Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. A phone that grows with your child.

Meet the Other Phone.
A phone that grows with your child.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

to ask if you see a problem with modafinil/'smart' drugs

108 replies

manicinsomniac · 14/01/2016 19:12

My work is absolutely crazy at the moment - looking like 80ish hour weeks all term, maybe more, and I'm also a single mum of 3 girls and they have a lot of activities etc they need to be at. I was really struggling. I often don't sleep well, find it really difficult to work and organise myself when I am stressed and have (very well controlled, long term and functionable with) anorexia.

A couple of weeks ago I started taking modafinil and it has literally changed anything. I am fully awake, alert, energised and enthusiastic about life from 8am to 2am. I am getting so much done and absolutely loving my job. It's gone from seeming like something I wanted to do but that I couldn't achieve and was going to drag me down and drown me to something that is really full on and intense but also fulfilling and exciting. I can't get enough of it. And I have energy left over for my family and their needs to.

But I know logically that these pills should be 'a bad thing'. I'm only taking them 4 days out of 7 (break at weekends and mid week) so I can get a bit more sleep on those nights but I don't know if there's some major down side I'm not seeing.

Has anyone else taken these? Positive or negative experiences and/or opinions?

Deep down I'm thinking I must be an idiot for doing this but life is good! So confused. AIBU to be taking them?

OP posts:
Tollygunge · 14/01/2016 19:14

Following with interest

Gisla · 14/01/2016 19:14

Is it prescribed? Or illegal?

I would rather make some changes so I didn't have to rely on drugs.

TheCatsMeow · 14/01/2016 19:16

I don't have a problem with the drugs but I have a problem with it being seen as acceptable to have such a ridiculous number of hours someone is expected to work. I think it's sad employers see people as resources to use rather than humans.

Tollygunge · 14/01/2016 19:17

Are you a teacher? You mention term

Original poster
manicinsomniac · 14/01/2016 19:18

Neither Gisla - it's not prescribed but it isn't illegal to buy it online for personal use, I checked.

I know what you mean about the changes but I'm really happy with everything I'm doing, I just didn't feel I could cope with it before.

OP posts:
PurpleDaisies · 14/01/2016 19:19

Where are you getting them from?

PurpleDaisies · 14/01/2016 19:21

Sorry, cross posted with you. I would be very wary of buying drugs online because you can't guarantee what you're getting. There are reasons certain drugs are prescription only-if you're on them your doctor should be monitoring you. Please go and see your gp. This is a bad course of action.

Marryoneorbecomeone · 14/01/2016 19:23

It's a prescription-only drug and classed as a Controlled Drug in the USA. It's only supposed to be used for narcolepsy here and early studies showed problems with angioedema and liver failure.

Where are you getting it OP? What are the excipients? If you're buying it online there's a good chance that even if the molecule is right, it's cut with non standard excipients unless it's the manufacturer's Original Pack.

hiddenhome2 · 14/01/2016 19:24

What are they normally prescribed for?

How can you guarantee that your supply is legitimate medication if you're buying online?

TheCatsMeow · 14/01/2016 19:24

I'd be careful buying things online. I'm not adverse to people using things that haven't been prescribed but I wouldn't buy online, you could end up with a placebo or something actually harmful

FindoGask · 14/01/2016 19:26

My only concern about them is possible long-term ill effects that we don't know about yet. I do also agree with CatsMeow that an 80 week is a ridiculous expectation for someone to work and if the only way you can manage it is by taking medication, it's a pretty poor show on your employer's part.

knobblyknee · 14/01/2016 19:27

When did an 80 hour week become acceptable, and when did it become ok to buy drugs online to deal with it?
I dont even buy wormer or flea treatment for the dog online...

FuckyNell · 14/01/2016 19:28

what will happen when you can't get hold of them?

lorelei9 · 14/01/2016 19:28

I have raging insomnia as well (before anyone comments, my poor doctors haven't been able to help with this)

I had never heard of this drug till I came on MN - another poster tried it but that's as much as I recall.

from looking at the description it did seem to me that it could only make insomnia worse?

If that's not the case then do let us know. I have no idea whether it works on an "as needed" basis or on a "cumulative" basis. Unfortunately I also feel that certain activities and relationships are much lower quality than they should be on account of my insomnia but at the moment I have a relatively easy job and I'm just grateful for that.

If I really thought something could perk me up on days when I've only had 2 hours sleep (or worse, according to Fitbit and other sleep trackers) I'd be very interested to know about it.

Do you find your sleep is "normal" as in "normal for you" at the moment? How long have you been taking them?

LalaLyra · 14/01/2016 19:29

I can't believe you can buy modafinil online legally when it's so tightly controlled. My friend took it for narcolepsy and was only allowed a certain number at a time. The side effects she suffered were awful, she had to change to something else. What about the regular checks people who are prescribed it get? Who is monitoring your BP? Who made sure its not having a negative impact on your heart rate?

I think using a strong drug to cope with a busy week is madness. You have no idea of the long term impact it'll have on you. That's before you even consider that you've no idea of the ingredients of the ones you are buying online - even different brands had a different impact on my friend (something which is fairly common in narcoleptics I believe)

LaurieFairyCake · 14/01/2016 19:29

I think the work output is too much, the stress levels are too much.

Even if there's nothing wrong with the drug the actual amount of constant 'on the go' is going to actually KILL you.

We are not made to work that hard.

Well, we are - if we want to be dead at 50.

Maximum output and dead at 50?Hmm That sounds desirable for a strong capitalist economy

Not well enough to cash in your pension Hmm

Original poster
manicinsomniac · 14/01/2016 19:31

It's an online pharmacy. Packaging etc looks legit and, as it works, I presume it is the right product. I do take your point though, it must seem dodgy and unsafe instinctively or I wouldn't even be posting.

My employer doesn't insist on these hours. My job is very much make of it what you want to and the more you put in the more I find you get out. Plus the things I choose to do require lots of hours or they wouldn't be as successful. But there's no expectation to do this much.

The liver damage sounds worrying.

OP posts:
lorelei9 · 14/01/2016 19:34

I've just looked again and I'm confused about the legality of buying it.

I could be talking complete rubbish so don't panic, but I thought if you got certain drugs in without a prescription, if they are sent from abroad, you could in theory be done for drug smuggling so to speak, even if they are for personal use?

That really might be total rubbish - hopefully another poster will know.

it seems odd to me that this is okay but if I tried to buy diazepam online I'd be in huge legal trouble?

ghnocci · 14/01/2016 19:35

Apparently it has an appetite reducing / weight loss effect. I would be concerned that would cause a problem with managing your anorexia?

Also the lack of research into the long term effects would worry me.

lorelei9 · 14/01/2016 19:38

something else I wonder is it if affects your heart rate or blood pressure.

I can't even have more than 2 coffee without my habitually low blood pressure going up quite a bit.

I sympathise, I know what it's like to have a half life on account of insomnia, but it seems that this could make it worse.

Original poster
manicinsomniac · 14/01/2016 19:39

lorelei - I don't have persistent insomnia. It makes it almost impossible for me to fall asleep before the small hours but I'm using them to work. On the days I don't take it I can usually fall asleep ok. I think, if you always have severe insomnia, it would make things worse.

I think it's illegal in the US but everything I pulled up on google said it was legal to buy and import for personal use in the UK but not to sell on.

If it's illegal I definitely won't get any more!!

OP posts:
Bubblesinthesummer · 14/01/2016 19:43

If it is a controlled drug in the US I assume it is illegal to get hold of it without prescription

OuchLegoHurts · 14/01/2016 19:48

No offence intended, but I would work on raising my energy levels through a healthy diet rather than adding an unprescribed, questionable drug to your anorexia.

Original poster
manicinsomniac · 14/01/2016 19:49

The company isn't based in the US and won't ship there. It's in Oceania and only ships to UK.

I don't know if that makes a difference

OP posts:
SmallGreenBouncyBall · 14/01/2016 19:50

it's prescription only, so whatever you buy from the internet is illegal.
it can have nasty side effects and long term effects.

just organisd yourself better and sleep more.