4 ms·

So, can I take an orexin pill and stay awake? The obvious question, not addressed by the article. Googling, I see only dire reviews of orexin tablets, usually

So, can I take an orexin pill and stay awake? The obvious question, not addressed by the article. Googling, I see only dire reviews of orexin tablets, usually due to the other ingredients. What gives? I have episodes of dire fatigue, and a way out of that mess would be very welcome.

googlryas 4y ago
Probably not, because you already have a functioning orexin system, and presumably whatever modulates that would just module the extra orexin as well. And anyways, who knows if consumed orexin even makes it out of your gut and past the blood-brain barrier. You could just take modafinil if you wanted to stay awake.
- deleted 4y ago
  [deleted]
- beaned 4y ago
  But could otexin supplements potentially help people with narcolepsy? As opposed to just keeping people who are already healthy awake longer.
archi42 4y ago
Judging only by that article, I'd say: Not generally. Its described as inhibiting REM sleep, not sleep or sleepiness in general. Ask a doctor to help you figure this out. Wild guess, as a random layperson on the internet with no formal qualification: Could be lack of vitamins (E, D3, B5 or B6) or a melatonin insufficiency or a irregular sleep schedule or due to psychological causes. Alcohol and other drugs have quite the impact (especially in sleep quality). Or a combination or something completely different; it's like asking "My program is slow, what can I do?" ;-)
modeless 4y ago
Modafinil?
D_B_Koopa 4y ago
No but you can trick your body into creating more Hypocretin/Orexin by taking Opiates https://www.science.org/doi/10.1126/scitranslmed.aao4953#:~:text=These%20findings%20suggest%20that%20opiate,role%20in%20maintaining%20opiate%20addiction https://www.science.org/doi/10.1126/scitranslmed.aao4953#:~:....
devnulll 4y ago
If I were a large military that routinely sent pilots on missions around the world, research into drugs like this would be well funded. As someone with serious sleep issues, I dream of the opposite - take a pill (or shot, or whatever) and fall into 8 hours of blissful REM sleep.
- brippalcharrid 4y ago
  I recall that Modafinil was used in a study with US Air Force pilots and it was found that they could continue to operate for 120 hours without sleep and without significant loss of function.
- tyre 4y ago
  the pill that solves restful sleep will be worth hundreds of billions of dollars
  - astrange 4y ago
    Trazodone works quite well for some people, is generic and isn’t particularly valuable.
    - beagle3 4y ago
      Comes with extreme dependence from what I’ve heard.
      - astrange 4y ago
        Not for sleep, you take about 1/4 the dose for that. It’s generally safer than Ambien.
- caslon 4y ago
  It's not a silver bullet, but have you tried (extremely) low-dose melatonin? Mind that most OTC melatonin capsules are at such a high dosage that they're likelier to harm your sleep than help it. https://www.gwern.net/Melatonin https://www.gwern.net/Melatonin

googlryas 4y ago

Probably not, because you already have a functioning orexin system, and presumably whatever modulates that would just module the extra orexin as well. And anyways, who knows if consumed orexin even makes it out of your gut and past the blood-brain barrier. You could just take modafinil if you wanted to stay awake.

deleted 4y ago
[deleted]
beaned 4y ago
But could otexin supplements potentially help people with narcolepsy? As opposed to just keeping people who are already healthy awake longer.

archi42 4y ago

Judging only by that article, I'd say: Not generally. Its described as inhibiting REM sleep, not sleep or sleepiness in general. Ask a doctor to help you figure this out. Wild guess, as a random layperson on the internet with no formal qualification: Could be lack of vitamins (E, D3, B5 or B6) or a melatonin insufficiency or a irregular sleep schedule or due to psychological causes. Alcohol and other drugs have quite the impact (especially in sleep quality). Or a combination or something completely different; it's like asking "My program is slow, what can I do?" ;-)

modeless 4y ago

Modafinil?

D_B_Koopa 4y ago

No but you can trick your body into creating more Hypocretin/Orexin by taking Opiates https://www.science.org/doi/10.1126/scitranslmed.aao4953#:~:text=These%20findings%20suggest%20that%20opiate,role%20in%20maintaining%20opiate%20addiction https://www.science.org/doi/10.1126/scitranslmed.aao4953#:~:....

devnulll 4y ago

If I were a large military that routinely sent pilots on missions around the world, research into drugs like this would be well funded. As someone with serious sleep issues, I dream of the opposite - take a pill (or shot, or whatever) and fall into 8 hours of blissful REM sleep.

brippalcharrid 4y ago
I recall that Modafinil was used in a study with US Air Force pilots and it was found that they could continue to operate for 120 hours without sleep and without significant loss of function.
tyre 4y ago
the pill that solves restful sleep will be worth hundreds of billions of dollars
- astrange 4y ago
  Trazodone works quite well for some people, is generic and isn’t particularly valuable.
  - beagle3 4y ago
    Comes with extreme dependence from what I’ve heard.
    - astrange 4y ago
      Not for sleep, you take about 1/4 the dose for that. It’s generally safer than Ambien.
caslon 4y ago
It's not a silver bullet, but have you tried (extremely) low-dose melatonin? Mind that most OTC melatonin capsules are at such a high dosage that they're likelier to harm your sleep than help it. https://www.gwern.net/Melatonin https://www.gwern.net/Melatonin