4 ms·

Modafinil enhances cognition and is deemed safe by health experts

26 points by peteratt 10y ago

alexandercrohde 10y ago
Link to journal article: http://www.europeanneuropsychopharmacology.com/article/S0924-977X(15)00249-7/abstract?cc=y= http://www.europeanneuropsychopharmacology.com/article/S0924... "What’s lacking is long-term data—important because study of other promising enhancers has shown that the effect may not last over time." This article fails to link to answer any of my key questions: What definition of cognition? How does it compare against caffeine in these same tests?
paidoff 10y ago
Give it up qz. This is an advertorial. How does qz consistently get on the front page of hn? They must have a deal with ycombinator.
pmoriarty 10y ago
I'd hesitate to call anything that has a chance of giving me Stevens–Johnson syndrome "safe". This reminds me of those commercials for medications that will help you with a runny nose, but have possible side effects of kidney, liver, and respiratory failure, depression, and death. A big fat "no thanks!" from me.
- nkkollaw 10y ago
  Where did you find references to it causing Stevens–Johnson syndrome? What are the chances of getting it?
- nightcracker 10y ago
  For an absurdist parody of this, see "Unedited footage of a bear".
- moh_maya 10y ago
  SJS is triggered by paracetamol & Acetaminophen [1] & antibiotics, among other drugs. It appears that one needs a complex set of conditions, which can occur with many drugs (including Modnafil & commonly used pain relievers, etc.). Note that I am not endorsing (or challenging) the use of the drug to enhance cognition. I just want to understand what evidence there is suggesting a higher rate of incidence with modnafil as compared to sulpha drugs & analgesics. Literature survey in Pubmed reveals fairly few reports [e.g: 2], describing only a handful of cases. If the argument is: the risk of SJS is not worth the likely benefits in improved cognition, I understand. But I am not convinced if there is compelling evidence linking modnafil with SJS. [edit: reorganized paragraphs; deleted unsubstantiated reference to allergies] [1] https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/24527413 https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/24527413 [2] https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4386138/ https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4386138/
fasteo 10y ago
Slightly off-topic. The journal article is tagged with "nootropic". Modafinil is not a nootropic, but a smart drug. There is a subtle but important difference between the two. Both types of drugs enhance your cognitive performance, but a nootropic must be neuroprotective. Piracetam, the first nootropic synthesized in 1964 is used nowadays to treat cognitive decline [1] I am not saying that modafinil will fry your brain, but definitively it is not designed to protect it. In my personal experience, Modafinil works pretty well in low doses. 25mg-50mg every 2-3 days lifts my mood and increase my work output significantly. The recommended dosage (200mg) is a crash and burn for me. [1] https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/16007238 https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/16007238

26 points by peteratt 10y ago

Link to journal article: http://www.europeanneuropsychopharmacology.com/article/S0924-977X(15)00249-7/abstract?cc=y= http://www.europeanneuropsychopharmacology.com/article/S0924... "What’s lacking is long-term data—important because study of other promising enhancers has shown that the effect may not last over time." This article fails to link to answer any of my key questions: What definition of cognition? How does it compare against caffeine in these same tests?

paidoff 10y ago

Give it up qz. This is an advertorial. How does qz consistently get on the front page of hn? They must have a deal with ycombinator.

pmoriarty 10y ago

I'd hesitate to call anything that has a chance of giving me Stevens–Johnson syndrome "safe". This reminds me of those commercials for medications that will help you with a runny nose, but have possible side effects of kidney, liver, and respiratory failure, depression, and death. A big fat "no thanks!" from me.

nkkollaw 10y ago
Where did you find references to it causing Stevens–Johnson syndrome? What are the chances of getting it?
nightcracker 10y ago
For an absurdist parody of this, see "Unedited footage of a bear".
moh_maya 10y ago
SJS is triggered by paracetamol & Acetaminophen [1] & antibiotics, among other drugs. It appears that one needs a complex set of conditions, which can occur with many drugs (including Modnafil & commonly used pain relievers, etc.). Note that I am not endorsing (or challenging) the use of the drug to enhance cognition. I just want to understand what evidence there is suggesting a higher rate of incidence with modnafil as compared to sulpha drugs & analgesics. Literature survey in Pubmed reveals fairly few reports [e.g: 2], describing only a handful of cases. If the argument is: the risk of SJS is not worth the likely benefits in improved cognition, I understand. But I am not convinced if there is compelling evidence linking modnafil with SJS. [edit: reorganized paragraphs; deleted unsubstantiated reference to allergies] [1] https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/24527413 https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/24527413 [2] https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4386138/ https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4386138/

fasteo 10y ago

Slightly off-topic. The journal article is tagged with "nootropic". Modafinil is not a nootropic, but a smart drug. There is a subtle but important difference between the two. Both types of drugs enhance your cognitive performance, but a nootropic must be neuroprotective. Piracetam, the first nootropic synthesized in 1964 is used nowadays to treat cognitive decline [1] I am not saying that modafinil will fry your brain, but definitively it is not designed to protect it. In my personal experience, Modafinil works pretty well in low doses. 25mg-50mg every 2-3 days lifts my mood and increase my work output significantly. The recommended dosage (200mg) is a crash and burn for me. [1] https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/16007238 https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/16007238