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Modafinil aka Provigil has become the performance-enhancing agent of choice among this current generation’s entrepreneurs.
Silicon Valley, which is driven largely by internet entrepreneurs, has discovered that Modafinil allows you to work longer hours, focus better, and generally improve results.
Only adding to its popularity, Wired.com had written about it on a number of occasions, as well as it's 'fictitious' portrayal in the movie Limitless (and also the Series), created a cultural ideal about cognitive performance enhancement where perviously 'enhancement' and 'optimisation' had generally only been applied to the physical side i.e. thinner, fitter, bulkier, taller, shorter etc.
Adrafinil was created by a French pharmaceutical company in the early 1980s that promoted wakefulness. Upon examination of Adrafinil’s metabolites, it was discovered that Adrafinil is actually a prodrug for Modafinil, and that the body synthesised its own Modafinil from Adrafinil.
Due to concerns about a free radical that was released into the body during Adrafinil’s conversion, Adrafinil was not really marketed outside of the French/European markets, and Modafinil made its way overseas under names like Provigil (for American markets), Modawake, Modvigil and Modalert for the Indian and other global markets.
The United Kingdom’s Royal Air Force began looking at the compound as a way to replace Amphetamine’s use as “go-pills” for their helicopter pilots.
Pilots on extended missions frequently have to function for multiple 12 hours shifts at a time without a sleep break. Until recently, Amphetamine was the drug of choice for armed services around the world.
Looking for an alternative after several high-profile friendly fire incidents caused by sleep deprivation and potential amphetamine psychosis, the RAF began testing Modafinil, and discovered that it allowed their helicopter pilots to function close to normal levels with even up to five days worth of sleep deprivation.
After the success of the RAF incidents, countries like the United States have had their Army Aeromedical Centre testing Modafinil as well, with positive results even with two or three days worth of sleep deprivation.
Of course it didn’t take long for this knowledge to pass outside of military circles and move towards the mainstream. The drug in the US is ostensibly prescribed for Shift Work Sleep Disorder, but already is being prescribed off label for Attention Deficit Disorder as a less-addicting alternative for Adderall.
Students, interested in improving grades and studying harder, frequently obtain new study drugs from their peers who have ADD/ADHD.
During exam time, it’s a poorly concealed secret that high school and college students sell their extra Adderall, Ritalin, and now Modafinil tablets. These products are in very high demand by this demographic.
Modafinil is allowing students to stay up and study all night and still being functional to take an exam the next day without feeling the negative effects of sleep deprivation. Programmers and corporates, to name only a few, who are being forced to work above their usual capacity are turning to Modafinil to become more productive and get more out of their work days and nights.
This isn’t to say that Modafinil will let an individual never sleep again. Not at all.
Eventually the body and mind develop a tolerance to anything outside of normality, but for a wakefulness promoting agent, Modafinil has the lowest side effects of any in its class.
Modafinil grants an individual the ability to shift the need for sleep off for a few days. It doesn’t eliminate the need entirely, but many people are finding it effective for eliminating sleep during the work week and making it back on the weekends, or shifting the need for sleep until after a deadline is met.
Modafinil so far has kept a fairly low profile in the mainstream media.
The medical establishment has not been as quick to condemn it as it has with other stimulants like cocaine and amphetamines. This is largely because Modafinil is non-addictive for most people, and does not create feelings of euphoria that many drug-addicts seek.
Instead of being a party drug, Modafinil is a drug for people who need high mental performance for long periods of time. It's that boost which some people need in order to get something important done.
Does this sound like you?
Where to buy Modafinil
While Modafinil can be purchased from your local pharmacy with a valid prescription, it can also be purchased online easily enough without a prescription.
That being said, it isn't obvious to know where to purchase from and which vendor you can trust. This is why we've prepared some detailed vendor reviews to help you find a supplier that best suits your needs based on how much you're looking to spend and what country you live in.
Remain productive and stay safe!