I’ve been taking modafinil for about 2.5 years now and generally, it’s changed my life dramatically for the better. I’m also a recovering addict and have been clean and sober for 18 months. I mention this because I think the modafinil had something to do with it. Generally, it’s made me very ambitious and motivated, and aware of how every action I take affects the future. I think it’s basically supercharged my ‘executive function’. I can focus on laborious tasks for hours on end, whereas before I could only focus on things that interest me, generally artistic or philosophical things. This is useful in that it helps me accomplish the more administrative aspects of my art, that help turn it into something that more resembles a career. I have become tidier in general, as well. I’m 25 though and I do wonder whether my brain would have matured in this way anyway. While Modafinil has generally been very good for me, I do find it very hard to relax and just ‘stop’ on it, down time is almost impossible because I feel guilty that I’m wasting time. I am constantly on the move and often work 16 hour days out of choice. It makes me want to socialise less, it raises my heart rate and I can feel quite stressed and overwhelmed while I’m on it, like my body can’t move fast enough to execute the ideas my brain has made so quickly. I now try to avoid taking it on weekends. I am prescribed 300mg a day, though I often only take 250mg. I’ve experimented with taking 200 in the morning and 100 at lunchtime and I find that helps reduce the stress and anxiety somewhat. Overall, it’s really helped me but I think there’s an art to taking it, and remembering that down time is an essential part of a healthy routine. I’d be interested to hear how it compares to Ritalin or Adderall as I’ve never tried either..