What is "adrafinil"

n. A mild stimulant of the central nervous system used to relieve excessive sleepiness and inattention in elderly patients.

Adrafinil ( INN) (brand name Olmifon) is a discontinued wakefulness-promoting agent (or eugeroic) that was formerly used in France to promote vigilance (alertness), attention, wakefulness, mood, and other parameters, particularly in the elderly. It was also used off-label by individuals who wished to avoid fatigue, such as night workers or others who needed to stay awake and alert for long periods of time. Additionally, "adrafinil is known to a larger nonscientific audience, where it is considered to be a nootropic agent."

Adrafinil is a prodrug; it is primarily metabolized in vivo to modafinil, resulting in very similar pharmacological 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 was marketed in France under the trade name Olmifon until September 2011 when it was voluntarily discontinued.