I really want to stop taking this drug , I've been taking it now for about 7 years and I've had enough . My highest dose I've ever taken was 1500mg in a one day crazy I know , at the moment I am having very bad effects from using it daily , blurred vision, headache, confusion, horrible taste in my mouth, I literally want to sleep all the day , I can't continue like this, it is disturbing my whole life , how do I taper off , I've tried before and went back to taking it after a few days , I need help please.
Tapering off modafinil please help?
Question posted by Dawnmichelle16 on 20 Jan 2019
Last updated on 12 September 2021 by WildcatVet
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3 Answers
WildcatVet
12 Sep 2021
The maximum daily dose of this medication is 200mg/day.
It is a scheduled drug in most reputable countries and is habituating when abused.
Buying off the internet is taking a huge risk as you have no idea what the active/inert/contaminants are, who the manufacturer is, or where it's made. Usually in countries with minimal regulations.
Gerry888
12 Sep 2021
Hi, I know this post is really old (Today is Sept 2021) but I have taken huge amounts (1600 mg) in a 24 hr period too.
How did you make out?
Thor283
21 Jan 2019
Hi Dawn, The only way for you to do this is a slow taper. Counseling might also help you stick to a plan. You can also go to AA or NA depending on your age. Anyone can go to AA. I take modafinil but usually only 200 mg a day. I recently discovered that less is better. I took 100 mg a day for 6 weeks but then it ran out. I was taking it for fatigue & depression and at 100 mg a day it worked like a charm. Most of it came from my Doc but my pharmacist lent me some when it ran out. He's dumb and he now bought out dated modafinil. Obviously I can't tell the doc.
Gail, are you really taking 1500 mg a day? I tend to doubt that. I'm helped many people get off various drugs from Heroin to Cocaine. Some drugs are short acting but others are very long lasting. Modafinil is long lasting. It can stay in you up to a week. That's why you think you have it beat but then the cravings start. Subutex is a long acting opiate and can take 10 yrs to quit it. You've been taking Modafinil for so long you may need several years to quit it. But I really think you will need other people for moral support. You won't do it alone. The question is do you really want to stop?
Feel free to send me a PM if you want to.
Dawnmichelle16
21 Jan 2019
Hello thanks for the response, I don’t take 1500mg daily I have just done this on some occasions, I’m desperate to stop taking it I just want to lead a normal life , I really need advice on tapering it down as it’s ruining my life ! .
Thor283
21 Jan 2019
Hi Dawn, (sorry I got your name mixed up)
I can help you do this but it would be better if we keep it private, between me & you. But anyway you want is fine.
Since I take Modafinil I have some idea what you will go through. Luckily Modafinil isn't truly addictive like opiates, cocaine, or Xanax and other Benzos. But you still can't stop it abruptly. You must taper off it slowly. And even with me helping I'd prefer if you get a private counselor, an addiction Doc, or at least AA or NA. AA is usually better if you're over 30 while people under 30 tend to prefer NA meetings. The drug you're hooked on doesn't matter. The more people you have as moral support the better. It won't be easy but it is possible. I guess you know there will be a lot of fatigue but by taping off slowly there will be less fatigue.
First thing we need to know is exactly how much Modafinil a day you are taking? My guess is you don't even know for sure, so we have to find out. To do this I want you to buy a memo pad, something small. Don't use your phone, the data can be lost. I want you to write down the date each day and then write down every dose you take and at what time. Modafinil has an 18 hour half life so hopefully you only take it twice a day. But you must write down the time and how much you took, and after a few days we'll know just how big your problem is. Maybe it's not as bad as you think. Since I use Modafinil I can't imagine anyone taking 1500 mg in 1 day. Let's hope you were greatly exaggerating.
Tell me this, are you eating and getting some sleep? If you a slim person to start with and you aren't eating much you can die from malnutrition, it has happened to others.
I hope you're serious about this. I'll keep an eye out for your response.
Dawnmichelle16
23 Jan 2019
Thank you for the advice you obviously realise that I don't get it prescribed that I buy it from the internet , I only have 40 200mg tablets left and I really don't want to buy anymore , if you think I need to , to taper off more slowly I will , I have been taking stupid amounts so I'm not sure what to do now , I will try to find a AA meeting , no I'm not slim, you are right I don't have a clue at the minute so a notepad makes sense , do I need to buy more or just finish on what I have ?
Dawnmichelle16
23 Jan 2019
I'm 44yrs old .
Thor283
23 Jan 2019
Hi Dawn,
Thanks for telling me your age. I always like to have some idea of the age of the person I'm writing to. It's going to matter with you because the #1 withdrawal symptom you will face is fatigue or exhaustion. If you must go to work this may make you have to taper slowly. You may also be in a bad mood or depressed for awhile. If you have little kids they won't understand this. If you're married your husband won't get it neither unless you tell him what you're doing. The problem with that idea is he may want to hold the pills and control you. With me, doing that makes me want an extra pill that day. I have to be in control of my meds.
So you probably haven't been taking Modafinil every single day for 7 yrs, right? If true that's in your favor. I'm wondering why you started them and what keeps you going back to them? I started them due to fatigue and recently discovered 100 mg a day also fights off depression. So 2 or 3 days after the last pill the reasons you took them will return. But at least they aren't addictive like pain pills are, not even like Cocaine or amphetamines are. But whatever symptoms you take them to be rid of will return. How well you can handle that will dictate how to best quit. I'm 66 and I'm single with almost everyone I ever knew dead and gone. I'm been fighting fatigue and depression since I was 18. I just don't want to fight it anymore. So far, 100 mg of Modafinil a day doesn't seem so bad to me. But my pharmacist disagrees and he gave me a bad bottle of pills. They feel like they are way past their expiration date. I know this stupid man thinks he did me a favor but I say no. He's in the prime of life and I'm at the end of mine. I'm tired of fighting symptoms that I don't have to. But you Dawn are also in the prime of life and it would be best if you're not dependent on many drugs.
I don't know if you can quit with 40. How many days have you recently stayed with none? Remember the first 2 days are easy compared to day 3 & 4. I also know getting pills like these online is hard and unreliable. I need to know how many you take? Tell me what you took yesterday if that's all you remember?
One last thing for now. Don't switch to Adderall for any reason. That stuff is fully addictive.
Write back with what you took the past 2 days. I'll answer as soon as I see it.
Thor283
23 Jan 2019
Dawn, I just re-read your original post and I'm confused by the symptoms you listed. Especially the wanting to sleep all the time, is that happening from taking the pills or staying without them? I really need to know how much you take. I'm getting worried about you. Usually, when in doubt about a drug the best thing is to stop it, don't take more. In the past I tried taking 2 or 3 pills an hour apart and the results were not good. This was a long time ago. I think I felt more sleepy but I couldn't sleep. I know I felt awful. I had to stay without them 2 or 3 days before I felt normal again.
How are you today?
Dawnmichelle16
24 Jan 2019
Hello I actually started taking them when my youngest daughter was a baby , she is now 9, I read about them in a magazine for weight loss !, the article said they kept the person testing them more energetic, which is why I wanted to start taking them , I had 2 small children, a teenager and had post natal depression and I was knackered !, I couldn't get any prescribed so I trawled the internet looking for them, over the years I've only had short gaps but I have taken some most days, it just started to get crazy , now I take them because in my mind I feel I can't keep on top of things without them , but when I do crazy amounts I end up doing stupid things like organising the pens or dressing all my daughter's dolls !
, unproductive stupid things , I'm divorced, single, have a 9yr old daughter who has adhd, an 11yr old son who is autistic, and a 21 yr old daughter who is doing quite well studying law at university, I also suffer from depression and have done for many years .So as you can see I've alot to cope with , it's difficult keeping on top of it all but I seriously think I would cope better now not stuffing lots of modafinil into me everyday ! , I think reading your advice I'm going to buy some 100mg and just take 1 a day , then 1 every other day then hopefully none , what do you think ? I'm very glad of your advice .
Thor283
24 Jan 2019
Hi Dawn,
You still haven't told me how many a day you're taking lately? I took 1 today. I started with 1/2 and 1 hr later I took another 1/2. This is no good, they are going to run out too soon. But this is what I want you to tell me, how much you take and when. Try to never take it after 12 noon. If I do that I almost can never sleep.
Isn't it more expensive to buy 100 mg tabs then 200 mg? Did you ever buy the 100 mg? I ask because pharmaceutical companies don't make meds correctly. Suppose the 100 mg tabs don't work the same as the 200 mg, then you'll take 2 anyway. So I wouldn't buy them unless you already tried it.
I know what you mean about dressing your daughter's dolls. I call that feeling like you're Superman. You just have to convince yourself to not do that. You have to brainwash yourself. I'm hoping that by writing to me it will help you not do that. I also have to avoid doing that.
It sounds like you take this drug for the same reasons I do. Back in early Dec. my pharmacist fronted me some pills that I always have to give back. I did something I never did before. Somehow, 100 mg a day felt like enough to give me an energy boost and keep the depression away. So I took 100 mg everyday for 5 weeks and I felt fine, not high or like superman just normal. Then he cut me off went 16 days with nothing and now the pills don't seem to work correctly. I know my pharmacist is dishonest so I don't know what he gave me. But I didn't abuse the drug I just took it longer than recommended.
Since Modafinil stays in the body 18 hrs you should be able to skip a day every other day without getting tired. But we're playing a dangerous game here. This drug wasn't meant to be used the way me & you are trying to use it. Modafinil was made for the military and meant to be used for 3 to 5 days when the men had to go on missions where they'd get little sleep. It wasn't meant for long term continuous use. But that doesn't mean it can't work that way. I'm hoping it can.
Keep writing to me and I hope you're not exceeding 200 mg a day.
Btw, my name is John.
Related topics
depression, drowsiness, obstructive sleep apnea/hypopnea syndrome, modafinil, dosage, fatigue, tapering, drug
Further information
- Modafinil uses and safety info
- Modafinil prescribing info & package insert (for Health Professionals)
- Side effects of Modafinil (detailed)
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