NEWS: Who needs sleep? : A Pill to Stretch Your Day

[smallbunny]

Taken from http://www.latimes.com/features/health/la-041502sleep.story

It has become a modern cliché: There aren't enough hours in the day. Americans are struggling to balance work and family commitments while trying to find time for a social life and recreation. A growing number of supermarkets, restaurants, gyms and other businesses are accommodating today's 24/7 culture by staying open all night. Not to mention, of course, that the Internet never shuts down. But what if you could do the same?
What if you could take a pill and stretch your day--by skipping sleep?
That sounds like the stuff of science fiction, but a drug called Provigil could make it possible. Studies have shown that this new medication allows people to remain awake and attentive when their bodies normally crave shut-eye, without suffering the unpleasant side effects and risk of addiction associated with caffeine, amphetamines and other stimulants.
Researchers caution that the long-term health consequences of avoiding slumber by taking Provigil, or any drug, aren't well understood.

 

[BUMPMEK]

WHAT THE?!?!?!?
What type of world are we turning into...

 

[jakoz]

America - the land of double standards.
*walks off disgustedly*

 

[BigTrancer]

It's been around for awhile - I think the subject of Provigil (Modafinil) was brought up on this board when the newspaper articles came out about the US Army giving their soldiers caffeine to stay awake:
NEWS: CNN.com 26 Oct 01: Report: Caffeine keeps soldiers sharp
It appears to have little or no use recreationally (for those who are thinking of complaining of somnolence to their doctors and hoping to be prescribed something a little racy for the weekend)...
Modafinil/Adrafinil and Modafinil = the best stimulant yet? are two Bluelight threads from the Other Drugs Forum that essentially assess the effectiveness/usefulness of Modafinil as nil.
BigTrancer