Take it from a smart-drug veteran: “Modafinil is by far the most sustainable and reliably effective smart drug on the market—hands down.”
Smart drugs are all around us. They’re all over the news [1], [2], in workplaces [3],[4] and in university classrooms [5]. Cognitive enhancing substances are trending in entertainment media, too. Recent sci-fi movies portray zeroes who become heroes overnight by ingesting IQ-boosting miracle drugs: think Bradley Cooper in Limitless (2011) or Scarlett Johansson in Lucy (2014). Some media outlets portray smart drugs in an extremely positive light, while others are more skeptical of their long-term impacts. So, how can we know whom to trust?
Do so-called ‘cognitive enhancers’ have any real, measurable effects? If so, do the rewards outweigh the potential risks? Are all smart drugs created equal, or are some better than others? In today’s blog post, I will present an overview of smart drugs, their benefits and drawbacks, and explain why I consider Modafinil to be “the optimal smart drug.”
Smart drugs, or ‘nootropics,’ are defined as “drugs, supplements, or other substances that improve cognitive function, particularly executive functions, memory, creativity, or motivation, in healthy individuals.” [6] Popular sub-classes of smart drugs include pharmaceutical nootropics, which range from prescription amphetamines (e.g. Adderall) to the more mild ‘racetams’ (e.g. piracetam, oxiracetam, aniracetam), as well as naturally occurring substances, such as caffeine or ginkgo.
To be sure, some nootropics are better than others. When considering which smart drugs to take, it is a good idea to compare risks and rewards. For instance: Adderall and Ritalin enhance focus but can also cause dependency, nervousness, and high blood pressure. LSD (Yes, some users take very small doses of psychedelics for cognitive enhancement!) – well, it is illegal. Caffeine is also addictive, can upset the stomach, and it’s effects almost always decrease over time.
So, what about Modafinil? Quite frankly, Modafinil doesn’t deserve to be in a list with these stimulants … because it’s not a stimulant! [7] Modafinil works by increasing the production of certain neurotransmitters in the brain (This will be the topic of a later blog post). Together, these neurotransmitters work to promote mental and physical alertness, thereby increasing the user’s energy and attention span. And that’s not all! The best part is that these benefits come without any major side effects (Read more about Modafinil dosage and side effects here [https://www.afinilexpress.com/modafinil-side-effects]).
As someone who has tried almost every cognitive enhancing substance imaginable, it should mean a lot when I say that Modafinil is by far the most sustainable and reliably effective smart drug on the market—hands down. It is the only nootropic that has been clinically proven to improve memory [8], reaction time [9], and prevent fatigue [10] without any serious side effects. It’s no wonder that biohackers and performance enhancement experts are calling Modafinil the “real-life Limitless pill.”
