Is Provigil (modafinil) a controlled substance?
Yes, Provigil (modafinil) is a Schedule IV controlled substance classified by the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA). The DEA classifies controlled substances into one of five schedules based on factors such as the drug’s potential for abuse, risk to the public health, and risk of dependence.
Provigil is used to improve wakefulness in adults with narcolepsy, obstructive sleep apnea, or shift work disorder. In studies, Provigil was shown to produce psychoactive effects and has the potential for misuse or abuse. This means it could cause people to take higher doses than they are prescribed, use the medication for reasons other than why they were prescribed to take it, or engage in drug-seeking behavior.
Why and When Modafinil Became a Controlled Substance
The U.S. categorized modafinil (Provigil) as a Schedule IV controlled substance on January 27, 1999, recognizing its low but real potential for abuse, dependence, and diversion. This legal move means it’s illegal to possess or use modafinil without a prescription—and violations carry significant penalties.
Does Modafinil Show Up on a Drug Test?
Standard workplace drug screenings do not typically detect modafinil or its metabolites. Specialized testing (GC-MS or LC-MS/MS) can detect modafinil in urine and in blood if targeted specifically.
Related questions
- Modafinil (Provigil) vs Adderall: What's the difference?
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The Risks of Buying Modafinil Online (And Dangers of Counterfeits)
Off-label, unsupervised use of modafinil as a “smart drug” is illegal in most jurisdictions and comes with real risks:
- Many overseas online vendors ignore controlled substance laws, often selling counterfeit or subtherapeutic products.
- Health authorities like the Australian TGA and Hong Kong’s Drug Office strongly warn against purchasing modafinil online due to possible contamination, unpredictable dosing, and lack of medical oversight.
- Purchasing modafinil without a valid prescription may result not only in legal penalties but also in exposure to unsafe or toxic substances.
If you have been prescribed Provigil, store it in a safe place that is locked. Do not sell Provigil to others, which is against the law and may cause them harm. If you stop taking Provigil, ask your local pharmacy about an upcoming DEA Take Back Day or local drop boxes where you can safely dispose of controlled substances.
References
- Marshall, D. R. (1999). Schedules of Controlled Substances: Placement of Modafinil Into Schedule IV. Federal Register, 64(17). Accessed on July 31, 2025 at https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/FR-1999-01-27/html/99-1791.htm
- Provilgil (modafinil) [package insert]. Revised Dec 2022. Cephalon, LLC. Accessed 05/28/2024 at https://dailymed.nlm.nih.gov/dailymed/drugInfo.cfm?setid=e16c26ad-7bc2-d155-3a5d-da83ad6492c8
- United States Drug Enforcement Administration. The Controlled Substances Act. Accessed 05/28/2024. Available from: https://www.dea.gov/drug-information/csa
- Vanhee, C., Deconinck, E., George, M., Hansen, A., Hackl, A., Wollein, U., El-Atma, O., Beerbaum, N., Aureli, F., Borioni, A., Poplawska, M., Blazewicz, A., Roschel, K., Marson, C., Mendoza Barrios, M., Hakkarainen, B., Blomgren, A., Bakker-'t Hart, I., & Miquel, M. (2025). The Occurrence of Illicit Smart Drugs or Nootropics in Europe and Australia and Their Associated Dangers: Results from a Market Surveillance Study by 12 Official Medicines Control Laboratories. Journal of xenobiotics, 15(3), 88. https://doi.org/10.3390/jox15030088
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