I've taken Modafinil in the past for this reason, for about six months. It made me temporarily more productive, alert, and able to focus (for the first two mont

I've taken Modafinil in the past for this reason, for about six months. It made me temporarily more productive, alert, and able to focus (for the first two months, I'd say), but then I started to become habituated and the effect wasn't the same. When I was on it, I slept and ate much less. I am not sure I could have slept or ate more if I wanted to. At first, it made me feel so anxious that I could hardly exist around other people. I remember my first conversation with my roommate while I was on it. My heart nearly exploded and my brain froze. I had a terrifying experience driving around that first day too. (Lesson learned: do not try new drugs and drive!) But that went away after a day or so, and then I behaved more recklessly. I felt more aggressive and on edge. I think I felt more confident, temporarily. I became highly talkative (for me, at least). I drank a lot, at least for the first three or so months. One possible theory is that it induced a higher heart rate, which made me feel anxious, which made me want to drink more. I also smoked a lot more (cigarettes). I found that my memory was not as good after several months of taking this -- this could be due in part to its interference with my sleep, and in part due to the drinking, although I can't say for sure if I drank markedly more during that time than other times in my life. I don't really think so though. I actually got the worst grades that I have ever received in my life the semester I was on it (math and science courses). I stopped taking it soon after. Granted, I was dealing with a number of other issues then, so this was hardly a controlled experiment, and the effects I experienced could have been due to a number of other lifestyle factors. In addition, there could have been a drug quality issue. We'll never know. But my sense for these kinds of drugs after that experience is that it is not healthy for me and I would not do it again. I wouldn't even take it as a once-in-a-while all-nighter work-cramming thing, unless I was, say, in a multi-day gun battle, which is a very unlikely scenario. For me, I find that maintaining good mental health, working consistently, eating well, getting eight hours of sleep, and exercising makes me a much more productive, happy, and mentally sharp human being. I think it is difficult to use drugs to improve yourself unless you have serious issues to begin with and/or you really know what you're doing. If you're going to try it, make sure you plan ahead and have ample discipline, data, and possibly, expert supervision. Interestingly, before experimenting with Modafinil, my friends and I used to sometimes take Adderall and similar drugs recreationally, because we found their effect to be quite similar to cocaine. EDIT: Feel free to ask me more about this experience if you're curious.