Some people use the smart pill Modavigil 200 off-label as a cognitive enhancer or "smart pill" to increase their energy and focus. It is mostly used as a treatment for sleep-related conditions such as narcolepsy, obstructive sleep apnea, and shift work sleep disorder when excessive daytime sleepiness is a serious problem. Modafinil is sometimes used by those who do not have certain medical issues since it is thought to have cognitive-enhancing properties.

Modafinil's mechanism of action to encourage alertness and conceivably improve focus and cognitive performance remains unclear. Research on its precise mode of action is still ongoing. Dopamine, norepinephrine, and histamine, which are crucial for controlling wakefulness, alertness, and attention, are among the neurotransmitter systems in the brain that are thought to be affected by it.