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Comment by natrius | Hacker News Reader

"Other drugs like modafinil have almost zero side-effects in comparison"

Oh? I'd love to read the study on the safety of long term modafinil usage that you are doubtlessly referring to.

I think it's ridiculous that the government prevents me from taking various substances, but claiming that poorly understood drugs are safe is ridiculous. No one even knows how modafinil works.

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That's a bit of an exaggeration.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Modafinil#Pharmacology

http://www.modafinil.com/

Sure, there's no long-term studies, but we can extrapolate from the receptors that it acts on and its relatively minor side effects that it wouldn't be too bad to take it over a long term. At least for it's main indication, ADHD, it's far better than the alternatives of Ritalin or Adderall.

You are wrong. Modafinil's only indication is narcolepsy.

Modafinil (Provigil) is indicated for use treating narcolepsy, which was it's initial indication. Recently, the FDA has approved it for treatment of symptoms of obstructive sleep apnea (which I take it for), and shift work sleep disorder.

http://www.docguide.com/news/content.nsf/news/8525697700573E...

I have been prescribed Modafinil for Adult ADD.

That's an off-label usage. Not saying that it's illegal or bad in any sense, just that the drug wasn't approved for such usage.

Also, I was on medication for about 2 months. Then I threw away the prescription -- it left me soulless. How is it treating you?

I was taking a huge dose and it had no real effect. In the end, I had to switch to another med.

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