Hydrafinil (Fluorenol)
Hydrafinil (9-fluorenol) is a fluorene-based compound marketed grey-market as a modafinil-like eugeroic. Despite vendor claims of greater potency, it has no published human trials; its reputation rests on a single mention as a wakefulness agent and on user anecdote.
01 Overview
Hydrafinil is 9H-fluoren-9-ol, structurally unrelated to modafinil but promoted as a 'stronger modafinil alternative'. The often-repeated claim that it is ~39% more potent than modafinil traces to unpublished/vendor sourcing rather than peer-reviewed data.
There are no controlled human studies, no established pharmacokinetics, and no safety database. It sits firmly in the unregulated nootropic research-chemical space.
02 Mechanism
Proposed weak dopamine reuptake inhibition and wake-promoting activity; the actual human mechanism and target engagement are not established.
03 Dosing
| Tier | Dose | Route | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Anecdotal | 50–150 mg/day | Oral | User-reported ranges only; no validated dosing. |
| Anecdotal common | 100–300 mg/day | Oral | Vendor-suggested; short-duration effect claimed. |
04 Effects
| Effect | Magnitude | Evidence | |
|---|---|---|---|
| AlertnessUsers report short-lived wakefulness and focus; no clinical confirmation. | n/a | Anecdotal | |
| Mild stimulationReported light stimulant feel without strong euphoria. | n/a | Anecdotal |
05 Side effects
| Effect | Severity | Frequency | Evidence | Countermeasures |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| InsomniaSleep disruption if used late in the day. | Mild | Reported | Anecdotal | |
| Unknown toxicityNo genotoxicity, organ or chronic safety data in humans; fluorene compounds warrant caution. | Moderate | Uncharacterised | Unconfirmed |