I don't know of anyone in the industry that uses. But I've seen some people that have such laser like focus it makes me wonder. I can understand working on exciting stuff, but even the most mundane boring crap they are focused like machines. I envy them. I frankly don't care if people are using or not. You have to decide how to handle yourself. I organize myself with a bunch of checklists/todo lists and such.
Ask HN: How true is it that most founders are taking drugs like Modafanil?
71–80 of 82 posts
Re: Ask HN: How true is it that most founders are taking drugs like Modafanil?
#72I describe modafinil as one of the best cups of coffees you'll ever have, but it doesn't leave much more of an effect than that; imo it is mostly mental. Things can become very clear in your head and you will often be very awake for a long period if you take 100+ mg. I've had friends bring me back wakalert, modafinil, modvigil, from India and I've ordered them online. I've taken them off and on for about three years.…
I've tried modafinil once for an exam. It helped with concentration, but not focus, if that makes any sense; i.e. I procrastinated as much, but was super effective about it. I've tried mild amphetamines (Ritalin) as a freelancer, and I ended up practicing my handstand half of the time. There really is no drug that replaces emptying your mind of worries (seeing a shrink for the big things, and putting aside the small…
strattera is for focus
Re: Ask HN: How true is it that most founders are taking drugs like Modafanil?
#73In 20 years in the industry, most spent in startups, much spent consulting with a pretty broad spectrum of other startups, I have never known anyone I've worked with to take modafanil. That's just one data point. But: I don't think it's at all common.
I don't think it's prevalent or universal but at the same time, how many people come up to their consultant (triply so for a security-related one) and say 'I just crushed and snorted a couple of adderall'. It seems like an even worse way to get such data than openly asking pseudonymous strangers on a message board.
You're probably mostly right (I was closer to some of my clients than you'd expect from "security consultant", though). I'm just a data point.
I think there's an outsider perspective on the industry that is very invested in the notion that successful startup founders are generally chemically enhanced. I think that's false, and harmful for obvious reasons. When I ask startup people I know about it, I generally hear the same thing. But: limited visibility.
(I really don't care about adderall; I know a bunch of people with ADHD scripts, and they all seem to need it. I'm more concerned about stuff like modafanil.)
Re: Ask HN: How true is it that most founders are taking drugs like Modafanil?
#74I describe modafinil as one of the best cups of coffees you'll ever have, but it doesn't leave much more of an effect than that; imo it is mostly mental. Things can become very clear in your head and you will often be very awake for a long period if you take 100+ mg. I've had friends bring me back wakalert, modafinil, modvigil, from India and I've ordered them online. I've taken them off and on for about three years.…
I've tried modafinil once for an exam. It helped with concentration, but not focus, if that makes any sense; i.e. I procrastinated as much, but was super effective about it. I've tried mild amphetamines (Ritalin) as a freelancer, and I ended up practicing my handstand half of the time. There really is no drug that replaces emptying your mind of worries (seeing a shrink for the big things, and putting aside the small…
I take vyvanse and adderall for adhd, and a common thing people say that rings true with me is that it's a tool to concentrate but it's still up to you how you use it and decide what you concentrate on. An analogy I like is that taking stimulants creates a hyperbeam of focus but you have to be able to yield that hyperbeam and point it where you need to focus.
Re: Ask HN: How true is it that most founders are taking drugs like Modafanil?
#75Earlier quoted context omitted.
I don't think it's prevalent or universal but at the same time, how many people come up to their consultant (triply so for a security-related one) and say 'I just crushed and snorted a couple of adderall'. It seems like an even worse way to get such data than openly asking pseudonymous strangers on a message board.
You're probably mostly right (I was closer to some of my clients than you'd expect from "security consultant", though). I'm just a data point. I think there's an outsider perspective on the industry that is very invested in the notion that successful startup founders are generally chemically enhanced. I think that's false, and harmful for obvious reasons. When I ask startup people I know about it, I generally hear th…
I was kind of not-all-that-seriously going for the 'known NSA shill tptacek is obviously also a narc' thing but now I'm curious why you find modafinil more potentially worrisome than adderall?
Re: Ask HN: How true is it that most founders are taking drugs like Modafanil?
#76I describe modafinil as one of the best cups of coffees you'll ever have, but it doesn't leave much more of an effect than that; imo it is mostly mental. Things can become very clear in your head and you will often be very awake for a long period if you take 100+ mg. I've had friends bring me back wakalert, modafinil, modvigil, from India and I've ordered them online. I've taken them off and on for about three years.…
I've tried modafinil once for an exam. It helped with concentration, but not focus, if that makes any sense; i.e. I procrastinated as much, but was super effective about it. I've tried mild amphetamines (Ritalin) as a freelancer, and I ended up practicing my handstand half of the time. There really is no drug that replaces emptying your mind of worries (seeing a shrink for the big things, and putting aside the small…
Strattera (atomoxetine) actually helps with impulsiveness (and anxiety) but it's not a substance that can be just taken when you need it, you need to titrate up, and for some people it causes unbearable side effects. My experience with it is very minimal to non-existent side effects, but a very noticeable increase in executive function (doing what I know I need to do) as well as a decrease in anxious tendencies. My advice if you go that route is to start with a small dose and take it with protein.
Re: Ask HN: How true is it that most founders are taking drugs like Modafanil?
#77Earlier quoted context omitted.
I've worked with you, and it was false for me. I concealed it because of social stigma. (Adderall, not modafanil.) Perhaps you're referring to founders specifically though, rather than people you've worked with. There's immense pressure to say nothing. And that translates into you not knowing. But the leap to "It's therefore not common" would be mistaken.
When did you work with me? I have in fact no idea who you are; I assume: under a different name? (I assume lots of people take adderall, for what it's worth).
Never mind, I think I worked it out.
Re: Ask HN: How true is it that most founders are taking drugs like Modafanil?
#78Re: Ask HN: How true is it that most founders are taking drugs like Modafanil?
#79Re: Ask HN: How true is it that most founders are taking drugs like Modafanil?
#80Earlier quoted context omitted.
Interesting. I'd be happy to verify if you email me.
No, that won't be necessary. But you and I never worked together, and I'd appreciate it if you'd be clearer about that in the future.
I think generating money for you counts as working together.
Maybe your guess is mistaken, or you're trying to get me to reveal more about myself.