I am taking provigil, how does it work?

Differently: It is thought Provigil was developed as an alternative to narcotic stimulants. It works on a different set of receptors in your brain that control the release of certain chemicals, presumably to help you keep alert. The exact mechanism on neurotransmitters, like catecholamines, or various areas of the brain, are still being studied, after a look at the medical literature.

Wakes up the brain: Modafanil (provigil) appears to increase the activity of the brain wakefulness centers without causing a significant increase in Dopamine or norepinephrine release (unlike the stimulant medications). This is why its abuse potential is lower than other medications that improve alertness.

Not sure: The honest answer is that we still don't really know how Provigil works. Research suggests that Provigil actually does work by increasing the amount of Dopamine in our wakefulness centers. This is only one neurotransmitter that is involved in keeping us awake.

Stimulant: Presumably by increasing dopamine.

Selective reuptake: It works almost selectively in the dorsolateral lateral frontal cortex (where u think) increasing norepi( primary signal) and dopamine( decrease background noise). Brain cells called the tuberomammillary nucleii run from the hypothalamus to the cortex, mediated by histamine. It either activates the nucleii and the tract to stimulate the cortex or possibly so selective, feeds back and activate nucl.