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Modafinil: 2008 Reviews


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#61 Ghostrider

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Posted 30 October 2008 - 08:36 PM

How do you know it's not just placebo effect in your case? Some people above describe modafinil as being worthless. How do you know it's actually not doing anything for you and it's just placebo? Also, why not see a doctor about the fatigue?


Well, that's a very fair question, and I'm not sure how I would convince you it is real and not a placebo. I guess the only way is to do a compare/contrast, but even that would only scratch the surface because we're talking about interpretation. In summary, I have a major problem with fatigue and concentration. When I try to study, I usually read for about 2 mins, and then get distracted for 20 mins. My reading is instantly attacked by outside thoughts and I battle with re-reading sentences over and over and over. I then have this crippling struggle back and forth, and after a few hours, I feel very depressed because I wasted most of the day and accomplished nothing. Mostly, studying for more than 10 solid minutes is a rare accomplishment.

With modafinil... I have ups and downs depending on my motivation, but I can usually put in a good hour or two until I lose concentration. On a few occassions, I've fell into this undescribable "concentration zone". At one point, I studied for 4 straight days while averaging about 15 solid hours per day (one day was 21 hours). I literally would forget to eat or drink. I was really, really, "IN" to what I was doing and accomplished many things. In those moments, you just "know" it's working. You know "something" is seriously different. It would be very hard to convince me it was a placebo effect, but I'm an open-minded person, so who knows? However, the one thing that is present in my case is "effort". I can take all the modafinil I want, but if I don't put forth the effort to apply myself, I will accomplish nothing. It does not give me "energy", it only works when I "want" to do something. It takes the same initial effort to begin studying whether I am taking modafinil or whether I am not. The only difference is in the quality of my focus and attention span, which is reflected in how much work I completed, or didn't complete.

Why don't I see a doctor? Well, I don't have insurance and I don't have the money. If I had the money, not sure I would have the time to go to a general doctor first, just to pay him to get a referral to a specialist... then make an appointment and wait for weeks just so they can tell me they want to "take tests"... in which I'd have to make another appointment a few weeks later to do that. Then... I'd have to come back in and the specialist would review my tests... then... who knows? Maybe get sent somewhere else? Maybe make another appointment and wait longer? I'm just pretty disgusted with the healthcare industry in the US. I had a bad experience and terminated my insurance last year because it turned out to be worthless anyway. It's a long story... and not in the scope of this topic... but I'm sure you get the picture.


I know how you feel. Although I never really had trouble focusing in college when I wanted to (I did not focus in high school and I did not really care to), I might be borderline ADD. Currently though, I do feel a definite lack of focus and energy compared to how I have felt in the past. I am not sure if it is a result of diet, other life style factors, possible thyroid issue, minor depression, or other. I did see a doctor this morning, but I did not ask for a prescription of modafinil. I mentioned that I feel a lot more tired (mentally, but not physically) than I used to and that my focus has declined. He was not really sure what the issue could be, but he did not think it was thryoid. He recommended the blood test and take things from there. He also recommended talking to a counselor, but I already consult with my family. I am still trying to rule out diet, the issue could still be related to that. For now though, it really sucks not being able to feel and perform at the level that I have in the past. I understand why you have not seen a doctor too, it's a very long process with at least a 2-week turn-around at every step.

#62 leaving_florida

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Posted 31 October 2008 - 01:06 AM

I know how you feel. Although I never really had trouble focusing in college when I wanted to (I did not focus in high school and I did not really care to), I might be borderline ADD. Currently though, I do feel a definite lack of focus and energy compared to how I have felt in the past. I am not sure if it is a result of diet, other life style factors, possible thyroid issue, minor depression, or other. I did see a doctor this morning, but I did not ask for a prescription of modafinil. I mentioned that I feel a lot more tired (mentally, but not physically) than I used to and that my focus has declined. He was not really sure what the issue could be, but he did not think it was thryoid. He recommended the blood test and take things from there. He also recommended talking to a counselor, but I already consult with my family. I am still trying to rule out diet, the issue could still be related to that. For now though, it really sucks not being able to feel and perform at the level that I have in the past. I understand why you have not seen a doctor too, it's a very long process with at least a 2-week turn-around at every step.


You're exactly right... a minimum of 2-weeks at each stop and a few hundred bucks. I didn't mention this earlier because there's not much to say about it, but I did see a doctor about 6 months ago (paying out of pocket). I told him I wanted as much blood work as I could possibly get. Everything came back fine except - testosterone. Now, that's interesting because the more I looked into it... symptoms of low testosterone were "text book" symptoms of what I was experiencing, including no sex drive. Don't quote this as being 100% accurrate, but I think for my age (37), my testosterone should have been around 400. My test came back at 212. He said it wasn't a major issue, but I have the testosterone level of someone near 60 (not a major issue???). Anyway, he went on to say that if it was 200 or below, he would have recommended hormone supplements. What was his answer? How about a prescription of Viagra? No joke! I know Viagra will raise something, but it's not testosterone. So when I got home I flushed that prescription down the toilet. Here I am complaining of major fatigue - I used to be in elite physical condition and workout 5-7 days a week - and now I never workout, have the urge to take naps all day, no motivation, etc... and his answer was Viagra. Overall, the blood work wasn't too expensive except for the testosterone. However, I had to pay for the initial visit, the blood work, and then the second visit... which was only a 10 min meeting to tell me my results and give me a script of Viagra. All of that for the lovely price of around $350. When I tried to push him to look into the low testosterone issue... he gave me the impression that I would then have to do some more tests ($$$). At that point, I had to make a decision, take more tests and pay more money, dump this doctor and go see another and go through this process with him, or just cut my losses and go home.

I didn't mean to get off-topic. I know this isn't exactly about modafinil, but it is about fatigue, and maybe it could give the idea for someone else to look into testosterone issues. Whether or not that's my problem? I don't know, but I do know that I shouldn't have such a low testosterone level.

One last thing to add about modafinil. I've searched long and hard for information on a brand name called ModVigil. Now, this is NOT... not the same thing at Modavigil. ModVigil is a replica from HAB in India. From all of my experiments, ModVigil was the most suspect. I know it contains something, but I wouldn't say it works and at times it gives an uncomfortable feeling. So, for anyone who may run across ModVigil by HAB, I'd stay away from it. Stick with Modalert. I wanted to add this because there's not much on the internet about ModVigil.

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#63 Ghostrider

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Posted 31 October 2008 - 07:28 AM

That's interesting...maybe low testosterone is an issue for me as well.

#64 Rags847

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Posted 18 November 2009 - 11:10 AM

My 2 cents.

Unfortunately, I've exhausted my desire for an in-depth review of my experience and research on this topic because I've spent the past year on similar message boards in similar discussions. Therefore, you'll just have to take my advice at face value.

My background: I've extensively tried Modalert, Modiodal (from manufacturer of Provigil - Celphalon), Modvigil (NOT Modavigil! Modvigil is an Indian brand from Hab pharm), and Ritalin. *All of these were acquired over the Internet.

Throughout the past year, I've experimented with every combination and dosage I could imagine (even sub-lingual delivery). I've researched patents, particle sizes, read expert analysis' written by people who obviously are much more knowledgable than I will ever be, and even reviewed legal documents/agreements between Sun and Cephalon in regards to Modafinil. My conclusion after 3 months was probably much different after 6 months, which was then the opposite at 9 months, which was then different than today.... get the picture? To save everyone from the usual rant with details, I'll sum it by concluding - Modalert by Sun is the best deal "financially speaking". But, if you want a broader perspective, keep reading until the end.

About Modalert: This is a strange beast. You name it - I've tried it. 25mgs a day. 50mgs a day. 100mgs a day, 200mgs, 300, etc. There are so many small details involed in the Modalert/Provigil debate that I don't think we could ever get to the bottom of this unless we had board-certified members from Cephalon and Sun right here in the message board. For example, are most people aware that Modalert is a "coated" tablet and Provigil is not? Does this change or delay the onset? Maybe. Maybe not. Again, that's just one small piece of a giant puzzle. Anyway... It wasn't until recently that I personally "learned" how to use Modalert. All of us serve as our own individual chemcial factories - that's what the human body is. And, we all respond different when a chemcial is added to the mix. With Modalert, there was a time when I gave up. The headaches were too brutal, the effects were non-existing, and the side-effects were too anxiety-provoking. By educating myself and experimenting, I've learned how to get this product to work for me. I don't want to chance the topic of my overall message, so for anyone interested, I'll briefly explain "what" I do now, but I won't explain the "why" and "how". My recipe: I take 150mgs of Modalert first thing in the morning... on an empty stomach... and I do NOT eat for at least 2-3 hours. About 2 hours after my first meal, I take another 100mgs, and then I don't eat again for at least 2 hours.

About all of them - Modalert, Modvigil, and Modiodal: In one way or the other, they're all the same. What I mean is... some days you think they're working, other days you don't. Some days you think you feel bad, other days you don't. The one consistency has ironically been a lack of consistency. What does all of this mean? It means that you have to take a step back and understand your objective and put it into perspective. I'm sure there are a lot of people like me - we don't have energy in life, we're always fatigued, and we want to take this magic pill and suddenly become these extremely motivated workaholics and rise amongst our peers. Well, it CAN happen, but you need to rethink your approach. From everything I have researched, two resources have had the most impact because they both offer a theory that I discovered to be more true than most (one source was a reputable psychiatrist and the other was a study from Oxford).

Here is what I have learned: Modafinil will help you focus - that's a fact. But, that's all it does. Stop and think about that for a moment. It will help you focus. But, helping you focus doesn't equate to giving you "energy". Improving your focus doesn't metabolize into "motivation". If you focus on whether or not the Modalert you took 2 hours ago is working, you'll be pretty good at continually diagnosing yourself every 10 mins. If you focus on possible side-effects you think you're feeling, you'll be pretty good at paying attention to the smallest abnormalities, and maybe even "think" yourself into a real panic-attack. If you focus on the TV show you're watching... you'll do a great job at watching the show. If you focus on talking on the phone, you'll be highly engaged in a conversation. If you focus on laying on the couch and being lazy, you'll be the best couch potato in town. And likewise, if you submerse yourself into a project or work, you'll become obsessed and do a great job. The point is - I had to stop seeing Modafinil as a body "stimulant", and start seeing it as a "focusing stimulant" because that's exactly what it is. Getting modafinil to work as good as advertised requires a balance between different factors: the product itself (dosage), your diet, and your attitude. Once you can find the balance between those three, modafinil, such as Sun's Modalert, will do it's job. But, if you think you're going to take a pill and suddenly come to life, you're taking the wrong thing. For those who do claim that modafinil performs this miracle, I would say it's initially a placebo effect that creates a change of attitude, and then the modafinil will improves their focus on whatever it is they are doing. Essentially, it's up to your own will power to cause yourself to begin doing what you want to do, and let modafinil assist you. Think of modafinil as the gasoline in your car. Even with a full tank of gas, a car just sits along a street. It's useless. It doesn't move. It doesn't respond. It does nothing. But, if you get inside and start the engine, you then allow the gasoline to do it's job and the car becomes very beneficial.

I'm no scientist, but I'm smart enough to have understood one thing from all of the research of I have read - all of the stimulants stimulate your brain in different areas and in different ways. Without getting technial (because I'm not smart enough to speak that jargon anyway), Ritalin will stimulate your brain and improve your concentration, but it actually lessens your "creativity". Therefore, many stimulants will enhance some areas of your brain, but decrease activity in another area. It happens to be that Modafinil is pretty good at stimulating areas that are great for concentration and attention, and not the areas responsible for over-exciting the CNS.

The other factor I'll briefly touch on: Diet. Is is also a fact that if I eat an entire bag of cookies at this moment, a chemical process will occur in my body within the next hour, and it WILL effect the way I feel - 100% fact. The spike of simple sugar in my blood will cause my pancreas to over-compensate with the production of insulin. The insulin will then lower my blood sugar level fast and efficiently. I will then have a lower blood sugar level than before I ate the cookies. Why is this important? Because the brain lives off of glucose (which isn't in cookies by the way). Unlike other areas in your body, your brain cannot "store" glucose, so it relies on a consistent level of glucose in your blood. Your brain needs glucose so much that each brain cell uses twice as much glucose as any other cell in your body! Therefore, after experiencing a significant drop in glucose, your brain begins to starve and malfunction because it's primary and only source of energy is glucose. By the way, intense mential activity will cause your brain to rapidly burn glucose. So, I'm not giving a lecture on diet, but I'm trying to plant that seed to some people that there IS a balance involved in the human body. And because we don't get modafinil for free, if you want to get the most out of the product, try your best to keep your body in a healthy state that will create a better probability for positive results.

And finally, caffeine. Caffeine is truly a unique substance. And, I'm not referring to your morning cup of coffee. By the way, a coffee with sugar is a recipe for a mental and physical crash due to the combination. Anyway, what I'm referring to is "caffeine" - the unadulterated chemical. Brain scans have revealed that caffeine, unlike expensive and popular drugs like ritalin and modafinil, act as a true "global" brain stimulant. Imagine that huh? Caffeine actually stimulates your brain in more areas than those expensive drugs. That's precisely why it provides a global response in varying effects - some people feel great, some can concentrate, some get jittery (CNS), etc. The truth is, if used properly, caffeine can be your best friend. Some will find this hard to believe, but the Walter Reed Army Institute of Research conducted a study and found caffeine to be equally as effective as modafinil. Don't believe me? Most of us are tolerant to the effects of caffeine because we consume so much coffee each day, but take this challenge! Stop all caffeine products for two weeks. Wake up one morning, swallow a 200mg pill of caffeine, and let me know how you feel. I tried it - and the result was amazing! Modafinil could not come close in the comparison to caffeine in that instance. If you exhaust your supply of modafinil but need a lift for a big day at work - Try this... caffeine is used best if taken in small doses throughout the day. Purchase some 200mg caffeine pills and a "pill-spliter". Take 1-2 pills, divide each pill up into 4 separate pieces (should contain approximately 50mgs of caffeine each). Then, take each piece every 40 mins. Within approximately 1.5 hours, you will notice a sustaned and very defined mental high and clarity. You'll be on fire. You won't crash. You'll be able to think clearly and be heavily involved in your work. In fact, I would argue it's better than modafinil (definitely more stimulating and noticeable), but the only problem is that humans build up a tolerance to caffeine very fast.

Anyway... that's my 2 cents on my year of experiementation with researching and using modafinil.


One of the very best posts on Modafinil I have ever read. Comprehensive understanding. Thanks, leaving florida.

Edited by Rags847, 18 November 2009 - 11:24 AM.

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#65 Mind

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Posted 07 April 2013 - 04:17 PM

Modafinil has come a long way. Smart drugs are getting to be more accepted it seems.

Any updates from the LongeCity crowd? This thread is 5 years old. A good period of time for anecdotal reports. Tolerance build-up? Side effects?

#66 KoolK3n

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Posted 07 April 2013 - 10:14 PM

Modafinil has come a long way. Smart drugs are getting to be more accepted it seems.

Any updates from the LongeCity crowd? This thread is 5 years old. A good period of time for anecdotal reports. Tolerance build-up? Side effects?


I've been experimenting with the generic Modalert for the past several months. It is a great tool only under certain circumstances. You can only feel it if you're sleep deprived. If you take after a good nights rest, you will not notice it. Also, it does jack for ADD, this stuff only keeps you awake but there is no extra focus or drive like from amphetamines. It's like a moderate dose of caffeine that lasts all day without any jitters. According to others on the web, tolerance does develop.

#67 Racetams

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Posted 16 July 2013 - 12:25 PM

Has anyone noticed the metallic taste in the mount with modafinil?

#68 Kelly me

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Posted 26 July 2013 - 01:59 PM

HI Guys. I see this post is a little old but maybe I can get a reply. I just found a new brand of Modafinil called Modafresh 200 by Sunrise pharma. I usually take Modalert as other generics dont cut it for me. But these Modafresh 200 mg are much cheaper and would suit my budget much better. Please, if anyone has had experience with them I would like to know so that I can order them before my stash runs out. Thanks :)
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#69 garysh566

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Posted 24 August 2013 - 07:00 PM

I didn't notice a metallic taste racetams?

Edited by garysh566, 24 August 2013 - 07:09 PM.


#70 karenklein3

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Posted 28 August 2013 - 05:49 PM

There is excellent information and vendor reviews on reddit. Also particularly helpful is a modafinil page on a site created by a reddit moderator, Gwern.
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#71 karenklein3

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Posted 28 August 2013 - 05:49 PM

There is excellent information and vendor reviews on reddit. Also particularly helpful is a modafinil page on a site created by a reddit moderator, Gwern.

#72 limited

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Posted 25 October 2013 - 08:05 PM

modafinil is extremely hard to get in the uk .i really want to get prescribed it ,jus bcus im so lethageric and i just cant stop sleeping in the morning im like some vampire im so tired and unalert and cant concetreate ive failed so many exams its been so bad that ive dropped out of college :/ how do i get my gp to prescribe me it ???

#73 Kelly me

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Posted 22 October 2014 - 04:52 AM

We,  Ive been taking provigil for over a year now. I just ordered sun Modalert here and have taken my first pill. Although reading people say that Sun Modalert is a qaulity medicines, up to now, (5 hours into it) I would say I prefer the original Provigil which was prescribed me. It just feels cleaner. Just my two cents. :)



#74 ZHMike

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Posted 22 October 2014 - 02:31 PM

We,  Ive been taking provigil for over a year now. I just ordered sun Modalert here and have taken my first pill. Although reading people say that Sun Modalert is a qaulity medicines, up to now, (5 hours into it) I would say I prefer the original Provigil which was prescribed me. It just feels cleaner. Just my two cents. :)

 

 

I have never heard of that supplier... everything was smooth?  You could always try a generic armodafnil might be a little smoother and more comparable to provigil



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#75 Mr Matsubayashi

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Posted 23 October 2014 - 10:22 AM

I have the SNP that suggests modafinil will have no effect, this was not the case.

 

Modafinil kept me awake, made it easier to wake up and gave me a level of motivating mania.

 

It also increased my indicators for liver damage, after three days at 50mg the surrounds of my eyes were slightly puffy and I felt tired. Lack of sleep? Liver problems? I also have heterozygous SNPs for drug hypersensitivity which might be playing a part.

 

It was genuine, from the local pharmacy.






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