Someone brought this up last time we talked about this on HN so I thought I would mention it here. Modafinil is technically a _stimulant_, not a cognitive enhancer (like piracetam).
Modafinil and Startups
21–30 of 134 posts
Re: Modafinil and Startups
#22 Modafinil is also compared to amphetamines (which are
often used either for recreation or to treat ADHD), since
its effect is somewhat similar. Generally, the comparison
states that amphetamines are bad for you and that
Modafinil is not as bad because it "works differently",
but there is probably more overlap than the proponents of
Modafinil would like you to think.
Modafinil is not addictive.
I have a prescription for Modafinil (required in the US) and have been taking it for over 5 years. Getting the prescription was fairly simple and required going to a sleep doctor and getting a "sleep study".
I would never have thought of myself as narcoleptic, although I remember frequently being unable to stay awake in high school math class. I think some would characterize me as "a sleepy guy" and I do have to be careful while driving late at night.
I don't take it on weekends, or vacations. Even for up to 3 weeks or a month, I'll go without Modafinil.
Taking Modafinil keeps me alert and excited about my code and my business.
Not taking Modafinil helps me relax and not think about the stress of running a business. I enjoy things like TV and Movies a whole lot more. Playing with my kids is also more fun when not on Modafinil.
But when I need to get back to work, within an hour of taking Modafinil, I am excited about the code in front of me and can work productively for 12 or more hours per day. When evening comes and you know you need rest, there is no temptation to take more Modafinil and work through the night - although that would be possible.
On more than one occasion, I have forgotten to take Modafinil before work in the morning. These days were much less productive, filled with self-promoted distractions and much less excitement about my work. But more importantly, there is no urge or need to take Modafinil; so much so, that I am able to forget about it completely.
These non-addictive characteristics are completely unlike amphetamines (which I have also unfortunately tried in my more distant history).
Addiction is not something that is just in the mind. Everybody who takes amphetamines or smokes cigarettes on a daily basis, will eventually become addicted. Some are able to overcome that addiction, others are not, but the physical addiction is a certainty.
No one who takes amphetamines on a daily basis will ever forget not to take them, nor will they enjoy a 2 week vacation without them. Same goes for the smoker without cigarettes.
Modifinil is quite easily forgotten for long periods of time. I think it is important to note this difference.
Re: Modafinil and Startups
#23What I found with more experimentation of days both with and without Modafinil was that actually, I was just as productive if I was well rested, healthy, well fed with healthy foods and working on something I cared about. This, I think, is the most interesting part of the entire piece. He talks at length about the benefits of Modafinil: On the good side, those tasks which I did line up got done, and with great energy…
That is my own main takeaway... Which is why I don't take Modafinil anymore.
Coincidentally, I'm about to go off to college, where I'm sure I'll be sorely tempted by "intelligence enhancers" like Modafinil. Even in my high school there is rampant abuse of Adderall and other stimulants. Thanks for the timely discussion of their effects - although I'm not predisposed towards taking them, I've now got some good information on why there's no need to do so.
Re: Modafinil and Startups
#24The thing I find most interesting about Modafinil is how consistent the stories are about how people feel (and work) when they take it. Everyone talks of extreme focus, but perhaps a loss of judgement about what tasks are actually important. I don't have any particular conclusions about that - I just find it really interesting.
This is an excellent tl;dr for what it does. I had some truly excellent Minecraft sessions, for instance..
Re: Modafinil and Startups
#25Is it just me, or does using mind-altering substances to get through one's daily schedule seem like it crosses the line? I'm always a little baffled when people sacrifice their health for work - it's a very bad decision in the long term. You can always find another job, but once you damage your health, you may never get it back.
There are plenty of mind altering substances in our diet. I eagerly await the day we can culturally accept that alcohol is an archaic drug, and we can replace it with modern alternatives that don't destroy livers and families.
Modafinil could already be a modern alternative to coffee. It's definitely not perfect, but in some ways it's a lot better and it seems to be safe enough. It's far from perfect - for example I'm in the 10% who get headaches from it, so I prefer not to use it. But when a better alternative comes... I can't wait to replace caffeine.
Re: Modafinil and Startups
#26I've found it occasionally helpful, but it will in no way fix procrastination -- in fact you can procrastinate (by e.g. reading through top 100 random stories on reddit) more efficiently and with fewer regrets. If you can get into the "flow" (in the psychological sense) you're able to stay there for longer and are less likely to get interrupted, but you're better off starting the day with a clear todo list and by priming things by producing, not consume (as per the recent articles).
If mixing with coffee, consume both well before you intend to sleep; I've found myself a few times in an unpleasant alert but wanting to sleep state.
Re: Modafinil and Startups
#27I've found it occasionally helpful, but it will in no way fix procrastination -- in fact you can procrastinate (by e.g. reading through top 100 random stories on reddit) more efficiently and with fewer regrets. If you can get into the "flow" (in the psychological sense) you're able to stay there for longer and are less likely to get interrupted, but you're better off starting the day with a clear todo list and by pri…
> I've found it occasionally helpful, but it will in no way fix procrastination -- in fact you can procrastinate (by e.g. reading through top 100 random stories on reddit)
In my (ahem) friends experiments with modafinil he reported the same thing, i.e. that he procrastinated with a vengeance. Last time this happened he managed to get through O'Reilly's _Mastering Algorithms in C_ in a single sitting, though it was completely unrelated to the work he was supposed to do that day.
Re: Modafinil and Startups
#28What I found with more experimentation of days both with and without Modafinil was that actually, I was just as productive if I was well rested, healthy, well fed with healthy foods and working on something I cared about. This, I think, is the most interesting part of the entire piece. He talks at length about the benefits of Modafinil: On the good side, those tasks which I did line up got done, and with great energy…
That is my own main takeaway... Which is why I don't take Modafinil anymore.
What about combining good health with using Modafinil? The naive idea is if they are good by themselves, they could be better together.
Re: Modafinil and Startups
#29I didn't get around to trying Modafinil, but I've discovered that pure caffeine and guarana extract work better than coffee for me. I was a heavy coffee drinker all my life, but several years ago, it just stopped working as well. There's something in coffee besides caffeine that makes me feel jittery and nervous without feeling more alert after a couple of days of drinking it regularly. Basically, it helps with physically intensive tasks, but doesn't help when I have to sit down and do any kind of mental work anymore.
Using 100 mg of caffeine 3x a day, on the other hand, gives me the same effect as coffee once did - I can jump around filled with energy and work at my computer with more energy for longer periods of time. 400 mg of guarana extract (~80 mg caffeine) makes me more alert without the physical tension or jitters - if anyone has "coffee fatigue", as I call it, try caffeine pills or guarana extract (but not in high dosages!).
I've also found L-carnitine to augment caffeine in physical tasks, and taking 400mg of guarana extract with ~200mg of rhodiola rosea and 50mg of L-theanine lets me work and then sleep pretty well, like I never took caffeine in the first place. YMMV, but it's definitely fascinating to see how we can alter our bodies with psychoactives (obviously, you take a risk, so you have to understand that and doing proper research before using anything).
I still want to try Modafinil, but just can't get my hands on it right now...