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  • BDD Moderators: Keif’ Richards

modafinil (provigil) for ADD?

C

chris106

Greenlighter
Joined
Jan 16, 2013
Messages
48
Speaking of other medication:

Does anyone here have experience with modafinil (provigil)? Some people in a german ADD forum, who had no good results with MPH or Amphetamine spoke quite highly of it...
I know a shitload about Methylphenidate and Amphetamine pros and cons, all the possible (long term) side effects included (like neurotoxicity, possible receptor depletion etc)
However, I know very little about modafinil, except the military using it to keep soldiers awake etc, i know it doesn't have the best reputation because of that.
So does anyone with sleep disorder or ADD have any long-term experience with it, or knows about possible long-term side-effects?
 
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I've never tried it, but I can tell you what I know about it in case that helps.

I don't know where you live but it's not approved for use in ADHD in North America; the FDA rejected it based on side effects in the trials for ADHD, including very severe skin rash in a couple participants, so it wouldn't be considered a first choice for ADHD and a Dr would have to prescribe it off-label. A few studies done in children and teenagers did find it helped with ADHD though, but I'm not sure to what degree in comparison to the meds commonly prescribed for ADHD.

The Provigil insert contains warnings about several potentially fatal conditions attributed to modafinil use, including toxic epidermal necrolysis, DRESS syndrome, and Stevens-Johnson syndrome. Other side effects listed are the usual ones listed with many ADHD drugs.

The long term safety and effectiveness of using modafinil, for any condition, is unknown.

Modafinil's mechanisms of action are still unclear. It raises histamine levels in the brain and appears to be a dopamine reuptake inhbitor. So it works differently from amphetamines.
 
Thanx for the info!

Yeah, it's not being prescribed for ADD where I live (Germany) either. Since I probably do have a sleeping-disorder though, which will be tested soon, I do have a slim chance of getting it precribed one day...
Also there are ways of getting it over the net in generic form - if those are valid remains to be seen, of course. Problem is, it's shit-ass expensive if you have to pay for it yourself in it's original form...

Anyways, those fatal conditions sure don't sound good... I guess these relate to overdosing or abuse, though? MPH and amphetamines sure can be deadly too, if you take too much... I guess I will do a little more research on these conditions...

And of course it's pretty uneasing to not know about any long term - side-effects. Makes me think of the movie "limitless"...or rather the book it's based on, in which there's definetely no happy ending... =D
 
I don't get any energy from these pills, I tried them for ADD and today I was going to go buy weed/hashish and was so tired so I took one 100mg modafinil tablett. Didn't stop me from falling asleep on the subway at all, in fact I was nodding almost falling off the chair several times. If I take more all I seem to get is a headache and stomach problems.
 
Thanx guys, and especially for the link, Chromophobia. Guess I'll work my way through that thread, before I decide whether Moda is an option for me or not... :)
 
I've experimented a fair bit with Modifinil. I don't have ADHD or any sleep disorder, i was prescribed it as i am on another medication that is very sedating. In summary its not that great. A standard dose is much the same as a strong coffee. A large dose (cant remember how many mg but about three times the recommended) DOES have more of an affect nearly speed-like, but the comedown is ugly. ONCE I made the mistake of snorting a very large quantity as well as a large quantity of Oxycodone, and for a while it was great, but the next 4 days were hellish!! So - yeah, nothing special.
 
I took it for a while for MS related fatigue. Not only is it ridiculously expensive but at 200MG a day (standard dose) it didn't do shit for me. Some folks who use it for shift sleep disorder have a bit of success with it but it seems like most everyone who takes it ends up having to go on a medication break from it because tolerance builds up so quickly it just stops freaking working. Then its like...well what now? Oh and shall I repeat myself about how it is ridiculously expensive? Also zero recreational value except perhaps the very first time you take it. Worst medication ever.
 
Sad to hear it didn't work for you.
However some people in this forum seem to have had great effects from it. I guess the question is what one is expecting from this medication. I don't want a huge motivational boost, neither do I want some kind of drug-induced euphoria. I just want to be able to focus a little better, and not feel so goddamn tired and "as if I'm not there" all the time.

But I guess since it seems to work different for different people with different symptoms or disordres, I'll just have to try it myself and see.

So just recently I ordered the indian generic "modalert" online, from a site that a lot of people in forums have reported to be legit.

And yes, I know it supposedly doesn't work as well as the brand-name modafinil, and that indian generics aren't as clean and all that stuff. But from what I've read it's at least a cheap way to test if this type of medication does anything for me at all. Then I can still try to get the real deal.

It will take 3-4 weeks until my oder arrives, though. As soon as I get to test it, i'll post an update here, of course.
 
I just want to be able to focus a little better
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Ever looked into gotu kola? It's by far my favorite nootropic. It enhances dopamine, serotonin, and norepinephrine. It's also a great anxiolytic. Free of any side effects also.
 
I actually wrote a paper on that you might be able to find somewhere...
Its pretty damn effective for ADHD, particularly inattentive symptoms. However, it was denied approval by the FDA as a very sketchy bit of paperwork was filed back in 2004 making it look like it caused 2-3/900 children in an ADHD trial to have a rare side effect called Steven-Johnson's syndrome. However, there were no biopsies conducted to confirm diagnosis which is even sketchier as 30000 children have used it off label with no reports of SJS.

Also, a lot of the researchers on the trials were also being paid to research another non-stimulant medication at the time -Strattera- which makes me really question conflicts of interest.
 
Ever looked into gotu kola? It's by far my favorite nootropic. It enhances dopamine, serotonin, and norepinephrine. It's also a great anxiolytic. Free of any side effects also.
Click to expand...

Its pretty damn effective for ADHD, particularly inattentive symptoms. However, it was denied approval by the FDA as a very sketchy bit of paperwork was filed back in 2004 making it look like it caused 2-3/900 children in an ADHD trial to have a rare side effect called Steven-Johnson's syndrome. However, there were no biopsies conducted to confirm diagnosis which is even sketchier as 30000 children have used it off label with no reports of SJS.
Click to expand...

No, I actually never heard of this. Sounds interesting. I will definetely do some research about that tomorrow. Thanx you guys! :)

Just a few basic questions, since I'm just too curious right now: Is it less expensive than modafinil? Are the chances of getting an actual prescription lower or higher (outside the US, of course)?
And is there by chance also a generic form, like with modafinil (like modalert)?

I gotta say I just love this forum more and more, you guys are great!=D

Ok, nevermind my questions, i just googled it - this stuff is piss-cheap! Unbelievable! Are it's effects in any way comparable to those of modafinil? Seems you can buy it online as a simple supplement - no prescription, nothing?

I just can't believe that something that cheap and easily available could have serious nootropic effects, let alone have been conscidered as a serious ADD medication? Sound just too good to be true.... Whenever I tried supplements with supposed beneficial effects for ADD or Daytime-sleepiness in the past, I got absolutely nothing out of them. Also it doesn't seem to be advertised as a nootropic - just as being good for blood-circulation and having mild memory-enhancing effects?

What dosage would be needed for a good effect?
 
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Dosages for herbal supplements are hard to determine due to a lack of standardization in products. Follow the instructions on the label and make sure you order it from a reputable source. I usually just get mine from the pharmacy as its easily available here. I've never tried modafinil so I can't by any means draw a comparison, all I can tell you is its definitely worth a try.

Try this thread to give you an idea of what it's like:

http://www.bluelight.ru/vb/archive/index.php/t-250274.html
 
Thanx Cromophobia, you saved my day once again! Never thought there'd be yet another alternative next to modafinil for me! Thank god I found this forum! Will check that thread out first thing tomorrow! :D
 
Well, fuckt it - I just ordered some.
Gotu Kola in capsule form from biovea (site seems legit), 450 mg per capsule. Won't name the price, since I don't wanna seem like I'm advertising anyone or anything, but it was ridiculously cheap - if it has just nearly the effects people claim it has, that is. :D
( Don't get me wrong, I trust you guys and have yet to be told BS by anyone in this forum, since till now you guys provided me with nothing but great information and help. But like I said - sounds just way too good to be true :D)
Well, anyways - the GK will arive in a few days, and I will report if it does anything for me once I've given it a try.
 
chris106 said:
Ever looked into gotu kola? It's by far my favorite nootropic. It enhances dopamine, serotonin, and norepinephrine. It's also a great anxiolytic. Free of any side effects also.
Click to expand...
Its pretty damn effective for ADHD, particularly inattentive symptoms. However, it was denied approval by the FDA as a very sketchy bit of paperwork was filed back in 2004 making it look like it caused 2-3/900 children in an ADHD trial to have a rare side effect called Steven-Johnson's syndrome. However, there were no biopsies conducted to confirm diagnosis which is even sketchier as 30000 children have used it off label with no reports of SJS.
Click to expand...
No, I actually never heard of this. Sounds interesting. I will definetely do some research about that tomorrow. Thanx you guys!
Click to expand...

I'm pretty certain Epsilon Alpha was talking about modafinil, not gotu kola. I don't think gotu kola has undergone any clinical trials for ADHD. Gotu kola is a herb that has been used for many (probably 1000s of) years in India for a number of purposes, including to improve focus, anxiety, fatigue, adrenal gland function, etc, but is said to be more gently "balancing" as opposed to stimulating. Let us know how it goes for you.
 
I'm pretty certain Epsilon Alpha was talking about modafinil, not gotu kola. I don't think gotu kola has undergone any clinical trials for ADHD. Gotu kola is a herb that has been used for many (probably 1000s of) years in India for a number of purposes, including to improve focus, anxiety, fatigue, adrenal gland function, etc, but is said to be more gently "balancing" as opposed to stimulating. Let us know how it goes for you.
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Well yes - now that you mention it, it's pretty obvious. >_<
I swear, the dexamphetamine makes me downright retarded sometimes, really need to get off that shit ASAP :D

A few more questions regarding gotu kola - if it works, does it work instantly? Or does it take days/weeks of constant use to take effect, since it's a herbal supplement?

And Chromophobia - i know you said dosing varies depending where you get it and how pure it is. But since you said it's your favourite nootropic - what dose do you take to get a desired effect? I doubt I can just get it at a regular pharmacy in Germany, but might as well ask if they can maybe order it next time I'm there - at least then I could be sure the source is legit.

Anyways, I hope my order arrives during the next couple of days, will post an update then.
 
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