The 'Limitless Pill' Could Soon Turn Us All into Superhuman Workers

No one knows much about modafinil, the study drug on the rise in universities and workplaces, but we do know it works and that it gives you a terrible headache.

 The First Real Smart Drug? Researchers Say Modafinil Works

Modafinil "may well deserve the title of the first well-validated pharmaceutical nootropic agent."

 The Majority Of People Are Fine With Brain Doping, As Long As You Don't Call It That

From smart drugs to over-the-counter nootropics, popping pills to boost brain power has become a billion-dollar business. After all, in our increasingly distracted, aging, and sleep-deprived world, anything that promises better concentration, alertness, and memory is more than tempting – for some it might feel like a necessity.

 Why Can't We All Take Modafinil?

The world's favorite smart drug is much safer than Adderall and a promising treatment for substance abuse and neurodegenerative disorders—so why can't we use it?

'Smart Drug' Modafinil Actually Works, Study Shows

Modafinil improved only certain features of cognition, the researchers found. In general, the drug appeared to improve what researchers call executive function, the ability to sift through new information and make plans based on it. Modafinil also somewhat enhanced people's ability to pay attention, learn and remember, the researchers found.

A Safe Drug to Boost Brainpower

Rigorous analysis shows the drug modafinil significantly enhances cognition.

Are Modafinil's Brain-Boosting Benefits Hype Or Science?

The results, though preliminary, make sense, considering that modafinil is designed to promote wakefulness, says Dr. Larissa Mooney, an associate professor of psychiatry at UCLA. "It makes sense that people would feel more alert while taking it," she says. "But that doesn't necessarily mean that they're performing better."

I Spent a Week on Nuvigil, the Drug From 'Limitless'

For now, I’ll stick to caffeine and whiskey. Until my next doctor’s appointment.

I tried Wall Street’s ‘genius drug’ and it’s worth the hype

Not long after it was released, this drug was taken up by genius high-flyers such as stockbrokers, surgeons, air traffic controllers and others who need to be motivated and full of energy even when they are seriously fatigued. Apparently, it is quite popular with them. And after taking it for a couple of months, I can tell you exactly why.

MAR. 29, 2013 The Real Limitless Drug Isn’t Just for Lifehackers Anymore

Modafinil, which is marketed as Provigil in the United States, was first approved by the FDA in 1998 for the treatment of narcolepsy, but since then it’s become better known as a nootropic, a “smart drug,” especially among entrepreneurs.

Modafinil – the ‘smart drug’ leading the charge towards a future of neuroenhancement

Our study indicates that, in controlled scientific environments, the use of modafinil for cognitive enhancement is safe and effective – keeping in mind that most of the studies we looked at only gave the drug once, reducing our ability to make longer-term claims.

My 'smart drugs' nightmare

Overall, the negative aspects of taking the drugs far outweighed the positives - which could have been for a number of reasons. People's bodies react differently to chemicals and tablets, and - after speaking to my doctor - I was told my liver had released an enzyme aimed at flushing the modafinil out of my system.

Narcolepsy medication modafinil is world's first safe 'smart drug'

Increasingly taken by healthy people to improve focus before exams, after a comprehensive review researchers say modafinil is safe in the short-term.

Provigil vs Nuvigil: Which Is Better for Daytime Sleepiness?

For excessive daytime sleepiness, Provigil and Nuvigil are first-line treatments. Provigil (the generic is modafinil) and Nuvigil are non-stimulant medications—but what does that mean? How do they work? And is one better than the other? How do Provigil and Nuvigil help keep you awake if they aren’t stimulants?

The drug does work

Modafinil was never meant for people like me. It was invented to stop narcoleptics falling asleep, then adapted to let soldiers stay up all night. But gradually it was noticed that as well as increasing wakefulness, the drug imp­roved concentration. I first sought my own hit after realising that four or five of my friends were using it to help them revise.

The Rise of Work-Doping

Modafinil is one of an arsenal of drugs, which includes Adderall, Ritalin, and Concerta, that are increasingly used “off-label" by college students and adults seeking greater productivity.

The War on Sleep

Much of this research, which focuses on a drug called modafinil, is openly sponsored and supervised by military agencies.

Users Say the 'Smart Drug' Modafinil Is the New Adderall — Only Better

The FDA approved modafinil to treat narcolepsy, but people are taking it illegally — off-label and without a prescription — to study or work on big projects.

Why ‘smart drugs’ can make you less clever

So, if your colleague gets a better performance report than you do, is it really because of the Ritalin she takes? If your office mate has more creative ideas, is it because of Provigil? Probably not. The smart drugs currently available can boost brain performance, yet they are not as effective as glaring media reports often suggest.