Modafinil and Birth Control: Important Facts

Modafinil, a medication for sleepiness, can be risky to take with birth control pills. The reason is that Modafinil acts like an enzyme booster in your liver, and these enzymes can break down birth control hormones faster. This means the birth control becomes less effective, raising your chances of getting pregnant unintentionally. There are some theories that talk about potential benefits of combining them, like better emotional memory or managing ADHD symptoms. However, these are purely theoretical and come with the very real risk of birth defects. To be safe, always talk to your doctor before taking Modafinil with birth control. While you're on Modafinil, a safer contraception method like condoms is recommended.