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Pregabalin, modafinil and piracetam each have well-characterized pharmacokinetics but distinct subjective effects. Pregabalin (Lyrica) is a CNS depressant (sedative/anxiolytic); modafinil is a wakefulness-promoting stimulant; piracetam is a “nootropic” with mild cognitive/energy effects. Below are detailed tables and timelines for each drug, combining clinical (half‑life, metabolism, dosing) and anecdotal reports (high-dose effects, subjective onset/peak/duration). Finally, a conceptual combined timeline illustrates the net sedation–alertness profile if all three are taken simultaneously (300 mg pregabalin + 200 mg modafinil + 2.4 g piracetam at time 0 by a healthy male with slight tolerance). All data points are sourced to clinical references and user reports where available.
| Parameter | Value / Range | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Elimination half-life | ~4.5–7 hours (mean ~6.3 h) | Clinical studies |
| Excretion | ~90% unchanged in urine (renal clearance ~67–81 mL/min) | Primarily renal (unchanged drug) |
| Time to peak (Tmax) | ~1.5 h (fast absorption) | Pharmacokinetic data (fast, food-independent) |
| Typical dose | 150–450 mg/day (divided) | FDA-approved dosing |
| Max recommended dose | 600 mg/day (IR) | FDA limit; higher doses yield more adverse effects |
| High-dose reports | Anecdotal up to 1,200 mg/day or more | Erowid/Bluelight reports: euphoria/sedation at 600–1200 mg |
| Onset of subjective effects | ~30–60 min (some sedation/anxiolysis) | Clinical peak at 1.5 h, users report onset ~1 h |
| Peak subjective effects | ~1–2 hours (sedation/dreaminess) | Matches Tmax; users note peak euphoria/sedation by 1–2 h at high dose |
| Duration of effects | ~6–8 hours (notable sedation/anxiolysis) | Half-life ~6 h, effects wane by 8–12 h |
| Excretion time (elimination) | ~5 half-lives ≈30–40 h (to negligible levels) | ~5×t1/2 for ≈97% elimination |
Notes: Pregabalin’s effects include sedation, anxiolysis and mild euphoria at higher doses. One user reported taking ~1050–1200 mg over 5 hours, feeling “loose” but still functional. Another noted 300 mg caused drowsiness and cognitive blurring. Tolerance often develops to euphoria, so some self-titers exceed 600 mg. Pregabalin’s C_max occurs ~1.5 h post-dose, consistent with onset ~1 h and peak ~1–2 h in reports. Effects generally wane after ~6–8 h, matching its ~6 h half-life.
| Parameter | Value / Range | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Elimination half-life | ~12–15 hours (R-modafinil ~10–17 h) | Pharmacokinetic studies |
| Excretion | ~80% urine (mostly inactive metabolite modafinil acid) | Primarily hepatic metabolism; metabolites via urine |
| Time to peak (Tmax) | ~2–4 h | Clinical data (peak concentrations ~2–4 h after dose) |
| Duration of action | ~10–12 h (therapeutic effect) | Wakefulness effect ~half-life; referenced as ~11.5 h |
| Typical dose | 100–200 mg once daily | Standard medical dose |
| Max recommended dose | 400 mg/day (acute studies; no added benefit >200) | Up to 400 mg tolerated in narcolepsy studies; higher tends to add side effects |
| High-dose reports | Occasional off-label use 400–600 mg/day | Some patients on 400 mg; rare reports of 600+ mg |
| Onset of subjective effects | ~30–60 min (alertness increase) | Generally felt within 1 h; matches pharmacokinetics |
| Peak subjective effects | ~2–4 hours (maximum alertness, focus) | Aligns with Tmax; moderate cognitive enhancement and wakefulness reported |
| Duration of effects | ~10–15 hours (carryover alertness) | Consistent with long half-life; some lingering effect up to ~12–15 h |
| Excretion time | ~5 half-lives ≈60–75 h (~3 days) | ~5×t1/2 for near complete elimination |
Notes: Modafinil promotes alertness and wakefulness without classic stimulant euphoria. It peaks slowly (~2–4 h) and lasts long (effects up to ~12 h). Clinical dosing is 100–200 mg, but studies show 400 mg/day is “well-tolerated” though with no extra benefit. A Bluelight user cautions “wouldn’t take more than 400 mg at a time”. Narcolepsy communities occasionally mention up to 600 mg/day or more, often with diminishing returns and some side effects (headache, irritability). Onset is within ~1 h, with focus/energy peaking ~2–3 h post-dose; effects persist through the day consistent with its long half-life.
| Parameter | Value / Range | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Elimination half-life | ~4–5 hours | Clinical pharmacokinetic data |
| Excretion | ~85–95% unchanged in urine | Renal excretion of unchanged drug |
| Time to peak (Tmax) | ~0.5–1.5 h | “Peak plasma ~30–90 min after ingestion” |
| Typical dose | 1,200–4,800 mg/day (in 2–3 doses) | Common nootropic dosing range |
| High-dose reports | 7–24 g/day (wide individual variation) | Neurological use: 7–24 g/day dose-dependent; up to 45 g in special cases |
| Onset of subjective effects | ~30–60 min (subtle cognition/energy) | Rapid absorption; users report mild lift |
| Peak subjective effects | ~1–2 hours (max cognitive/nootropic effect) | Matches Tmax; some report sharper memory/alertness |
| Duration of effects | ~4–6 hours (effects taper as drug is cleared) | Half-life 4–5 h, so most effect gone by ~6 h |
| Excretion time | ~5 half-lives ≈20–25 h (nearly complete) | ~5×t1/2 ~1 day |
Notes: Piracetam is a “racetam” nootropic, often taken in multi-gram doses. Clinically, doses of 7–24 g/day are used for cognitive disorders, and patients tolerated up to 45 g/day with notable benefits and minimal side effects. Among nootropic users, typical “supplement” doses are 1.6–4.8 g daily (divided), though some self-experiment with 6–10 g at once. Piracetam acts quickly (peak ~1 h), with subjective reports of increased mental clarity or mild stimulation rather than sedation. Effects generally last 4–6 h before declining as piracetam is eliminated (half-life ~5 h). Tolerance is reported low; side effects (headache, insomnia) are rare.
Based on the above data and high-dose reports, a typical timeline (onset, peak, offset) for each drug at near-maximal dose might be:
These are idealized for a “max dose” scenario; real experiences vary. For example, one user on 4800 mg/day reported noticeable cognitive lift by day 3. Another experimenter took 4.8 g daily for 3 days, then 2.4 g split doses, noting enhanced mood/energy.
When all three are taken together (e.g. 300 mg pregabalin + 200 mg modafinil + 2.4 g piracetam at time 0), their effects overlap. Conceptually (see chart below), the alertness vs. time curve might look like this for a tolerant healthy male:
The combined experience of this three-drug cocktail creates a unique psychoactive profile that evolves throughout the day:
Early Phase (0-2 hours):
Peak Phase (2-4 hours):
Decline Phase (4-8 hours):
Late Phase (8+ hours):
This combination might be particularly useful for:
Professional/Academic Applications:
Social Applications:
Therapeutic Considerations:
Risks and Limitations:
Optimal Timing:
This combination essentially creates a “functional stimulation” profile - providing energy and focus while minimizing anxiety and overstimulation, making it potentially useful for demanding cognitive tasks in anxiety-provoking situations.