4 ms·

I stopped reading when they exaggerated the effects of the amphetamines given to the pilots. It's unfortunate that accidents happen during war, and actually tha

by readme 14y ago

I stopped reading when they exaggerated the effects of the amphetamines given to the pilots. It's unfortunate that accidents happen during war, and actually that war happens at all. But if I were a pilot having to fly over 10 hours, you bet I'd take amphetamines too. Unless they can fit an espresso machine in the cockpit.

jQueryIsAwesome 14y ago
There is a drug called modafinil, is not an amphetamine in the strict sense of the word but it can keep you awake for many hours, is used to treat narcolepsy and its already being used in the military.
- nnq 14y ago
  ...and a pretty darn good study-for-exams enhancer, some say :)
- mistercow 14y ago
  > not an amphetamine in the strict sense of the word It's not an amphetamine in any sense of the word. Scientists were hesitant to even call it a "stimulant" at first. It also does not have aggression inducing effects, or a lot of the other negative side effects of amphetamines.
- sp332 14y ago
  Also known as Provigil. It has some serious side-effects https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Modafinil#Side_effects https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Modafinil#Side_effects and requires a prescription in the US (Schedule IV controlled substance). However adrafinil is currently unregulated in the US, and your liver will metabolize it into modafinil with a half-life of about 1 hour.
  - jQueryIsAwesome 14y ago
    4500 mg single dose don't kill a human (recommended dose is 200mg); strong side-effects are an exception and not the norm.
    - sp332 14y ago
      I know side effects are the exception but they exist, even at normal doses. From the PDF linked from wikipedia: "Common side effects that can happen in anyone who takes modafinil tablets include: •back pain •headache •nausea •feeling nervous •stuffy nose •diarrhea •feeling anxious •dizziness •upset stomach •trouble sleeping"
Zenst 14y ago
Visions of planes with sponsored by starbucks on the back made me chuckle. But I'm all for sending them too the front line. Though with planes now, easier to replace have a remote pilot and with that can easily change and negate that entire issue. Or combination of the two with sleep detection alerting a remote pilot to take over with a remote control pilot ability. Certainly one when a fighter pilot ejects in training and can moral feel safe that a remote pilot can fly the plane away from the populus impacting landings.
lmm 14y ago
Where's the exaggeration? All I see is a direct quote from the pilot (who may or may not be exaggerating how he felt), and the FDA warning. Seems like perfectly good reporting to me.
- readme 14y ago
  > The Food and Drug Administration warns that Dexedrine can cause “new or worse aggressive behavior or hostility.” (.pdf) But the Air Force still blamed the pilots. It's not an FDA warning, it's the FDA being quoted out of context, then implying that it wasn't the pilot's fault because he was on said drug. Think for a second about how many other pilots were probably also prescribed modafinil. Truly, it is the pilot's fault. I think it was a freak accident, though. However, not an accident that was probably directly caused by modafinil.

by readme 14y ago

jQueryIsAwesome 14y ago

There is a drug called modafinil, is not an amphetamine in the strict sense of the word but it can keep you awake for many hours, is used to treat narcolepsy and its already being used in the military.

nnq 14y ago
...and a pretty darn good study-for-exams enhancer, some say :)
mistercow 14y ago
> not an amphetamine in the strict sense of the word It's not an amphetamine in any sense of the word. Scientists were hesitant to even call it a "stimulant" at first. It also does not have aggression inducing effects, or a lot of the other negative side effects of amphetamines.
sp332 14y ago
Also known as Provigil. It has some serious side-effects https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Modafinil#Side_effects https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Modafinil#Side_effects and requires a prescription in the US (Schedule IV controlled substance). However adrafinil is currently unregulated in the US, and your liver will metabolize it into modafinil with a half-life of about 1 hour.
- jQueryIsAwesome 14y ago
  4500 mg single dose don't kill a human (recommended dose is 200mg); strong side-effects are an exception and not the norm.
  - sp332 14y ago
    I know side effects are the exception but they exist, even at normal doses. From the PDF linked from wikipedia: "Common side effects that can happen in anyone who takes modafinil tablets include: •back pain •headache •nausea •feeling nervous •stuffy nose •diarrhea •feeling anxious •dizziness •upset stomach •trouble sleeping"

Zenst 14y ago

Visions of planes with sponsored by starbucks on the back made me chuckle. But I'm all for sending them too the front line. Though with planes now, easier to replace have a remote pilot and with that can easily change and negate that entire issue. Or combination of the two with sleep detection alerting a remote pilot to take over with a remote control pilot ability. Certainly one when a fighter pilot ejects in training and can moral feel safe that a remote pilot can fly the plane away from the populus impacting landings.

lmm 14y ago

Where's the exaggeration? All I see is a direct quote from the pilot (who may or may not be exaggerating how he felt), and the FDA warning. Seems like perfectly good reporting to me.

readme 14y ago
> The Food and Drug Administration warns that Dexedrine can cause “new or worse aggressive behavior or hostility.” (.pdf) But the Air Force still blamed the pilots. It's not an FDA warning, it's the FDA being quoted out of context, then implying that it wasn't the pilot's fault because he was on said drug. Think for a second about how many other pilots were probably also prescribed modafinil. Truly, it is the pilot's fault. I think it was a freak accident, though. However, not an accident that was probably directly caused by modafinil.