Adrafinil

Adrafinil, marketed in France by the pharmaceutical company Cephalon (brand name Olmifon) is a mild central nervous system stimulant drug used to relieve excessive sleepiness and inattention in elderly patients. It is also used off-label by individuals wishing to avoid fatigue, such as night workers or others who need to stay awake and alert for long periods of time.

Adrafinil is a prodrug; it is primarily metabolized in vivo to Modafinil (Provigil), resulting in nearly identical pharmacologic effects. Unlike modafinil, however, it takes time for the metabolite to accumulate to active levels in the bloodstream. Effects usually are apparent within 45-60 minutes when taken orally on an empty stomach.

Adrafinil does not currently have FDA approval in the United States, although it is used in France and elsewhere in Europe.