BBC presenter Benjamin Zand recently took what he believes was a nootropic, or smart drug. The reporter is uncertain since he ordered the tablets online. In this downbeat report, he recounts the effects of the presumed modafinil:
Many so-called smart drugs have conventional uses - a popular one, modafinil, is used to treat excessive need for sleep caused by narcolepsy or shift work. But they are also being taken, in growing numbers, by people looking to work more effectively. Modafinil was dubbed the "world's first safe smart drug" by researchers at Harvard and Oxford universities who suggested its effects were "low risk" when taken in the short term. But side effects can include insomnia, headaches and potentially dangerous skin rashes, and there is a lack of long-term data.
Nevertheless, having read such positive reviews online - some claiming smart drugs had drastically improved their university grades - I decided to take it as an experiment. While it is illegal to sell modafinil in the UK without a prescription, it is not illegal to buy. There are many websites, often based in India, which make it available to purchase.
[...] The following day, a train journey presented what I expected to be a perfect opportunity to get some work done with the aid of a smart pill. I was wrong. I became distracted - more so than normal. While the drug made me focus, it was on the wrong things - such as playing video games on my smartphone. As the time passed, I began to develop a very bad headache, I lost my appetite and I needed to use the bathroom - constantly. While my brain wasn't working any faster, my bladder certainly was.
That evening, I began to feel the effects of modafinil's "wakefulness promoting agent". When I tried to get to sleep, I found myself unable to switch off until the early hours of the morning. I also found an itchy lump on the back of my leg - one on my arm appeared too the following day.
My experiences seemed a far cry from those of others. Jason Auld - an athlete and entrepreneur from Edinburgh - says he feels like he can achieve virtually anything on modafinil. "It just makes you feel as if you're operating at 100%, you're putting in all you can put in. Usually you don't think that's possible, but modafinil allows me to do it."
Related:
Cognitive Enhancement is Ethically Risky Business
Drug Unlocks Malleable, Fast-Learning, Child-Like State In Adult Brain
Ethics and the Enhanced Soldier of the Near Future
Cognitive Enhancement May Not be All It's Cracked Up To Be.
Related Stories
From The Conversation:
Cognitive performance enhancers promise to deliver a better version of ourselves: smarter, more alert and more mentally agile. But what if such enhancement was no longer a personal choice but a socially and legally enforced responsibility? In the final installment of Biology and Blame, Nicole A Vincent and Emma A. Jane explore the risks of normalising this emerging trend.
In Australia and all around the world, students, academics and professionals of various stripes are increasingly experimenting with new cognitive enhancement technologies to boost their memory, attention, reflexes, clarity of thought and ability to function well with little sleep. In many cases, this involves the re-purposing of medications that have previously been used to help the sick become "normal", rather than to boost the well into some sort of superhuman sphere. These include controlled drugs such as Ritalin (a central nervous system stimulant usually prescribed for hyperactivity and impulse control), modafinil (a medication used for increasing wakefulness in patients with conditions such as narcolepsy) and donepezil (used to treat dementia).
Trouble keeping up with new technologies? Want to learn a new skill or language?
"Professor Carla Shatz of Stanford University and her colleagues have discovered a way to revert an adult brain to the “plastic”, child-like state that is more able to form new connections quickly. The technical term “plastic” implies the ability to adapt or shape itself to new conditions. The striking results were revealed through experiments on a protein expressed in brain cells known as PirB (this is the name of the protein in the animal model, in humans it is called “LilrB2″), which seems to stabilize neural connections."
Humans in 2015 have a small arsenal of tools available to at least temporarily upgrade our brains via the increasingly popular paradigm of "cognitive enhancement."
This is a different boost than that offered by sketchy as-seen-on-NPR brain training schemes, offering literal, physiological neuro-manipulations via either chemistry or electricity. It's no secret that drugs like Adderall and Ritalin are widely sought after among healthy populations looking for an extra push, while electronic stimulant headsets are seeing a somewhat quieter or at least less fretted-about rise. Do they really work? We mostly don't know, warns cognitive neuroscientist Martha Farah in this week's issue of Science.
Original paper available here, or you can just read the vice.motherboard.com article.
(Score: 1, Funny) by Anonymous Coward on Wednesday January 06 2016, @10:10AM
Alarm bells didn't go off when a professional unicyclist says he takes illegal research chemicals to help him "achieve 100%!"? And the worst that happened was temporary hyperactivity (and a rash, haha). Sounds like a personal learning moment, not a BBC article. Why would you even own up to being that naive?
(Score: 2) by Hyperturtle on Wednesday January 06 2016, @06:01PM
I agree with you -- this guy isn't going to get smarter with the help of drugs alone.
(Score: 5, Insightful) by Rosco P. Coltrane on Wednesday January 06 2016, @10:57AM
You can run nitrous oxide in an engine. It'll give all it can give. The question is: for how long, and at what costs?
The human body is a machine that's not designed to be overdriven, anymore than a regular engine is designed to run on nitrous oxide. You can replace a damaged engine, but once you damage your health, usually it's gone. You only have one body.
Me, I tend to live my life at a speed that's compatible with what my body can sustain naturally. If I'm not doing so great at sports or exams, despite doing all I can within my body's limits, well so be it. I choose to live longer and happier in the long run, over being overly competitive and obtaining short-term results at the cost of feeling miserable later.
(Score: 2) by VLM on Wednesday January 06 2016, @12:38PM
that's not designed to be overdriven
The rest of your post is pretty good and I'd agree with it, but the appeal to naturalism eventually devolves sport in something like ancient Greek nude calisthenics. Modern footwear has very high traction with is good WRT not damaging replaceable skin, not so good WRT blowing out knees, etc etc.
The idea or concept of "paleo exercise" is moderately interesting. We spent the first 190000 years as a species doing something other than farm labor and professional sports, so we're obviously NOT evolved to play badminton quite as well as long distance hiking. I guess something like a biathlon but with spears and hiking rather than rifles and skis. Google is useless on this topic given contamination from the paleo diet search terms.
(Score: 2) by Rosco P. Coltrane on Wednesday January 06 2016, @01:56PM
I'm not talking about going native. I'm talking of not doing stuff that damages your body for the sake of performance. High-quality modern footwear makes you faster (I suppose, running isn't my sport) and, if they fit well, actually protect your knees and skin. So I'm all for it.
(Score: 2, Insightful) by khallow on Wednesday January 06 2016, @01:50PM
The human body is a machine that's not designed to be overdriven, anymore than a regular engine is designed to run on nitrous oxide. You can replace a damaged engine, but once you damage your health, usually it's gone. You only have one body.
Health is just another thing you can't take with you when you die. I don't see the need or value for overclocking myself, but that doesn't mean others won't feel differently.
(Score: 2) by Rosco P. Coltrane on Wednesday January 06 2016, @01:53PM
That's why I said it was my choice :)
(Score: 5, Informative) by PinkyGigglebrain on Wednesday January 06 2016, @11:20AM
He took an unknown drug from a questionable source and he was surprised at its effects, or lack off, and that it wasn't the same as someone else who took a known drug.
Right. Idiot is lucky he didn't drop dead from the side effects.
Every time I hear about these "smart drugs" I remember THX-1138.
"Beware those who would deny you Knowledge, For in their hearts they dream themselves your Master."
(Score: 1, Informative) by Anonymous Coward on Wednesday January 06 2016, @11:45AM
Side effects sounds more like some strange mix of amphetamines, than modafinil.
(Score: 4, Interesting) by VLM on Wednesday January 06 2016, @12:26PM
Side effects sounds more like some strange mix of amphetamines, than modafinil.
I was going to suggest caffeine pills, overdose resulting in headache and lots of pee. Certainly easy to get and cheap.
As far as itchy lumps thats kinda far fetched as a stimulant symptom beyond some kind of uncontrollable leg bouncing or mosquito bite or meaningless casual impact damage.
Dude should have gone on the internet. Docs (and cops) and probably the internet have a resource where you look up size / shape / imprints if any and you find out its actually a Vivarin brand caffeine tablet or whatever. I wonder if he literally took "a" pill or ten what turned out to be Vivarin's.
I would imagine there's an extremely strong placebo effect. I'm taking a pill then studying for 8 hours will have about the same result as studying for 8 hours.
There's also some funny analogies with the economic system. If you give a poor person money, you more or less have a poor person who's going to do their best to lose that money. Applies to pro sports contracts or lotto or legal ambulance chasing settlements just as well. Likewise you give someone who Fs around all day something to energize them, they're not going to turn into some kind of super hero, they're just going to really energetically F around all day and accomplish nothing, much as the journalist and his playing games on his phone.
(Score: 1) by chiefnx on Wednesday January 06 2016, @12:26PM
FTA: He took the drug at the University of Cambridge "as part of a cognitive test" after consulting a medical doctor and a pharmacologist.
The article says most people buy modafinil from dubious sources but doesn't actually say that's where the reporter got his from. This being the BBC I would guess they got it from a trustworthy source - presumably possible for them since this is at least a prescription drug.
So I suspect a more accurate summary would be: he took a known drug from a known source and experienced some of the rarer unpleasant side-effects (alongside the expected increased concentration levels/work ethic etc).
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Wednesday January 06 2016, @02:38PM
However, he could get a pill analyzed. In fact if I was going to be a guinea pig for BBC or Cambridge and had to get my drugs online from India or wherever I'd get it tested first.
(Score: 2) by Fnord666 on Wednesday January 06 2016, @03:12PM
The article says most people buy modafinil from dubious sources but doesn't actually say that's where the reporter got his from. This being the BBC I would guess they got it from a trustworthy source - presumably possible for them since this is at least a prescription drug.
So I suspect a more accurate summary would be: he took a known drug from a known source and experienced some of the rarer unpleasant side-effects (alongside the expected increased concentration levels/work ethic etc).
It doesn't sounds at all to me like he did any verification and TFA does provide a bit of detail about the source.
From TFA:
Having purchased them on the internet, I could also have been taking dud pills - though Jason told me he had used the same supplier before.
(Score: 1) by chiefnx on Wednesday January 06 2016, @03:29PM
You're right. Have watched the TV clip now and that makes it clear also.
It's quite interesting, even though he seems to have done most of his research on Reddit. Surprised it passed the BBC risk assessment though.
(Score: 4, Insightful) by Dunbal on Wednesday January 06 2016, @12:34PM
Bought drugs online. First of all, there is absolutely no way to guarantee he received the drug he claims he ordered unless he took the pill to an analytical chemistry lab and had it assessed. Therefore everything that follows from there is conjecture and hyperbole. But that's about the standard of "journalism" nowadays. If you want to be sure of the medications you take, you buy them from a licensed pharmacist.
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Wednesday January 06 2016, @03:19PM
you can't get smarter on a remote island by swallowing some pill.
you can, however get new "insights" with stuff like psilocibin, lsd, mescaline and some frog.
rather if you want to become smart (and stay smart) you should find a environment with smart people
willing to accept you and try to contribute to it.
it is not a "airborne molecule" or "electromagnetic radiation" that will make you smarter in this environment.
i think this environment is normally called a "higher learning institute"?
srsly, getting smarter is like building the great pyramid .. it's a team effort.
it also needs alot of trust (which is in rather short supply nowadays because of the conspiracy-salt added to
lots of news) since you have to trust that non of the other 10 guys lifting the block will suddendly
let go and crush you (which does seem to happen ... because maybe of a blind al cappuchino movie?)
well anyways ... eat healthy and try to be a agreeable member of society and i think this
automatically leads to becoming smarter?
(Score: 2, Interesting) by Anonymous Coward on Wednesday January 06 2016, @03:47PM
I use a variant, Adrafinil, which legal to buy without a prescription in the US and metabolizes into Modifinal in your liver. It works as a wakeful agent. It keeps you awake, which is what it's supposed to do. It doesn't make you smarter or help with memory. If interested in that sort of thing there are many different racetams you can try. Sounds like this guy didn't do his research. I run a stack of Adrafinal, Noopept and Choline and cycle on and off it. It helps with concentration, focus and memory. I generally only take Adrafinal when I need it, regular use will damage your kidneys. I take Noopept and Choline somewhat regularly but will skip on weekends and cycle off/on periodically. Noopept really helps me with focus/concentration/memory. If I need to get some coding done the stuff really helps me get into the zone and crank out code. As with anything YMMV and it's best to use this stuff in moderation. Check out the Nootropics sub reddit if interested in learning more and finding reputable distributors.
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Wednesday January 06 2016, @04:32PM
Someone used modafinil to keep going right before their qualifying exams. The results were as expected, pleasant but not addictive nor over powering. Someone would take up to 1 whole pill without illeffects or trouble sleeping. Someone's frien would take 1/4 a pill because he'd have trouble sleeping that night with more.. Recommended for occasional use. Mild quickening , noappreciablw jitteryness most times, obviously not a substitute for sleep and exercise.
(Score: 2) by The Archon V2.0 on Wednesday January 06 2016, @05:40PM
Maybe if enough narcissistic bloggish I-am-the-story 'reporters' start keeling over from suspicious drugs we'll finally see less crappy reporting.
(Score: 3, Insightful) by Hyperturtle on Wednesday January 06 2016, @05:58PM
It's a stimulant, not a smart drug.
This guy is a doofus for convincing himself it would work the way *he* wanted it to, and he is why people can't have nice things. No doubt he needs a smart drug; this ain't it. Perhaps he should go see a doctor if he is concerned about his density.
He even went in public while experimenting with a drug he illegally obtained, then chose to write about it... few things seem to scream attention whore to me more than this. It is unlikely he realizes that he doesn't understand how he made a mistake in his approach to dosing himself, using it, and then discussing it.
I hope he finds what he is looking for and I hope he gets the medical care he needs, because none of this is wise, and he doesn't seem to have come out any wiser after reflecting on his experience. Instead, he stood up at the public podium to complain that what appears to work for others is terrible for him.
Look at what he said he did-- he took a pill for focus and stimulation and thought it would make him more intelligent and be able to get things done--the man didn't know how it works.
It gave him the focus and stimulation that it said it would do on the tin. What he did was play video games on his smart phone and blamed the drug from being unable to stop. No -- if you are trying to study, you do not play video games. A smart drug isn't going to give you the insight to stop playing games. A smart drug will help you play that game better.
Intrinsic motivation is, unfortunately, what this man needs, and he is not going to find it in pill form.
Perhaps if he actually had started to do what he wanted to do, then when it kicked in, he took would have written about how amazing it was -- but instead we learn that he was totally unprepared for how it did what it said it would do and not what he wanted it to do because he didn't consider what could happen if he actually fueled his lack of control via a drug he had no experience with.
All the more reason for him to see a doctor to treat him for the problems he believes he has, and not do it this way. Those kids getting great grades while on this--they're studying, believe it or not. Not playing games on public transportation, or surrounding themselves with numerous means to distract themselves while avoiding the studying they need to do.
Set and setting, buddy. This guy doesn't know how to study well and drugs are unlikely to help him.
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Wednesday January 06 2016, @11:12PM
I think he said that he obtained the pills legally.
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Thursday January 07 2016, @10:34PM
He did -- he ordered them online over the internet!
And I hope they remain available. People like him tend to ruin it for others that like to at least pretend they are responsible, and act that way. What he did was not very responsible, even if it was legal. No, he didn't crash a car or something while on it, but it seems that conservative types of any political leaning seem to be heavily against bettering oneself via chemistry, and then complained in a major newspaper about this legal nootropic that isn't available for sale but totally there is a legal loophole so get it from India.
Not wise if he likes to continue exercising the freedom he had to even screw up like this.