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Flmodafinil
Also known as CRL-40,940 or bisfluoromodafinil, a bisfluoro analogue of modafinil with fluorine atoms at para positions - offering potentially higher bioavailability and longer duration through dopamine reuptake inhibition, histamine modulation, and orexin system activation at lower doses than its parent compound.
Benefits
What is Flmodafinil?
Flmodafinil (CRL-40,940, bisfluoromodafinil, lauflumide) is a synthetic eugeroic compound structurally derived from modafinil by the addition of two fluorine atoms at the para positions of the diphenylmethyl sulfinyl backbone. The compound was originally developed by Lafon Laboratories (the same French company that created modafinil and adrafinil) and is referenced in patent literature from the early 2000s, though it was never advanced through clinical development to the stage of regulatory approval. The strategic addition of fluorine atoms - a common medicinal chemistry approach known as fluorine scanning - was designed to enhance metabolic stability, increase lipophilicity for improved blood-brain barrier penetration, and extend the compound's duration of action.
While no published human clinical trials exist for flmodafinil, its pharmacological profile is expected to closely mirror that of modafinil based on structural similarity and the well-characterised effects of fluorine substitution in drug design. Modafinil itself acts primarily through dopamine transporter (DAT) inhibition, as demonstrated by Volkow et al. in a landmark 2009 JAMA PET imaging study, alongside secondary effects on histaminergic, orexinergic, and noradrenergic systems. Anecdotal reports from the nootropics community consistently describe flmodafinil as producing effects qualitatively similar to modafinil - sustained wakefulness, enhanced focus, and improved executive function - but at approximately 50-75% of the dose, suggesting the fluorine modifications do indeed enhance potency. The compound has gained a following as an unscheduled alternative to modafinil in many jurisdictions, though users should be aware that regulatory status varies and could change as authorities become more aware of its existence.
- Dopamine reuptake inhibition: Like modafinil, inhibits the dopamine transporter (DAT), increasing extracellular dopamine concentrations in the prefrontal cortex, nucleus accumbens, and striatum to support sustained attention, motivation, and executive function
- Histamine system activation: Increases histamine release in the tuberomammillary nucleus, promoting wakefulness and cortical arousal through H1 receptor stimulation in the cortex and thalamus
- Orexin/hypocretin pathway: Activates orexin-producing neurons in the lateral hypothalamus, reinforcing the wake-promoting signal and stabilising the sleep-wake transition - the same mechanism disrupted in narcolepsy
- Norepinephrine enhancement: Increases norepinephrine release in the prefrontal cortex and locus coeruleus, supporting alertness, attention, and working memory capacity
- Enhanced bioavailability: The bis-fluorine substitution increases lipophilicity and metabolic resistance, potentially resulting in more efficient blood-brain barrier penetration and a longer half-life compared to modafinil
- Typical dose: 50-100 mg per day, approximately 50-75% of the equivalent modafinil dose due to reportedly higher potency
- Starting dose: 50 mg in the morning to assess individual response before considering dose increases
- Duration of effects: Anecdotal reports suggest 10-15 hours of wakefulness-promoting effects, potentially longer than standard modafinil
- Timing: Take in the morning or early afternoon only. The extended duration means that afternoon dosing is likely to cause significant sleep disruption
- Frequency: Typically used 2-4 days per week rather than daily, both to prevent tolerance and to avoid chronic sleep architecture disruption
- No clinical safety data: Flmodafinil has never undergone formal human safety testing, clinical trials, or regulatory review. All safety information is extrapolated from modafinil research and anecdotal community reports
- Expected side effect profile: Based on modafinil pharmacology, likely side effects include headache, nausea, insomnia, anxiety, dry mouth, and reduced appetite. These tend to be dose-dependent
- Cardiovascular considerations: Modafinil-class compounds can elevate heart rate and blood pressure. Individuals with cardiovascular conditions should exercise caution and consult a physician
- Drug interactions: Likely induces CYP3A4 enzyme activity (as modafinil does), potentially reducing the effectiveness of hormonal contraceptives, cyclosporine, and other CYP3A4 substrates
- Regulatory uncertainty: Currently unscheduled in most countries, but this status may change. The US FDA and equivalent agencies in other countries have not evaluated flmodafinil, and possession or sale may become restricted
Natural Sources & Forms
- Nootropic vendors: Available from research chemical and nootropic supplement companies as capsules, tablets, or powder
- Powder form: Available as a crystalline powder for those who prefer to prepare their own doses with precise measurement
- Capsule form: Pre-dosed capsules (typically 50 mg or 100 mg) are the most convenient and commonly purchased form
- No pharmaceutical production: Flmodafinil has never been commercially manufactured by a pharmaceutical company and exists solely as a research chemical or nootropic supplement
- Quality considerations: As with all unregulated compounds, verify third-party testing certificates and purchase from reputable vendors with transparent analytical testing
Frequently Asked Questions
Also known as CRL-40,940 or bisfluoromodafinil, a bisfluoro analogue of modafinil with fluorine atoms at para positions - offering potentially higher bioavailability and longer duration through dopamine reuptake inhibition, histamine modulation, and orexin system activation at lower doses than its parent compound.
The key benefits of Flmodafinil include: Cognitive Enhancement, Creativity, Energy, Focus, Memory, Mood, Motivation.
Dopamine reuptake inhibition: Like modafinil, inhibits the dopamine transporter (DAT), increasing extracellular dopamine concentrations in the prefrontal cortex, nucleus accumbens, and striatum to support sustained attention, motivation, and executive function Histamine system activation: Increases histamine release in the tuberomammillary nucleus, promoting wakefulness and cortical arousal through H1 receptor stimulation in the cortex and thalamus Orexin/hypocretin pathway: Activates orexin-producing neurons in the lateral hypothalamus, reinforcing the wake-promoting signal and stabilising the sleep-wake transition - the same mechanism disrupted in narcolepsy Norepinephrine enhancement: Increases norepinephrine release in the prefrontal cortex and locus coeruleus, supporting alertness, attention, and working memory capacity Enhanced bioavailability: The bis-fluorine substitution increases lipophilicity and metabolic resistance, potentially resulting in more efficient blood-brain barrier penetration and a longer half-life compared to modafinil
Typical dose: 50-100 mg per day, approximately 50-75% of the equivalent modafinil dose due to reportedly higher potency Starting dose: 50 mg in the morning to assess individual response before considering dose increases Duration of effects: Anecdotal reports suggest 10-15 hours of wakefulness-promoting effects, potentially longer than standard modafinil Timing: Take in the morning or early afternoon only. The extended duration means that afternoon dosing is likely to cause significant sleep disruption Frequency: Typically used 2-4 days per week rather than daily, both to prevent tolerance and to avoid chronic sleep architecture disruption
No clinical safety data: Flmodafinil has never undergone formal human safety testing, clinical trials, or regulatory review. All safety information is extrapolated from modafinil research and anecdotal community reports Expected side effect profile: Based on modafinil pharmacology, likely side effects include headache, nausea, insomnia, anxiety, dry mouth, and reduced appetite. These tend to be dose-dependent Cardiovascular considerations: Modafinil-class compounds can elevate heart rate and blood pressure. Individuals with cardiovascular conditions should exercise caution and consult a physician Drug interactions: Likely induces CYP3A4 enzyme activity (as modafinil does), potentially reducing the effectiveness of hormonal contraceptives, cyclosporine, and other CYP3A4 substrates Regulatory uncertainty: Currently unscheduled in most countries, but this status may change. The US FDA and equivalent agencies in other countries have not evaluated flmodafinil, and possession or sale may become restricted
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