Provigil - "Viagra for the Brain"

If any of you Monkeys were able to catch ABC News tonight, there was an interesting segment on this prescription drug called Provigil. ABC claims it is the "secret to success."

Now, I am familiar with Aderrall; however, ABC news claims that Provigil has been used by many professional athletes, executives of companies, etc in order to enhance awareness, longevity and efficiency in the work place. Basically, it is supposed to help you get an edge.

Apparently, it is quite easy to get this pill online through non prescription avenues; however, I was wondering if any of you were 1) aware of this drug and 2) does it really provide that much of an edge?

Per ABC, doctors at this point do not really see any negative short-term issues, except for a slim chance for a light skin rash; however there have been no long term studies for any possible health issues. Would you try it if it got you that edge?

http://abcnews.go.com/Health/provigil-secret-succ…

 
Best Response
newfirstyear:
Had no idea what you were talking about until I saw the generic name. It's a drug used for people who fall asleep easily. I have buddies at Cambridge University who use it a lot. Not the same as adderall, it's more like caffeine than adderall.

Partially right, partially wrong. This stuff is extremely controlled in the US but a little bit more liberally prescribed internationally, which is why it makes sense they'd prescribe it for insomnia. You can't get that kind of treatment from an American physician.

Calling Modafinil "more like caffeine" is quite the understatement. This is the stuff the Air Force gave to Stealth Bomber pilots who were making 40 hour surveillance flights and shit so they didn't get tired. This stuff is unmatched in terms of its efficacy.

Anyway, I got a hold of this stuff back in high school for the first time... it's pretty much the most fantastic substance ever created. I have no words to describe it other than "unfair." It's really hard to get prescribed but I guess if you were some dude trying to be mega productive you could get a crooked doctor or maybe just a stupid one to write you a script, but it's hard to get more than 10 at a time, so I doubt it's getting abused in prevalent amounts all across the sport and business world.

I hate victims who respect their executioners
 
BlackHat:
newfirstyear:
Had no idea what you were talking about until I saw the generic name. It's a drug used for people who fall asleep easily. I have buddies at Cambridge University who use it a lot. Not the same as adderall, it's more like caffeine than adderall.

Partially right, partially wrong. This stuff is extremely controlled in the US but a little bit more liberally prescribed internationally, which is why it makes sense they'd prescribe it for insomnia. You can't get that kind of treatment from an American physician.

Calling Modafinil "more like caffeine" is quite the understatement. This is the stuff the Air Force gave to Stealth Bomber pilots who were making 40 hour surveillance flights and shit so they didn't get tired. This stuff is unmatched in terms of its efficacy.

Anyway, I got a hold of this stuff back in high school for the first time... it's pretty much the most fantastic substance ever created. I have no words to describe it other than "unfair." It's really hard to get prescribed but I guess if you were some dude trying to be mega productive you could get a crooked doctor or maybe just a stupid one to write you a script, but it's hard to get more than 10 at a time, so I doubt it's getting abused in prevalent amounts all across the sport and business world.

That's interesting, my buddy in the UK just orders it online like its no big deal. Arrives in the mail and away he goes.

 
BlackHat:
newfirstyear:
Had no idea what you were talking about until I saw the generic name. It's a drug used for people who fall asleep easily. I have buddies at Cambridge University who use it a lot. Not the same as adderall, it's more like caffeine than adderall.

Partially right, partially wrong. This stuff is extremely controlled in the US but a little bit more liberally prescribed internationally, which is why it makes sense they'd prescribe it for insomnia. You can't get that kind of treatment from an American physician....

I'm assuming you're talking about narcolepsy rather than insomnia?

 

It has been on the market for a long time now. And Blackhat is right, this drug was supposed to replace amphetamines that were given to special ops to remain attentive during long missions. They made some tests in the NASA as well. One of the advantages of this drug is that you don't get a "bounce" effect like caffeine or amphetamines, and thus it doesn't alter your circadian rhythm. Modafinil is kind of old but is being tested by the FDA to treat some other conditions other than narcolepsy. Armodafinil is a second generation of the same substance but refined, and is also manufactured by the same company Cephalon. There are some other drugs in the pipeline from competitors. Some of them have only improved the drug delivery method (you would shoot a spray through your nostril) to have quicker access to the brain and less metabolization of the substance.

 

I remember being in high school and learning about it, apparently it does a great job at keeping you awake.

Article I read describing the effects it had on author: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/johann-hari/my-experiment-with-smart_b_15…

Figured I didn't need it, I'm not one to need a lot of sleep. Still, does seem like it offers some serious advantages, especially since there aren't many serious side effects.

 

I take this medication in the generic form. They have a newer version which is known as NUVIGIL which is much more potent. I have intractable insomnia as well as sleep apnea.

This stuff does work however never take it after 8:00 am otherwise your chances of sleep are slim to none that night. This IS NOT LIKE CAFFEINE or 5 HOUR ENERGY, this is the big leagues.

If your Doc writes you a script for this and you have a drug plan your Doc will have to document that you have insomnia, sleep apnea, or work shift disorder otherwise they won't pay for this script. It's not pocket change either costing $15.00-$20.00 per tablet. Oh yeah by the way your pharmacy plan will request that you have a sleep study that you hope your health insurance will pay for. Only after this and sleep apnea and or insomnia can be identified will they pay for the script.

This will be for 1 year only and then your Doc must fill out another document stating that you still need this each and every year. My pharmacy plan was an extreme pain in the a_ s in regards to paying for this but in the end I got it and don't have to worry about hitting a telephone pole because I fell asleep @ the wheel.

Go to the Provigil or Nuvigil website and you can print coupons that make your co-pay less expensive. Without a coupon Nuvigil will cost you $100.00 co-pay. Provigil brand used to but since It's generic I don't know what you'll spend but the generic isn't too cheap.

The military and NASA use these drugs but there are some side affects such as loss of appetite which was ok with me and boundless energy so buy yourself a human habitrail and go to town.

After 2 years on this stuff this is what I can tell you. I may have left out a few details but I did my best. Good luck!

 

My doctor prescribed provigil to me last Friday. I have suffered from INSOMNIA my whole life. For the last 12 years I've been taking valium to make myself sleep at night. I quit the valium last march, and quickly fell into the old sleep patterns again. My Dr. is taking a different approach. Maybe the reason I can't sleep at night is because I'm so tired and sleepy all day. I get no exercise, I take naps and I lay around and do as little as possible.That's right, she is treating my insomnia with Provigil. So I got the pills last night, there was a delay because she had to call my insurance company, probably because this 30 day supply cost $900. No sleep apnea tests or anything like what was said in other posts. I got a 30 day supply and have 5 refills. I took a pill this morning at 6 and I feel great (even though I got no sleep last night). I'm supposed to exercise at least 2 hrs a day. I feel like I can do 10! I'm certainly not laying around today. We'll see how I sleep tonight, I hope it works because I absolutely want to stay on this medication.

 

My doctor prescribed provigil to me last Friday. I have suffered from INSOMNIA my whole life. For the last 12 years I've been taking valium to make myself sleep at night. I quit the valium last march, and quickly fell into the old sleep patterns again. My Dr. is taking a different approach. Maybe the reason I can't sleep at night is because I'm so tired and sleepy all day. I get no exercise, I take naps and I lay around and do as little as possible.That's right, she is treating my insomnia with Provigil. So I got the pills last night, there was a delay because she had to call my insurance company, probably because this 30 day supply cost $900. No sleep apnea tests or anything like what was said in other posts. I got a 30 day supply and have 5 refills. I took a pill this morning at 6 and I feel great (even though I got no sleep last night). I'm supposed to exercise at least 2 hrs a day. I feel like I can do 10! I'm certainly not laying around today. We'll see how I sleep tonight, I hope it works because I absolutely want to stay on this medication.

 
BN:
My doctor prescribed provigil to me last Friday. I have suffered from INSOMNIA my whole life. For the last 12 years I've been taking valium to make myself sleep at night. I quit the valium last march, and quickly fell into the old sleep patterns again. My Dr. is taking a different approach. Maybe the reason I can't sleep at night is because I'm so tired and sleepy all day. I get no exercise, I take naps and I lay around and do as little as possible.That's right, she is treating my insomnia with Provigil. So I got the pills last night, there was a delay because she had to call my insurance company, probably because this 30 day supply cost $900. No sleep apnea tests or anything like what was said in other posts. I got a 30 day supply and have 5 refills. I took a pill this morning at 6 and I feel great (even though I got no sleep last night). I'm supposed to exercise at least 2 hrs a day. I feel like I can do 10! I'm certainly not laying around today. We'll see how I sleep tonight, I hope it works because I absolutely want to stay on this medication.

Did it help?

 
bariyaprince:
well provigil product are totally useless. i used this product last 4 months but i don't get any satisfaction so it is only waste your money and it's gain much more side effects like weakness, vomiting etc.

Lightweight

I hate victims who respect their executioners
 

So... how do I fucking get it? I remember adderall back in the day. Great stuff. Cocaine's next day side-effects are ruthless.

When a plumber from Hoboken tells you he has a good feeling about a reverse iron condor spread on the Japanese Yen, you really have no choice. If you don’t do it to him, somebody else surely will. -Eddie B.
 

My little brother has been taking it for years. My mom suggested I try it after she noticed my exhaustion while I was home from college during the holidays one year. I wasn't really tired as much as I was hungover, but I went back to school with a handful of "stay awake" pills.

Going into finals I was about 400 pages behind on the readings for an English class and needed to pull an all nighter to catch up. I believe this was junior year so I had already gone through plenty of red bull, diet coke, yellow jackets, adderall, etc... infused all nighters. I always crashed hard around 3AM and felt like shit the next day. I took provigil for this particular cram session and managed to crank non-stop until the 9AM final. It always made me a little nauseous so I was reluctant to take it much more, but it definitely helps you with your mental energy. Unlike adderall it doesn't really make you focus as much as it just helps to prolong your ability to maintain awareness.

 

Sed alias et quidem odit veritatis. Aut enim quo facere quisquam. Harum voluptas minima et autem amet aut eos. Possimus delectus ipsam voluptatem omnis. In voluptas ut minus consectetur.

Harum soluta maiores omnis tempora dignissimos. Optio consequuntur ex necessitatibus quis tenetur cumque dolores similique.

Asperiores voluptas quae et excepturi nemo commodi neque. Ut repudiandae eos necessitatibus non. Esse perferendis ipsam necessitatibus sunt magnam aliquam inventore eaque.

Necessitatibus reprehenderit nam aut. Illum dolores ducimus veritatis praesentium culpa blanditiis debitis. Omnis sit voluptatem quas veniam aut delectus consectetur. Excepturi magni ea consequatur maxime. Quod maiores sit asperiores magnam eos labore. Ea occaecati doloribus quia at.

Career Advancement Opportunities

April 2024 Investment Banking

  • Jefferies & Company 02 99.4%
  • Goldman Sachs 19 98.8%
  • Harris Williams & Co. New 98.3%
  • Lazard Freres 02 97.7%
  • JPMorgan Chase 03 97.1%

Overall Employee Satisfaction

April 2024 Investment Banking

  • Harris Williams & Co. 18 99.4%
  • JPMorgan Chase 10 98.8%
  • Lazard Freres 05 98.3%
  • Morgan Stanley 07 97.7%
  • William Blair 03 97.1%

Professional Growth Opportunities

April 2024 Investment Banking

  • Lazard Freres 01 99.4%
  • Jefferies & Company 02 98.8%
  • Goldman Sachs 17 98.3%
  • Moelis & Company 07 97.7%
  • JPMorgan Chase 05 97.1%

Total Avg Compensation

April 2024 Investment Banking

  • Director/MD (5) $648
  • Vice President (19) $385
  • Associates (86) $261
  • 3rd+ Year Analyst (14) $181
  • Intern/Summer Associate (33) $170
  • 2nd Year Analyst (66) $168
  • 1st Year Analyst (205) $159
  • Intern/Summer Analyst (145) $101
notes
16 IB Interviews Notes

“... there’s no excuse to not take advantage of the resources out there available to you. Best value for your $ are the...”

Leaderboard

1
redever's picture
redever
99.2
2
Betsy Massar's picture
Betsy Massar
99.0
3
BankonBanking's picture
BankonBanking
99.0
4
Secyh62's picture
Secyh62
99.0
5
dosk17's picture
dosk17
98.9
6
GameTheory's picture
GameTheory
98.9
7
CompBanker's picture
CompBanker
98.9
8
kanon's picture
kanon
98.9
9
bolo up's picture
bolo up
98.8
10
Jamoldo's picture
Jamoldo
98.8
success
From 10 rejections to 1 dream investment banking internship

“... I believe it was the single biggest reason why I ended up with an offer...”