Modafinil, a drug commonly known as a ‘cognitive enhancer’, has been used extensively in the medical world to combat sleep disorders and promote wakefulness. From helping patients suffering from narcolepsy to aiding those working in shift-based occupations, the medication has a multitude of uses. However, like any potent drug, Modafinil warrants a discussion on its potential drawbacks and side effects. This article will explore one such question that often comes up in relation to Modafinil – can it cause skin picking? We delve into this query, aiming to provide insights rooted in medical research and personal experiences.
Table of Contents
What Is Modafinil?
Modafinil is used to aid individuals diagnosed with sleep disorder conditions due to obstructive sleep apnea/hypopnea syndrome (OSAHS), narcolepsy, or shift work sleep disorder (SWSD) to remain wakeful during the daytime or during the night shift. Certainly, modafinil doesn’t cure these conditions & will only function as long as you persist in taking it.
Used off-label, physicians prescribe modafinil to treat other health conditions such as attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), Alzheimer’s disease, jet lag, depression, Parkinson’s disease, weight loss, etc.
Besides, healthy individuals from all walks of life can buy modafinil online & administer it as a “smart drug” to ameliorate their brainpower & augmented productivity.
The med provides advantages at cognitively demanding times with potential benefits such as heightened attention, speed of response & visuospatial ability, awesome attention, boosted comprehension & working memory processes, & executive functions, augmented alertness & response accuracy, enhanced concentration, augmented alertness, boosted focus, productivity & drive, augmented mental stamina or endurance, as well as a greater interest in work & the capability to study for longer.
It also heightens hippocampal neurogenesis & synaptic plasticity.
At best, modafinil is very efficacious & has lower risks of inducing addiction & certainly has a favorable negative effect profile. It’s well absorbed, reaching peak plasma concentration between 2-4 hours following oral administration, & has an impressive half-life of approx. 12–15 hours.
What Is Dermatillomania – Skin Picking?
Skin picking (dermatillomania or excoriation disorder) is when you can’t quit picking at your skin. It’s a mental illness linked to obsessive-compulsive disorder. It’s also indicated by reprised picking at one’s skin, which results in skin lesions & induces substantial disruption in one’s life.
Notably, repetitive skin picking certainly leads to tissue damage. It can also lead to serious medical illnesses, such as ulcerations, scarring, & infections.
The obsessive urge for skin picking can disappear after recovery. Yet, for specific users, this disorder persists long though they have stopped taking the meds that induce it.
In this case, skin picking would certainly be handled as another disorder mandating behavioral changes & possibly psychiatric therapy.
How Does Modafinil Exactly Work?
Your body uses distinct receptors to intercommunicate. Nonetheless, modafinil functions on a remarkable set of brain receptors notably called dopamine transport receptors. Such receptors are indeed linked with signals to the neurons indicating how much dopamine they should reabsorb. In this case, the more signals sent to engross more dopamine, the more inferior the concentration of dopamine – directing to some sleep disturbance situations.
Certainly, modafinil diminishes dopamine uptake & augments the levels of orexin, hypocretin, histamine, & norepinephrine in the brain. Impressively, these neurotransmitters are indeed the most influential chemicals utilized to regulate the individual sleep-wake cycle, & the tab does it exceptionally well – it boosts the dopamine levels with effects resulting in ameliorated cognition, enhanced thinking, memory, improved mood, motivation, energy levels, mental acuity & processing, as well as vigilance, among other related effects.
Can Modafinil Tablets Really Cause Skin Picking?
You ask: Can modafinil cause skin picking? Undoubtedly, dermatillomania is reported only by a few individuals who administer it. Modafinil rarely induces a skin disorder with blistering & peeling skin dubbed toxic epidermal necrolysis, causes a skin rash, abnormal peeling of the skin, blistering of the skin, & also, in extremely rare scenarios, causes a skin disorder with blistering & peeling skin known as Stevens-Johnson syndrome.
According to a phase IV clinical study of FDA data, very few individuals who take the “smart tab” experienced dermatillomania. The data is indicated by eHealthMe, founded on reports of 15,109 individuals who have negative effects while taking the “smart tab.” As of March 26, 2022, out of 15,109 individuals, only 3 of them (0.02%) have dermatillomania. Only one reported case in 2013, one in 2018, & another one in 2019. The age is between 20 and 49 years. The FDA data is updated regularly.
What Other Side Effects Can Modafinil Pills Cause and How to Reduce Them?
Although just about any individual can take this med, it’s invariably advisable to consult a physician before beginning treatment with it. Modafinil side effects can occur, & it’s always great to take note of it.
The most prevalent adverse effects of the “smart tab” are:
- headaches
- difficulty sleeping
- nausea
- backache
- anxious feelings
- nervousness
- rhinitis
- a stuffy and runny nose
- diarrhea
- anxiety
- indigestion
- insomnia
In infrequent cases, high doses of the “smart tab” may also induce psychosis.
Modafinil can also cause other negative effects. Some of the rare ones include manic behavior, suicidal thoughts, mental problems, hives, hyperactive behavior, visible water retention, trouble breathing, & abnormal liver function tests, etc.
Undoubtedly, the “smart tab” is efficacious for the long-term treatment of sleep disorders & remarkably heightens perceptions of general health. It’s indeed well-tolerated if used as advised, with no proof of tolerance.
Don’t administer other meds with modafinil unless a physician has examined them to be safe. This comprises prescription or nonprescription (over-the-counter [OTC]) meds and herbal or vitamin supplements.
Also, modafinil interacts with alcohol in a way that can intensify the peril of negative effects. Though it doesn’t interact with most foods, popping the “smart tab” right before or after eating fatty meals can likely delay its onset of action.
Conclusion
The relationship between Modafinil and skin picking is not fully established, as there is limited research directly connecting the two. While Modafinil is a powerful cognitive enhancer used predominantly for sleep disorders, its potential side effects can vary greatly among individuals – with some developing unwelcome symptoms.
However, it’s essential to remember that while some anecdotal evidence suggests a link between Modafinil use and Dermatillomania, more comprehensive scientific research is needed to confirm modafinil reddit as a cause of skin picking specifically. Factors like pre-existing mental health conditions, external stressors, and individual physiological responses also play a significant role.