Posted by IsoM on February 8, 2002, at 13:20:31
In reply to Re: Provigil- took test drive of abuse potential- none » 3 Beer Effect, posted by Rick on February 8, 2002, at 1:30:51
I really wish I could find more information, studies, case histories, etc on Provigil (modafinil) & Olmifon (adrafinil). In my experience, it doesn't behave like other psychostimulants. Currently, the other available stims all have rapid action effects within an hour or less of dosing. Both Ritalin & Dexedrine affects me like that.
But with adrafinil (& modafinil-Provigil works similar), effects aren't noticed for a week or more, much like standard ADs in time of action. It's actions are different than the other stims, & PET scans confirm this too, showing different areas of the brain with increased metabolic activity. I honestly can't see how a drug that behaves like this could be abused or why anyone would abuse it. The point of abusing a drug for recreational use is to get an immediate high - something that just doesn't happen with modafinil/adrafinil. Manowar (Tim) also takes Provigil & can confirm the slow onset of benefits.
Any abuse of adrafinil with business men in France would be similar to truckers taking Wake-up pills to get more work done - workaholics perhaps, but certainly not for fun.
I hyprothesise that the reason a person can sleep or not when taking Provigil, eat or not too, is because for me, at least, these drugs don't "feel" stimulating. I feel normal instead (but I do have narcolepsy & ADHD - that may account for how I feel with the med). I actually have a slightly better appetite with adrafinil, but then I lose interest in food when depressed & very little tastes good to me then. With adrafinil, my taste seems to return to normal. It doesn't increase energy for me as I'm high-energy (the hyper part of my ADHD) when I'm alert & awake, but adrafinil keeps me from feeling eternally sleepy. I would normally need something externally stimulating to perk me up & when it was finished, I'd again turn sleepy. Adrafinil keeps me perky so the energy part naturally comes into play.
Rick, about the memory boosting power of Provigil - I think that effect takes a little while to work. For me, it's one of the last benefits to come into effect. I sure noticed a huge difference in short-term & working memory. Perhaps if your short-term memory is already good, you may not notice much difference. Give it time though. I'm really surprised you noticed an immediate effect ("day one"). The best study I read on it said it took a while to affect most.
I ran out of adrafinil after the first package, & had to wait another 1 1/2 months for my next batch to come. At least, it doesn't have the horrid withdrawal/discontinuation problems that most ADs have & while I really missed feeling alert & awake, it doesn't have that feeling of tolerance build-up/addiction that other stims can give.
poster:IsoM
thread:93083
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20020208/msgs/93318.html