorder, and obstructive sleep apnea/hypopnea syndrome (OSAHS). Vyvanse, on the other hand, is popularly used off-label for these purposes.
The decision to use a smart drug or not is a personal choice. It is up to you to decide what works best for you. If you have been diagnosed with ADHD, you should talk to your doctor about the smart drug options available to you. Your doctor will help you determine which one is right for you.
Having said all that, in our estimation, we find modafinil to be a safer and more effective smart drug than Vyvanse.