Previous discussion on HN: http://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=190676 http://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=190676 More about Provigil and other nootropics from

Previous discussion on HN: http://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=190676 http://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=190676 More about Provigil and other nootropics from my personal experience in researching about them: modafinil (the non-marketing name for it) is under Schedule IV in the US and is prescription-only. However, there is an unscheduled drug called adrafinil (marketing name Olmifon), which directly metabolizes into modafinil (though it does take longer and has a higher risk for liver damage.) It is also considerably less expensive (though you have to take a multiple of a dose to receive a similar effect.) Here are some reports from individuals that have used it from Erowid's Experience Vaults, including those who compare it to modafinil. http://www.erowid.org/experiences/subs/exp_Adrafinil.shtml http://www.erowid.org/experiences/subs/exp_Adrafinil.shtml Adrafinil isn't readily available in stores in the US, but is available by mail order by vendors such as QHI and the like. You can also get modafinil this way as this guy did, but it runs the risk of getting caught at customs, so I can't suggest it. As for other nootropics, some people have gotten results form the racetam class of drugs (which include, in rough order of intensity, piracetam, oxiracetam, aniracetam, pramiracetam, and others) that some users have reported benefits from and that have extremely few reports of side effects, even with high doses. Some side effects include headaches from (primarily) piracetam (aka Nootropil), which is usually solved by taking it with choline. Some sellers sell gelatin tablets with piracetam and choline. Piracetam and all of the other racetams are relatively inexpensive and obtainable without a prescription, i.e. it is unscheduled. However, the general consensus is that the effects are rather subtle and the tolerance builds up quickly, though some people have experienced significant gains from it. There are always, of course, drugs like Adderall and Ritalin which are under prescription that also have various side effects but are effective for an enormous amount of those who require it. There are also other OTC products like vinpoectine, which is a vasodilator which is an ingredient in some mind supplements such as Think Gum and others. There are a lot of nootropics and it's fascinating to read and learn about them and their mechanisms of action. EDIT: here are some more interesting things you might want to read. PubMed has a long document about modafinil, precautions, guidelines, and its side effects [1]. Quora also has some information (some first-hand experiences as well) [2]. [1] http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmedhealth/PMH0000196 http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmedhealth/PMH0000196 [2] http://www.quora.com/Nootropics http://www.quora.com/Nootropics | http://www.quora.com/Modafinil http://www.quora.com/Modafinil | http://www.quora.com/Productivity-Drugs http://www.quora.com/Productivity-Drugs