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Synthetic nootropics & research compounds

Hydrafinil

Hydrafinil / fluoren-9-ol wake-promoting research stimulant

Hydrafinil is fluorenol, usually fluoren-9-ol, an unapproved wake-promoting research compound with animal evidence but no reliable human nootropic efficacy trial. The clearest human dose context is only a 50 mg single-dose metabolism study for anti-doping detection, not a usage protocol. Buyers should weigh identity verification, absent clinical safety data, stimulant-like risks, and WADA 2026 S6.A non-specified stimulant status before comparing prices.

Mental EnergyWakefulnessSyntheticClinical ResearchMostly Animal EvidenceEmerging ResearchInsufficient Evidence
Updated August 2026/6 min read/6 citations
Reviewed by the NootropicsIndex editorial team.Method: prioritize cited human research and official safety or regulatory sources; compare retailer-listed prices without endorsing products.Affiliate disclosure
01

What is it?

Unapproved fluorenol stimulant

1

Hydrafinil is the market and anti-doping name for fluorenol, usually fluoren-9-ol or 9-fluorenol. It is not a supplement nutrient and should not be considered a modafinil substitute. The reliable public evidence is mostly preclinical wakefulness research plus human urine-metabolite work for doping control.

Bottom line for buyers4
The page is useful for identifying listings and understanding the targeted sport and safety cautions. It is not a consumer protocol. Prioritize identity, legal status, anti-doping risk, and absence of human efficacy data before any price comparison.
No validated consumer dosing3
Consumer dose ranges online are not supported by the cited clinical literature. The 50 mg value here is an analytical-study exposure marker only, not a recommended serving or daily dose.
Timing evidence gap3
Reliable human onset, subjective duration, exposure half life, tolerance, sleep-rebound, and cycling data were not found. Leave those as unknown rather than converting detection data into use guidance.
Evidence boundary3
The profile separates three different kinds of evidence: chemical identity, animal wakefulness pharmacology, and human urine-metabolism/doping-control data. None of those establish a safe consumer nootropic protocol.
02

Names, aliases and forms

Common NameHydrafinil
Chemical NamesFluoren-9-ol; 9-Fluorenol; 9-Hydroxyfluorene
Cas Number1689-64-1
Pubchem Cid74318
Molecular FormulaC13H10O
InchikeyAFMVESZOYKHDBJ-UHFFFAOYSA-N
03

Mechanisms of action

Wakefulness signal is preclinical

2

The main wakefulness evidence comes from a Cephalon drug-discovery series searching for next-generation modafinil-like agents. Fluoren-9-ol was identified as an active wake-promoting metabolite in animal testing. That does not establish human alertness, focus, or cognitive-enhancement efficacy.

DAT signal is not a full mechanism

6

Research-reagent summaries report dopamine transporter inhibition around 9 micromolar, but a single transporter assay does not define clinical mechanism, safety, or subjective effects. Avoid marketing it as a clean or proven dopamine nootropic.

04

Potential effects and evidence map

Hydrafinil has preclinical wake-promoting evidence from a modafinil-like drug-discovery program, but no reliable human efficacy trial for alertness, focus, or cognitive enhancement was found. The main human source is a three-volunteer metabolism and urine-elimination study after a single 50 mg dose for anti-doping method development. Current practical interpretation is high uncertainty plus high legal and sport risk, not a validated consumer nootropic.

Effect domainMagnitudeGrade
Mental energy / wakefulness2
AcuteConfidence: Low

Hydrafinil has preclinical wake-promoting evidence in rodents, but no reliable human wakefulness or cognitive-efficacy trial was found.

Note Dunn et al. is a preclinical drug-discovery paper. The human 50 mg study was for metabolism and anti-doping detection, not efficacy.

2/5
D
Focus / attention3
UnknownConfidence: Medium

No reliable human evidence was found for focus, studying, productivity, or cognitive enhancement.

Note Do not convert rodent wakefulness or user reports into a human attention claim.

0/5
E
05

Typical dosages and timing

Metabolism study350 mg

A pilot human anti-doping study gave three healthy male volunteers a single 50 mg oral hydrafinil dose to characterize urinary metabolites. This is the clearest human dose context found, but it was not an efficacy, dose-finding, or safety trial.

06

Timing & effect horizon

Effect horizonUnknown
Unknown
Urine study window3

The human metabolism study collected urine before dosing and up to 72 hours after a 50 mg dose. That window is for detection research and should not be read as effect duration.

07

Safety, side effects and risk profile

Legal / regulatory risk4
Confidence: High

Hydrafinil is prohibited in competition by WADA as an S6.A non-specified stimulant.

Note The 2026 WADA list names Hydrafinil (fluorenol) in S6.A. Competitive athletes should regard use as a serious anti-doping risk unless a governing body has issued a specific exception.

5/5
A
Evidence uncertainty3
Confidence: High

Human efficacy and consumer safety data are largely missing.

Note The human study located was a three-volunteer metabolism/elimination study after 50 mg, not an efficacy or safety trial. WADA notes it is not licensed for medical use.

3/5
A
Overstimulation / insomnia2
Confidence: Low

Wake-promoting pharmacology makes insomnia or overstimulation plausible, but human rates are not established.

Note Risk is inferred from preclinical wakefulness and stimulant classification, not quantified clinical adverse-event rates.

2/5
D
Interaction risk3
Confidence: Low

Drug, stimulant, sedative, alcohol, and psychiatric-medication interactions are not characterized.

Note Avoid combining with other CNS-active substances outside formal medical or research oversight.

2/5
E
Cardiovascular caution4
Confidence: Low

Cardiovascular effects are not adequately characterized in humans.

Note Because Hydrafinil is classified as a stimulant and lacks clinical safety data, people with blood pressure, rhythm, anxiety, or sleep disorders should avoid unsupervised use.

2/5
E
Pregnancy / lactation caution5
Confidence: Medium

No pregnancy, lactation, or pediatric safety basis was found.

Note Unapproved stimulant-like research compounds should be avoided in pregnancy, lactation, and pediatric contexts outside formal clinical oversight.

3/5
E
No clinical safety profile3

The public human data located do not provide a normal adverse-event profile, long-term safety, cardiovascular screening basis, psychiatric-risk assessment, pregnancy data, or interaction map. The safest reading is that major safety questions remain open.

Stimulant-like cautions4

Because Hydrafinil is classified as a stimulant in anti-doping rules and has preclinical wake-promoting activity, avoid unsupervised use with insomnia, anxiety, cardiovascular disease, hypertension, arrhythmia history, bipolar or psychosis risk, seizure risk, pregnancy, lactation, or safety-sensitive work.

08

Interactions and cautions

Interactions are not characterized3

No reliable clinical interaction data were found. Avoid combining Hydrafinil with modafinil or armodafinil, amphetamines, methylphenidate, caffeine-heavy stacks, antidepressants, antipsychotics, sedatives, alcohol, sleep-deprivation protocols, or other research stimulants.

09

Legal and regulatory status

WADA prohibited in competition4

The WADA 2026 Prohibited List names Hydrafinil (fluorenol) under S6.A non-specified stimulants. That means athletes in WADA-governed sport should regard it as prohibited in competition and high consequence.

Not a licensed medicine in WADA notes5

WADA explanatory notes for the 2025 list state that Hydrafinil was moved to S6.A because it is more potent than modafinil and is not licensed for medical use. Consumer legality still depends on country, import route, product claims, and sport rules.

10

Practical buying and quality notes

  • If comparing Hydrafinil listings, verify that the product is fluoren-9-ol or 9-fluorenol, CAS 1689-64-1, PubChem CID 74318, formula C13H10O, with a recent batch COA and third-party analytical testing. Similar-sounding modafinil analog names can refer to different substances.1
  • For tested athletes, price, purity, or vendor reputation does not solve the anti-doping issue. WADA-listed status is the decisive fact unless your governing body and medical team have documented a valid exception.4
11

FAQ

What is Hydrafinil?

1

Hydrafinil is a common name for fluorenol, usually fluoren-9-ol or 9-fluorenol. It is a synthetic research compound associated with preclinical wakefulness research and anti-doping detection work.

What is the Hydrafinil dosage?

3

The best human dose context found was a single 50 mg oral dose in a three-volunteer metabolism study. That is not a validated nootropic dose, not a daily dose, and not a cycle plan.

How long does Hydrafinil last?

3

Human effect duration is not established. The 72-hour urine collection window in the metabolism study is a detection window, not a wakefulness-duration claim.

Is Hydrafinil like modafinil?

2

Only partly. It was studied in a modafinil-like wakefulness drug-discovery program, but Hydrafinil is a different fluorenol compound, lacks approved-label dosing, and lacks human efficacy evidence comparable to modafinil or armodafinil.

Can athletes use Hydrafinil?

4

Athletes in WADA-governed sport should avoid it. The 2026 WADA list names Hydrafinil (fluorenol) as an S6.A non-specified stimulant prohibited in competition.

12

References

  1. PubChem. Fluoren-9-ol (CID 74318). Accessed 2026-07-01.
  2. Dunn D, Hostetler G, Iqbal M, Marcy VR, Lin YG, Jones B, Aimone LD, Gruner J, Ator MA, Bacon ER, Chatterjee S. Wake promoting agents: search for next generation modafinil, lessons learned: part III. Bioorg Med Chem Lett. 2012;22(11):3751-3753.
  3. Knoop A, Fusshoeller G, Haenelt N, Goergens C, Guddat S, Geyer H, Thevis M. Mass spectrometric characterization of urinary hydrafinil metabolites for routine doping control purposes. Drug Test Anal. 2021;13(11-12):1915-1920.
  4. World Anti-Doping Agency. International Standard: Prohibited List 2026.
  5. World Anti-Doping Agency. Summary of Major Modifications and Explanatory Notes: 2025 Prohibited List.
  6. Cayman Chemical. Hydrafinil product information, Item No. 19799. Accessed 2026-07-01.
Note

This page is informational and summarizes available evidence. It is not medical advice, a recommendation, or a substitute for guidance from a qualified clinician.