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I have ADHD, and I use Modafinil or Armodafinil at low doses (50+50mg or 75mg, respectively).

It does not make "high" in any sense. It does not create dependency (unlike, say, coffee). If I don't take it (and I often don't), there are no negative effects, just a lack of the positive.

Metylofenidat helps me a bit, but it gives "deadline-like focus". Focus, but rush, with increased anxiety.

(Ar)modafinil gives sniper-like focus. Decreased anxiety and emotional reactiveness, while still maintaining full emotional clarity. Non-deadline flow.

The first time I took Modafinil, I didn't feel like "on drugs". I felt the opposite - for the first time distractions (like checking FB every a few minutes) were not dopamine hits I craved. I understood a lot about "other people" and things people kept telling me for two decades. It seems that being less distractible was an everyday experience.

The only downside I saw is that it needs to be taken well before bedtime (as in: morning, noon) and that it makes one way less social (immunity to jokes, increased sensory sensitivity, "OK, but what's your point" approach to conversations, etc).

Readings: https://slatestarcodex.com/2014/02/16/nootropics-survey-resu... and https://www.gwern.net/Modafinil



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