I've noticed that Slate magazine has been engaged in a low-level crusade against pharmaceuticals for some time now. They run articles by authors who discover the abilities of these chemical to improve their lifestyles, yet are so wedded to their underachievement that they would not enhance their own productivity.
I dread public speaking. I get nervous on first dates. I hate to be called on in classes or meetings. This time, I'm craving conversation. In fact, I want to talk about myself. And in the midst of a lively monologue delivered to a group of four people (previously unimaginable for me), I recognize the feeling: It's like being on ecstasy!...For me, a milder case, hard-core detachment is just spooky. So, no more pills. Extroverted Like Me
I loved taking modafinil for two days. I worked supernaturally hard and well. But I'd be afraid to make it a habit. I'll use it again for a special occasion—when I am late for a deadline, perhaps. In the meantime, I'll just yawn my way through the midafternoon. Can We Sleep Less?
In the end, I was not a big fan of sleep aids. If you have chronic insomnia, they are not the answer—you need to see a doctor and change your lifestyle. To Sleep: Perchance To Take Lots of Pills
Who wouldn't want to think faster, be less distracted, write more pages? I asked half a dozen psychiatrists about the safety of using nonprescribed Adderall for performance-enhanced journalism. Most of them told me the same thing...the occasional use of Adderall is probably harmless.... Perhaps I could get a regular supply of Adderall by persuading a psychiatrist that I have ADHD—it's supposed to be one of the easiest disorders to fake. But I don't think I will. My romance with ADHD meds.
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