Pictured: Some modafinil.
I am a regular user of the eugeroic known as Modafinil, which has quite a name for itself as a nootropic. There seems to be some interest in nootropics amongst the cryptocurrency community, so I figured I'd write up some of my thoughts on using Modafinil, having been regularly using it for quite some time, along with some background information regarding what it is, how one can source it, etc.
Before we begin, be aware that you might live in a shit country where importing or possessing prescription drugs without a prescription is prohibited. In the UK, where I currently reside, importing prescription drugs for personal use is legal - provided you pay import taxes, and they are not otherwise controlled substances.
Also, a lot of this is from my own personal experiences using the substance, and from some research I did on it by reading lots of literature/journal articles. I have a background in pharmaceuticals/chemistry, which made parsing and simplifying the information easier. I originally was studying biopharmaceutical chemistry, but then moved to a forensic science course (which was largely chemistry based) at a different university due to changing interests and some life changing experiences.
What is Modafinil?
Modafinil is a wakefulness-promoting drug, or eugeroic, that is widely thought to have nootropic properties. It is currently used in medicine for the treatment of narcolepsy and shift work syndrome. Its precise mode of action is still somewhat unknown and is a topic of ongoing research, however, I'll try summarize what we do know about it in one short paragraph.
Modafinil somewhat inhibits dopamine reuptake, which results in more dopamine being available. It is not a particularly strong reuptake inhibitor, but there is some activity there. It also has some action on the GABA receptors, and is thought to activate the orexin system, which regulates sleep/wakefulness, appetite, and arousal. The full mechanisms of action are still to be worked out.
Modafinil is a mix of R and S isomers. The R isomer, on its own, is available as armodafinil, and has a different metabolic profile to modafinil, but somewhat similar effects.
Modafinil has allegedly been used by astronauts, soldiers, and airforce pilots for promoting alertness and wakefulness.
What does it feel like?
Modafinil is pretty unique in that there is not really a discernible feeling when it is working. Unlike other stimulants, such as ritalin and the likes, there usually is not a "buzzy" or "wired" feeling (except for if taken with caffeine...). It is a very subtle feeling, and you don't notice it much. What you will notice is that once you get properly stuck into a task, you will find it easier to focus on, get stuff done, and ignore distractions. You also will probably forget to eat properly - so set some kind of alarm for mealtimes.
Interactions with Caffeine
Modafinil hugely potentiates caffeine. This is something to be aware of when taking it. I found with 200mg of modafinil and a large americano, I would feel rather overstimulated and "jittery" for a while afterwards, which is not conducive to getting anything done. With 100mg, provided I have eaten something carbohydrate rich in the morning (a croissant works), this was mitigated and I could still enjoy said coffee. It is advised though to limit your caffeine intake while taking it, lest you become overstimulated.
Coping with Overstimulation
At some point, you will probably screw up and become massively overstimulated, probably because you took it on an empty stomach and had too much coffee. This can be intensely uncomfortable, however, there are some simple ways to deal with it.
Firstly, start drinking water, and get something carbohydrate-rich to eat. Magnesium supplements, or magnesium rich foods (leafy greens - so have a salad or a salad filled sandwich) also help a bit. Then go for a brief walk, get some fresh air, and calm yourself down with some slow, deep breathing. You will eventually "come down". Needless to say, don't drink anything caffeinated like coffee during this time, unless you want to prolong your discomfort. Getting hydrated and getting some food into you will go a long way toward making you feel a lot better. Overstimulation can be incredibly disorienting, especially if sleep deprived, but it does wear off eventually.
Interactions with Alcohol
This is totally subjective. I would not advise taking modafinil while drinking alcohol, at all. Some users have reported blacking out and other negative interactions (feeling unwell/disoriented). However, there is (in my experience), no real negative effect of drinking alcohol a few hours after taking modafinil.
You may find that it takes a bit longer for the effects of alcohol to kick in, as the extra "alertness" the modafinil gives you slightly cancels out or negates some of the "dulling" effects of alcohol. This can be both a useful thing, and incredibly hazardous, depending on your drinking habits. While it can help you stay a bit more sharp while having a few beers, it can also trick you into drinking far more than you are capable of handling if you are not careful.
Interactions with Cannabis
Modafinils interactions with cannabis are quite dependant on the strain, doses, etc. I have found with the cannabis that has been available to me (which is all skunk variants that are incredibly THC rich - prohibition has killed off choice), the first 20-30 minutes or so after smoking a reasonably small joint while on modafinil are extremely "intense" kind of "head trip" high, before it tapers off and eventually becomes a comfortable, productive high.
Usually when I smoke the same amount of cannabis without modafinil, I never reach the comfortable, productive plateau and instead am "slow" and unproductive. So while modafinil does seem to allow me to get stuff done while smoking, it does incur a cost of being totally fucking useless for the first half hour or so. I have not had a chance to try it with better, other strains of cannabis as they are not readily available in my area, so you may experience something different.
Sourcing
The "r/afinil" subreddit is a good place to check for suppliers. Personally, I am a fan of Afinil Express, as they accept Bitcoin and give a discount for BTC payments as well as recurring customers, as well as being reliable suppliers (in my experience).
Dosage Notes
Firstly, do note, your dosage may vary significantly. I'd advise starting off low and working your way up. Personally, I use 100mg in the morning, which does me just fine. That is one half of one of the 200mg pills I get. Some other users prefer to just take the entire 200mg, but I find that leads to overstimulation in my case. Beyond uncomfortable overstimulation, there are not many reports of bad things happening to people who take "too much".
Getting Supplies Tested
If you suspect you have been sold some dud pills or a faulty batch, most vendors will provide a refund if you ship it back to them for testing. Before doing this, it is worth getting a third party to test them. Energy Control offer a decent drug testing service for a small fee. Wedinos, in the UK, provide drug testing for free. Getting your sample tested can help confirm/deny if it is defective.
Conclusions
I have more to write on the topic, just figure I'll leave it at that for today. I have some interesting old notes I made from my time at Uni on how modafinil is metabolised, some more stuff on its mode of action, and notes on using the relatively crude colour-tests with various reagents to do some basic home tests to see if something contains modafinil, amongst other things, that I just need to dig up and get around to turning into something readable by others, if there is interest in it.
I also intend to do some testing with other supposed nootropics to see if I can build a decent "stack" of them and see how that works out that I also intend to document at some point.
Let me know if this was of any interest or use to you, and if you have any questions just drop them in the comments and I'll try answer them as best I can, or point you towards better sources of information if not :)