Eugeroic
Adrafinil
A wakefulness-promoting compound used to enhance alertness and sustained cognitive performance.
KÖGN Health grades Adrafinil as B+ (Moderate evidence) and rates it 4.0 out of 5.
Last reviewed · June 2026
Primary effects
- Increased alertness
- Improved focus
- Reduced fatigue
- Prolonged wakefulness
How it works
Increases wakefulness by converting into modafinil, supporting prolonged focus and reduced fatigue.
Overview
Adrafinil acts as a prodrug to modafinil, meaning it is metabolised in the liver into its active form. This results in a slower onset compared to modafinil but can still provide sustained cognitive stimulation. It is typically used for acute performance demands rather than daily use. Due to its metabolism pathway, frequent use may place strain on the liver, so it is generally recommended for occasional use.
The evidence
Adrafinil is a prodrug of modafinil: the body converts it to modafinil, so its wakefulness and attention effects are essentially modafinil's, arriving more slowly. The catch is that getting there loads the liver, which makes it a worse way to reach the same endpoint. Direct healthy-cognition evidence is sparse and read across from modafinil.
Safety & side effects
Beyond modafinil's effects (headache, insomnia, anxiety), the specific concern is liver strain — raised liver enzymes have been reported with regular use, since the conversion happens there.
Who should avoid it
An unapproved compound that becomes a prescription medicine in the body, so it carries modafinil's interactions (including reduced contraceptive efficacy) plus a liver burden. Not a sanctioned supplement; avoid with liver conditions and in pregnancy. See the Modafinil entry; that is the safer-studied endpoint.
References
Related ingredients
Graded entries that target the same cognitive goals.
Categories
Draft — the dose, safety and evidence notes on this entry were prepared from the published literature and are pending editorial and clinical review.
Educational information, not medical advice. The evidence grade is KÖGN’s editorial assessment of published research, not a health claim. Speak to a qualified clinician before changing what you take.