Do you take Modafinil?

[MarkEast]

Cold baths once or twice a week would be a game changer?

The daily cold showers are not my cup of tea.

Generally, dopamine stays elevated for up to roughly a day following cold immersion, so, no, it'd need to be daily.

And they're certainly not my cup of tea either lol. But I try and do them regardless. A 20-second cold shower really does work in ways difficult to explain—for me, at least.

 

[INCC]

Generally, dopamine stays elevated for up to roughly a day following cold immersion, so, no, it'd need to be daily.

And they're certainly not my cup of tea either lol. But I try and do them regardless. A 20-second cold shower really does work in ways difficult to explain—for me, at least.

Interesting.

Wonder why they are doing those ice baths then? Got trending on Joe Rogan a few years ago.. I don't think they did them very often, at least not daily for sure.

Back in the day when I tried cold showers then I did 3 minutes as suggested in some guide... 20 seconds seems a relatively short timeframe to have any effect on you (in my opinion). For those 20 seconds, are you generally using hot water and then turning cold at the end or you are just rolling the entire time with relatively cold water... just freezing 20 sec at the end?

 

[GGadvert]

Anyone experience with using Ritalin without an ADHD prescription.

 

[Rakzs]

Take this with a grain of salt because it is my own experience, yours can vary.
I also have some of the symptoms but not diagnosed, never really bothered to get it because it's not severe and doesn't have too bad of an impact (there is still a moderate one).

I started taking polygala tenuifolia once every 3 days sublingually and it completely fixed my motivation, discipline and work ethic. Unlike modafinil, it improves sleep quality and also lowers stress.
It isn't a "study drug" but due to how it works, it can fix those issues and help you study. Gives a smooth feeling and strong work ethic, can fix a lot of issues.
If you're into the science of it this post is good for explaining:

https://www.reddit.com/r/NootropicsDepot/comments/i7uj9t/_/g14ef2m

I also take shilajit for gym, and when paired together it gives a lot of benefits without side effects.

I stay away from modafinil and other things which give short term benefits because a shortcut that won't benefit you in the long run isn't beneficial, at least imo.

 

[MrSponge]

Take this with a grain of salt because it is my own experience, yours can vary.
I also have some of the symptoms but not diagnosed, never really bothered to get it because it's not severe and doesn't have too bad of an impact (there is still a moderate one).

I started taking polygala tenuifolia once every 3 days sublingually and it completely fixed my motivation, discipline and work ethic. Unlike modafinil, it improves sleep quality and also lowers stress.
It isn't a "study drug" but due to how it works, it can fix those issues and help you study. Gives a smooth feeling and strong work ethic, can fix a lot of issues.
If you're into the science of it this post is good for explaining:

https://www.reddit.com/r/NootropicsDepot/comments/i7uj9t/_/g14ef2m

I also take shilajit for gym, and when paired together it gives a lot of benefits without side effects.

I stay away from modafinil and other things which give short term benefits because a shortcut that won't benefit you in the long run isn't beneficial, at least imo.

I have heard about this before. Do you think the effect of it is very noticeable on the first day of taking it? Maybe placebo?

 

[Rakzs]

I have heard about this before. Do you think the effect of it is very noticeable on the first day of taking it? Maybe placebo?

I didn't get any major effect the first time I tried just taking it orally (powder so I downed it with some water) but sublingual seems to have some kind of different effect which works quite well, noticable the same day.
I'm not sure if it's placebo, but it's been working well for a while for me now (even on some days I don't have it, I still feel the same as if I'm taking it).

Apparently it causes brain growth which can fix underdeveloped areas caused by adhd.

 

[MrSponge]

I didn't get any major effect the first time I tried just taking it orally (powder so I downed it with some water) but sublingual seems to have some kind of different effect which works quite well, noticable the same day.
I'm not sure if it's placebo, but it's been working well for a while for me now (even on some days I don't have it, I still feel the same as if I'm taking it).

Apparently it causes brain growth which can fix underdeveloped areas caused by adhd.

Sublingual intake is basically straight into the bloodstream so that would explain the instant effects.
I will definitely try it and let you know how I find it.

I'm finally coming down off Modafinil and I must say, it's not my cup of tea and I won't be doing it again.

 

[J1218]

I feel like there's way too much sensationalism and hyperbole going on here, which makes me wonder how many of those who commented have actually taken this medication or are educated on the topic enough to speak from a place of knowledge.

People with narcolepsy take modafinil every single day and don't go into renal failure or end up in the hospital (at least it's not a common occurrence with this medication).

Modafinil isn't some research chemical only approved for usage in mice; it's been FDA approved for years now and has a fairly safe side effect profile. I actually had it prescribed to me for a while, and my doc said it's a better option than adderall/ritalin/amphetamines (which are also fairly safe if used as directed). Obviously the abusing of any medication can cause problems, so I'm only speaking here about using the medication properly.

As for the effect of modafinil, I did notice a perceptible difference from my baseline when I would take it. However, I think it's crucial to look at what else is going on in your life and what your baseline mental state is without the drug in your system. If you're already a lazy, unmotivated person with no drive to succeed, then it's not going to do shit for you.

Just like taking a pre-workout supplement is going to be futile if you're not someone who already goes to the gym; but take someone who works out consistently, eats right, and gets enough sleep for recovery, then have them add in a quality pre-workout, and it may take their performance to a higher level.

While on the subject of working out, to me that is by far the most potent "nootropic" available. And it's 100% natural and free. Not to mention the multifactorial benefits and how it improves every aspect of your life. No drug even comes close to the way I feel not only after a workout, but throughout the entire day when I'm in the gym consistently. I'm far more productive as a result of that daily habit.

Also if you're a male, get your testosterone levels checked. I've been on TRT for several years now (my levels were genuinely low for being in my 20s), and the amount of physical AND cognitive improvement I felt when it kicked in was precipitous. It was truly like night and day, and I had no idea what I was missing out on until I felt what it was like to have test levels at the upper end of normal instead of the low end. And I should mention that there's a massive difference with being on a medical dose of TRT versus someone who is on a "steroid cycle" dose. You have to be in the correct range; having low levels of test is unhealthy and negatively affects quality of life, but going too far and taking supra-physiological doses can be unhealthy too. TRT is "just right", perfectly safe, and has many health benefits.

So to recapitulate, modafinil can absolutely be a cognitive enhancer and make you more productive. But before adding in that variable, you have to get the rest of your life in order: get enough sleep every night, consume a nutritious diet, work out at least 5 days a week and do some light physical activity on your off days, get your bloodwork checked and correct any pre-existing health problems or nutrient deficiencies, and then after all of that if you still want to bring your performance up a level, you can add in the modafinil or adderall or whatever you like.

 

[MrSponge]

I feel like there's way too much sensationalism and hyperbole going on here, which makes me wonder how many of those who commented have actually taken this medication or are educated on the topic enough to speak from a place of knowledge.

People with narcolepsy take modafinil every single day and don't go into renal failure or end up in the hospital (at least it's not a common occurrence with this medication).

Modafinil isn't some research chemical only approved for usage in mice; it's been FDA approved for years now and has a fairly safe side effect profile. I actually had it prescribed to me for a while, and my doc said it's a better option than adderall/ritalin/amphetamines (which are also fairly safe if used as directed). Obviously the abusing of any medication can cause problems, so I'm only speaking here about using the medication properly.

As for the effect of modafinil, I did notice a perceptible difference from my baseline when I would take it. However, I think it's crucial to look at what else is going on in your life and what your baseline mental state is without the drug in your system. If you're already a lazy, unmotivated person with no drive to succeed, then it's not going to do shit for you.

Just like taking a pre-workout supplement is going to be futile if you're not someone who already goes to the gym; but take someone who works out consistently, eats right, and gets enough sleep for recovery, then have them add in a quality pre-workout, and it may take their performance to a higher level.

While on the subject of working out, to me that is by far the most potent "nootropic" available. And it's 100% natural and free. Not to mention the multifactorial benefits and how it improves every aspect of your life. No drug even comes close to the way I feel not only after a workout, but throughout the entire day when I'm in the gym consistently. I'm far more productive as a result of that daily habit.

Also if you're a male, get your testosterone levels checked. I've been on TRT for several years now (my levels were genuinely low for being in my 20s), and the amount of physical AND cognitive improvement I felt when it kicked in was precipitous. It was truly like night and day, and I had no idea what I was missing out on until I felt what it was like to have test levels at the upper end of normal instead of the low end. And I should mention that there's a massive difference with being on a medical dose of TRT versus someone who is on a "steroid cycle" dose. You have to be in the correct range; having low levels of test is unhealthy and negatively affects quality of life, but going too far and taking supra-physiological doses can be unhealthy too. TRT is "just right", perfectly safe, and has many health benefits.

So to recapitulate, modafinil can absolutely be a cognitive enhancer and make you more productive. But before adding in that variable, you have to get the rest of your life in order: get enough sleep every night, consume a nutritious diet, work out at least 5 days a week and do some light physical activity on your off days, get your bloodwork checked and correct any pre-existing health problems or nutrient deficiencies, and then after all of that if you still want to bring your performance up a level, you can add in the modafinil or adderall or whatever you like.

I wish I could super-like this or something along those lines... Completely agree with everything you said. In fact, the reason I tried it is because I couldn't find many reputable sources claiming any serious side-effects.

Thanks for the logical response

 

[OccultKingdoms]

Take this with a grain of salt because it is my own experience, yours can vary.
I also have some of the symptoms but not diagnosed, never really bothered to get it because it's not severe and doesn't have too bad of an impact (there is still a moderate one).

I started taking polygala tenuifolia once every 3 days sublingually and it completely fixed my motivation, discipline and work ethic. Unlike modafinil, it improves sleep quality and also lowers stress.
It isn't a "study drug" but due to how it works, it can fix those issues and help you study. Gives a smooth feeling and strong work ethic, can fix a lot of issues.
If you're into the science of it this post is good for explaining:

https://www.reddit.com/r/NootropicsDepot/comments/i7uj9t/_/g14ef2m

I also take shilajit for gym, and when paired together it gives a lot of benefits without side effects.

I stay away from modafinil and other things which give short term benefits because a shortcut that won't benefit you in the long run isn't beneficial, at least imo.

This makes me feel like you'll have to experiment with 20 substances like that and maybe one will do that for you, but you will get used to that eventually and benefit won't be there.

Modafinil isn't some research chemical only approved for usage in mice; it's been FDA approved for years now and has a fairly safe side effect profile. I actually had it prescribed to me for a while, and my doc said it's a better option than adderall/ritalin/amphetamines (which are also fairly safe if used as directed). Obviously the abusing of any medication can cause problems, so I'm only speaking here about using the medication properly.

You know. I'm biased. But after 7 days of binging on modafinil you'll feel burnt out. If you are normal population and not someone out of the ordinary. It's not a healthy replacement for speed or something like that. I would say it's harder on your body than caffeine, but it won't cause tooth decay or heart problems like speed and methylphenidate would do. Anyways, you will be cognitively drained and for some populations this drug is real crap.

"Despite its effectiveness, it has not been registered as a drug for ADHD due to cases of severe dermatological toxicity."

I wouldn't be so positive about novel nootropic drugs. It's novel. It's not a research chemical, but it likely would be if it caused psychoactive effects. It's my opinion, so don't take it too seriously. I'm biased as I saw people not sleeping for 40 hours on modafinil and they just didn't look good.

TRT is a bad idea for most, even if your testosterone is on the lower end - probably. You will have to be on TRT for 60 years. Envisioning the amount of injections makes me feel tired. You can lift weights rigorously and minimize cardio exercises.

 

[Deleted member 731332]

I also have ADHD but am super scared about meds like Ritalin and Adderal. That's why I never really got into them. Would you recommend it?

Modafinil isn’t used to treat ADHD. Ritalin and Adderall are. Modafinil is used for narcolepsy.

If you’re feeling tired and demotivated maybe you should look at your diet.

Hope you feel better

 

[J1218]

You know. I'm biased. But after 7 days of binging on modafinil you'll feel burnt out. If you are normal population and not someone out of the ordinary. It's not a healthy replacement for speed or something like that. I would say it's harder on your body than caffeine, but it won't cause tooth decay or heart problems like speed and methylphenidate would do. Anyways, you will be cognitively drained and for some populations this drug is real crap.

I wouldn't be so positive about novel nootropic drugs. It's novel. It's not a research chemical, but it likely would be if it caused psychoactive effects. It's my opinion, so don't take it too seriously. I'm biased as I saw people not sleeping for 40 hours on modafinil and they just didn't look good.

Maybe YOU felt burnt out after 7 days on modafinil, but what about the millions of people in the world who take it every day either for narcolepsy or just because they like the performance enhancements it provides and who don't have any side effects from it?

Perhaps the people you saw not sleeping for 40 hours were abusing it and taking way too much. You can theoretically take enough caffeine to be awake for 40 hours too if you wanted to; that doesn't make caffeine inherently unhealthy.

TRT is a bad idea for most, even if your testosterone is on the lower end - probably. You will have to be on TRT for 60 years. Envisioning the amount of injections makes me feel tired. You can lift weights rigorously and minimize cardio exercises.

You are basing this (and every claim you have made thus far) off your opinion, not science. You can't make factual claims based on how you "feel" about something. If somebody has a deficiency in a hormone that is imperative for the healthy functioning of their body, a "bad idea" would be to leave it untreated.

That's like saying if your thyroid hormones are on the lower end, it's a bad idea to take thyroid replacement medication because you may have to take it for 60 years. So what if you do? What's the alternative, to live without a properly functioning thyroid gland for the rest of your life and just put up with the multiplicity of negative health effects it will have?

You're the reason people get all these misconstrued beliefs in their head and accept it as fact when they don't take the time to look into it themselves. You admit to being biased (which is putting it mildly), but then you go on to make claims that come off like you're being factual and objective.

It's fine to have an opinion on something, and we are all biased when it comes to certain topics, but it's important to then speak/write in a way that doesn't mislead people into thinking you are being objective when you're not.

 

[SirLouen]

Now we can confirm that BHW is a YMYL site hands down

 

[OccultKingdoms]

Maybe YOU felt burnt out after 7 days on modafinil, but what about the millions of people in the world who take it every day either for narcolepsy or just because they like the performance enhancements it provides and who don't have any side effects from it?

Perhaps the people you saw not sleeping for 40 hours were abusing it and taking way too much. You can theoretically take enough caffeine to be awake for 40 hours too if you wanted to; that doesn't make caffeine inherently unhealthy.

You are basing this (and every claim you have made thus far) off your opinion, not science. You can't make factual claims based on how you "feel" about something. If somebody has a deficiency in a hormone that is imperative for the healthy functioning of their body, a "bad idea" would be to leave it untreated.

That's like saying if your thyroid hormones are on the lower end, it's a bad idea to take thyroid replacement medication because you may have to take it for 60 years. So what if you do? What's the alternative, to live without a properly functioning thyroid gland for the rest of your life and just put up with the multiplicity of negative health effects it will have?

You're the reason people get all these misconstrued beliefs in their head and accept it as fact when they don't take the time to look into it themselves. You admit to being biased (which is putting it mildly), but then you go on to make claims that come off like you're being factual and objective.

It's fine to have an opinion on something, and we are all biased when it comes to certain topics, but it's important to then speak/write in a way that doesn't mislead people into thinking you are being objective when you're not.

Why would you compare thyroid problems to testosterone?

You can boost your testosterone tremendously by changing your environment, training, sleeping 8 hours instead of 5 and fixing diet (that includes removing all drugs like wakefulness agents).

I guess that won't happen with thyroid. But that's just my opinion.

Perhaps the people you saw not sleeping for 40 hours were abusing it and taking way too much. You can theoretically take enough caffeine to be awake for 40 hours too if you wanted to; that doesn't make caffeine inherently unhealthy.

Why would you see caffeine as something on par with modafinil.

Your arguments are obvious manipulation - that's what I should expect from someone with high T and maybe modafinil in their body?

Thanks for showing us how good that is.

You're the reason people get all these misconstrued beliefs in their head and accept it as fact when they don't take the time to look into it themselves. You admit to being biased (which is putting it mildly), but then you go on to make claims that come off like you're being factual and objective.

Scapegoating too?

 

[J1218]

Why would you compare thyroid problems to testosterone?

You can boost your testosterone tremendously by changing your environment, training, sleeping 8 hours instead of 5 and fixing diet (that includes removing all drugs like wakefulness agents).

I guess that won't happen with thyroid. But that's just my opinion.

Once again, you show your obvious ignorance and lack of education on the topic but you continue to speak as if you're an expert.

Why would I compare thyroid hormones to testosterone? Oh idk, perhaps because they are both hormones (chemical messengers) responsible for proper endocrine function, metabolism, and many other critical physiological processes. Because both of them can make one very unhealthy if they are low. And no, you can't boost your test levels "tremendously" with simple lifestyle changes. You can boost it slightly IF your test levels are low as a result of poor lifestyle habits; but someone who is already taking care of themselves and leading a healthy life who has diagnosed low T without an obvious underlying cause will benefit greatly from getting on TRT in the exact same way that someone with hypothyroidism will benefit from taking thyroid medication.

If you can't see the similarities, then you're just being deliberately obtuse.

Again, it's fine if you don't know something. Just stop acting like you do. You have repeatedly demonstrated over and over again that, to put it bluntly, you don't know what the fuck you're talking about when it comes to basic physiology and biochemistry.

Why would you see caffeine as something on par with modafinil.

Apparently reading comprehension is something else you struggle with.

You made the claim that modafinil was unhealthy because you witnessed someone who took it and stayed up for 40 hours. All I said was that if someone wanted to, they could take enough caffeine to stay awake for 40+ hours straight as well. That wouldn't make caffeine unhealthy just because of the anecdotal evidence of one person who chose not to sleep for several days while taking it; therefore, modafinil isn't by default unhealthy either due to the exact same anecdotal evidence that you're spreading here as a factual claim.

Your arguments are obvious manipulation - that's what I should expect from someone with high T and maybe modafinil in their body?

I know you think that was a witty retort and that I should somehow be offended by it, but come on man, even you can surely do better.

 

[lunapt]

It kills your sleep, so definitely your next day may suck after this.

Apart from that, I don't think things like that help. They are short term and generally help students with cramming.

If you aim for longevity and actual good sleep, magnesium citrate as a nootropic, vitamin d3 with k2 cause you may miss out on sunlight. Some caffeine and dark chocolate won't hurt.

I tried working on 10 mg ritalin once. My work didn't comply with what was said by the client and generally my judgment wasn't good.

This type of things make all our ego problems worse. You don't want ego problems in business.

It will do the same thing as coke. Stick to nootropics and minerals in higher doses plus bodybuilding training cause that's cool.

You can pop a 200 mg caffeine pill and it's not doing much.

Not trying to give you teachings but my experience with this is that you just want to be high with time. Not productive.

I don't have adhd diagnosed, but I behave like that. Probably it will help with that but I don't need that personally, so no for me.

ritalins literally the worst of them all.

i like Adderall, vyvanse, mod, in that order.

 

[GenesisOne]

About 2 hours I popped my first 200mg of Modafinil and I still feel tired but it's like I am still motivated todo my work haha.
Does anyone here take it? Let me know what your experience with it is.

P.S. I'm not going on a marketing forum for medical advice, just want to hear like-minded people's experiences.

Pina coladas have the same effect and are tastier

 

[The Oracle]

Wow, there is a lot of ignorance and misinformation in this thread. Allow me to refute and bust some incorrect statements here.

I also have ADHD but am super scared about meds like Ritalin and Adderal. That's why I never really got into them. Would you recommend it?

Based on your other posts on this thread, I am not sure about the accuracy of this statement. How exactly do you know that you have ADHD? Were you ever officially diagnosed by a professional? Have you ever been administered a test such as the TOVA?

I wholeheartedly recommend medication.

Better to stay away from any such drug ,You don't know which pill you take might be the fatal pill which decides you rest of your life on Diabetic medication or Dialysis for kidney failure ,just my 2 cents hope others also can shed more light on this !

This is some really bad advice and backwards thinking which looks at any 'drug' or 'pill' by default as 'bad.' You must understand the underlying physiology of the disorder and also what the drug does to make a qualified opinion or claim. "All drugs bad" is some useless backwards thinking.

In the case of ADHD, it is not merely 'feeling' inattentive or lacking motivation but there are physically measurable differences in neuroanatomy and neurochemistry. This is why I asked the OP the question above.

I strongly recommend finding Dr. Russel Barkley's videos on YouTube about ADHD.

Generally, dopamine stays elevated for up to roughly a day following cold immersion, so, no, it'd need to be daily.

And they're certainly not my cup of tea either lol. But I try and do them regardless. A 20-second cold shower really does work in ways difficult to explain—for me, at least.

Sorry but this is false. As much as I do love cold baths, and as much as they definitely do spike dopamine, the effect lasts at most for an hour (typically much less on the order of single digit minutes- because it is proportional to the duration of exposure). Andrew Huberman's podcast which discusses cold immersion references a scientific paper that tests this.

 

[Dotpardox]

You might find that taking an iron supplement helps you more than taking medication.

 

[noellarkin]

Modafinil works with the regulation of reticular activation system, ie attentional systems.

...describes the presence of electrical coupling in the RAS and how that mechanism is modulated by the stimulant modafinil, which increases electrical coupling to drive coherence and disinhibits a number of systems to drive higher frequencies and induce arousal (Garcia-Rill et al., 2008). Briefly, modafinil increases electrical coupling, and since most coupled neurons in the RAS are GABAergic, the coupling decreases input resistance, decreasing activity and GABA release, thus disinhibiting many other cell types. This disinhibition leads to overall higher frequency in activity, that is, during sleep and arousal, in the RAS (Garcia-Rill et al., 2007, 2008; Heister et al., 2007) and thalamocortical systems (Urbano et al., 2007).

If you take modafinil, make sure you make a clear to-do list of what you're going to do once you're on it, the work goals you have, be very very focused before you pop the pill, otherwise you won't get the attention narrowing benefits.