Exercise vs Modafinil for mood
Short answer: For mood, more users report improvement with Exercise — 95% of 187 reports, versus 62% of 90 for Modafinil.
Modafinil has 155 meta-analyses and 297 randomized trials on PubMed; the other has not been graded.
Based on 738 reports about Exercise and 1,116 about Modafinil. Not medical advice.
| Exercise Lifestyle | Modafinil Medication | |
|---|---|---|
| User score | 63 | 45 |
| Verdict | Mostly positive | Mixed |
| Positive of reports that state an outcome | 89% | 48% |
| Reports | 738 | 1,116 |
| Research | Research pending | AResearch: Strong |
| Meta-analyses / RCTs | — | 155 / 297 |
| Mainly used for | ||
| Weight loss % reporting improvement | 100% (10) | 100% (5) |
| Appetite % reporting improvement | 100% (3) | 40% (15) |
| Focus % reporting improvement | 95% (66) | 84% (454) |
| Energy % reporting improvement | 90% (88) | 91% (307) |
| Sleep % reporting improvement | 96% (51) | 19% (75) |
| Anxiety % reporting improvement | 95% (93) | 26% (73) |
| Mood % reporting improvement | 95% (187) | 62% (90) |
| Memory % reporting improvement | 100% (8) | 71% (21) |
| Performance % reporting improvement | 100% (28) | 88% (17) |
| Recovery % reporting improvement | 100% (3) | — |
| Pain & inflammation % reporting improvement | 100% (3) | — |
| Digestion % reporting improvement | 100% (2) | — |
| Libido % reporting improvement | 94% (18) | 33% (9) |
| Hormones % reporting improvement | 100% (14) | — |
| Blood sugar % reporting improvement | 100% (2) | — |
| Heart & lipids % reporting improvement | 85% (13) | 9% (11) |
| Skin & hair % reporting improvement | 100% (3) | 50% (2) |
| Immunity % reporting improvement | 100% (6) | — |
| Longevity % reporting improvement | 100% (9) | — |
| Common side effects | fatigue, insomnia, initial fatigue | insomnia, anxiety, headache, tolerance |
| Typical dose reported | multiple times a week | as needed |
“nothing has improved my mental health like daily and difficult physical exercise has.”
Our findings represent the most comprehensive available evidence base to inform patients, families, clinicians, guideline developers, and policymakers on the choice of ADHD medications across age groups. Taking into account both efficacy and safety, evidence from this meta-analysis supports methylphenidate in children and adolescents, and amphetamines in adults, as preferred first-choice medications for the short-term treatment of ADHD. New research should be funded urgently to assess long-term effects of these drugs.
Lancet Psychiatry, 2018 ↗“It did make me focused and alert. I was working two jobs at the time and needed every ounce of energy I could muster.”
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Percentages come from first-hand user reports and are not clinical outcomes. Talk to a doctor before starting, stopping or combining anything. How we rate