Well the downside of Modafinil is a drop in serotonin. I was just in downtown Medellin and beat the black arse blue on a guy who accidentally but carelessly threw a cup of cooking oil twoards a drainage grate, but on my leg as I was walking past his house I was actually nice, just asked if he had serviettes and he gave me an I-can't-hear you thing and closed the door. Anyway I found something to wipe it off inside the door. No wonder kids are shooting up schools.
New plan, I am going to try microdosing modafinil. 100mg was too much, I got some diabetes fine needles and plan to withdraw the drug from the capsules. Perhaps 10mg twice a day. Inject it back into something like a piece of banana for oral consumption. This should prevent excess release of dopamine and norepinephrine so there won't be highs or lows. I had a social chat last night with a doctor and the topic of Rivastigmine came up, this is used to enhance cognitive function in early stage Alzheimer's patients though it does not affect progression. The patient uses what brain function is unaffected better. This may be worth investigating. There is research into modafinil's effects on normal brains: https://www.ox.ac.uk/news/2015-08-20-review-‘smart-drug’-shows-modafinil-does-enhance-cognition "Unsurprisingly, they found that the performance-enhancing capacity of modafinil varied according to the task. What emerged was that the longer and more complex the task tested, the more consistently modafinil conferred cognitive benefits. Modafinil made no difference to working memory, or flexibility of thought, but did improve decision-making and planning. Very encouragingly, the 70% of studies that looked at the effects of modafinil on mood and side effects showed very little overall effect, although a couple reported insomnia, headache, stomach ache or nausea (which were also reported in the placebo group). Ruairidh McLennan Battleday said: 'This is the first overview of modafinil's actions in non-sleep-deprived individuals since 2008, and so we were able to include a lot of recent data. Interestingly, we found that the type of test used to assess modafinil's cognitive benefits has changed over the last few decades. In the past, people were using very basic tests of cognition, developed for neurologically-impaired individuals. In contrast, more recent studies have, in general, used more complex tests: when these are used, it appears that modafinil more reliably enhances cognition: in particular 'higher' brain functions that rely on contribution from multiple simple cognitive processes.' " Though my decision making is solid enough, planning varies depending on how interested I am in the activity. I do find that for the past years where I had a subtle long covid, that I was quite surprisingly capable of just missing important things in planning, even things important to me. My naturally good critical-path finding talent deficient.
After researching, I think I’ve come to understand some recent advancements in ADHD treatment. And these may apply to Trump. For instance, Viloxazine, a non-stimulant ADHD medication released around 2021, appears to be more effective than previous norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors (NRIs). Notably, it can also be combined with stimulant medications for enhanced efficacy in adults. Though Trump is obviously showing dementia, he can operate within certain boundaries to appear more broadly functional than he is. He is on rails as it were. One hypothesis around ADHD symptoms is that people with ADHD experience boredom when their mind disengages from a task. Rather than naturally shifting attention elsewhere, the brain shifts into “theta” wave activity, a slower frequency that induces a drowsy, disconnected state. This is one step above sleep. This mental "downshifting" disrupts engagement with the environment, leading to frequent episodes of distraction (cue: “Squirrel!”). Stimulants help prevent the brain from slipping into this pre-sleep, slow-wave state, while Viloxazine, though not a stimulant, maintains norepinephrine levels high enough to prevent this drowsy derailment as well.
This is just a relatively good piece on ADHD procrastination. I actually use a version of the Pomodora technique described near the end. Work for 20 minute segments and the distraction (this post ) Never knew it had a name. I'm watching her next video on Executive Function now.
I have started the Modafinil micro dose regime. Unfortunately the content of the gel cap is to viscous to draw into the fine hypos I have, but once pierced a few drops can be squeezed out as needed. I have it in a little vice grips to prevent air being sucked back in. I don't know if oxidation is an issue over 24 hours, I doubt it, but better to avoid. Barely noticing it and I'm much happier without the big hit the full capsules gave.
It's also important to understand GABA and Glutimate. I don't like these health dude videos but this is a bit better than most. Mind you they talk about MSG headaches caused by excess Glutimate but I remember a documentary where they found parmesan cheese actually has more Glutimate than MSG and the same people who were convinced they were MSG sensitive ate lots of parmesan, with no I'll effects. I should find the source, it was British I think.
Well I have had two good days getting the dose to down to around 10mg of Vigía/Modafinil in an emptied gel cap, with a good breakfast to help it absorb more slowly. The original pills come in 100 and 200mg so will last much longer. No initial rush now, I still have a small pulse increase but I can sleep. This surprises me as it's a tenth of the dose but still the same pulse rate increase. I tackled two things I was procrastinating over yesteday, I actually had a little enthusiasm to do them.
Overall the modafinil is working out well but I took too much Vigía this morning and I'm a bit speedy. I need to perfect the extraction from the gel caps. As nice as it is to be a bit speedy, the bad mood wave is to be avoided when serotonin etc. flattens. I may get 5-HTP and see if that can modify it.