new drug - stay awake for 48 hours

[Nick F]

SO MUCH to do, so little time. Between a hectic work schedule and a thriving social life, Yves (not his real name), a 31- year-old software developer from Seattle, often doesn't have time for a full night's sleep. So he swallows something to make sure he doesn't need one. "If I take a dose just before I go to bed, I can wake up after 4 or 5 hours and feel refreshed," he says. "The alarm goes off and I'm like, let's go!"

Yves is talking about modafinil, a stimulant that since its launch seven years ago has acquired a near-mythical reputation for wiring you awake without the jitters, euphoria and eventual crash that come after caffeine or amphetamines. Yves has been popping modafinil on and off for the past three years and says it is "tremendously useful". "I find I can be very productive at work," he says. "I'm more organised and more motivated. And it means I can go out partying on a Friday night and still go skiing early on Saturday morning."

http://www.newscientist.com/article/mg18925391.300

[htid]

Sounds very useful for a final year uni student such as myself

[Agent]

A few of us clubbers do this without pills

[RDL]

Ooo, read the whole article and I must say it's very interesting. Personally I'd love to try some of these new pills coming out, as, as the article explains, the world really is more of a 24/7 place than it used to be, and 9 - 5 Jobs aren't the only ones around. Although it would be interesting to see just how far you could go with these pills, without actually having to crash out and just sleep.

[RDL]

A few of us clubbers do this without pills

Well...without this type of pill!

[IBM]

Between a hectic work schedule and a thriving social life, Yves (not his real name), a 31- year-old software developer from Seattle, often doesn't have time for a full night's sleep.

It's got to be fake, it says he's a software developer and has a thriving social life. Playing WOW?

[Lee H]

It's got to be fake

Looks genuine to me. I've heard about this as it's a cure for narcolepsy but now the american army are looking to use this to keep their troops awake for long periods.

The UK Army also look to be interesting in using this to keep their overstretched soliders awake for even longer.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/6083840.stm

[McClane]

I thought I recognised that story and then I saw the date on it I could really do with some of that stuff now. 6 pieces of coursework and 3 weeks left and I'm meant to be looking for a placement. I won't even start on all the other things. I barely have time to sleep these days.

[htid]

Looks genuine to me. I've heard about this as it's a cure for narcolepsy but now the american army are looking to use this to keep their troops awake for long periods.

The UK Army also look to be interesting in using this to keep their overstretched soliders awake for even longer.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/6083840.stm

I think ibm was making a joke.....

[Ben_]

wonder drugs arent the way forward

[Hans Voralberg]

Looks genuine to me.

IBM is saying the guy is fake, not the drug

[Lee H]

heh sorry - i'm having a blonde day atm. I've been awake since 3 am

[MadduckUK]

this drug + viagra = oh dear god

[Taz]

Sleep is one of the most important things for a healthy lifestyle. It's the time when damage to your body is repaired and memories formed. I would be very cautious about any drug that deprives you of sleep.

The 'sleep debt' cannot be avoided at present. Your health will ultimately suffer if you don't get enough sleep.

[Stoo]

handy once in a while I guess

But yeah, not something I'd want to do on a regular basis..

Could be very useful for avoiding jetlag tho?

[Hans Voralberg]

this drug + viagra = oh dear god

Not recommended on a daily basis