1
QUICK THINKING
Nootropics such as
modafinil– first approved
by the US Food and Drug
Administration (FDA) in 1998
to treat sleep conditions – are
gaining ground as a
workplace aid to improve
performance, focus and
decision making. Though
a prescription-only medicine
in Australia, buying it online
without a doctor’s note is
easy (if you do so, proceed
with caution). Once taken, it
is absorbed into your blood
and can have a profound
effect on your brain function
in two hours, sharpening you
up for your morning meeting.2
OUTOF
THIS WORLD
By the time you get to
work, the neuropeptide
orexin has hit your
hypothalamus to interrupt
your sleep-awake cycle and
bump you into a state of
mental clarity. A University of
California study showed that
modafinil can improve
cognitive function by 21 per
cent and reduce mental
fatigue by 47 per cent. That’s
why it’s prescribed to
astronauts, though it works
equally well on Earth, too.3
PERFORMANCE
ENHANCER
Beyond the workplace
high, you can make gains in
the gym and bedroom with
more regular use. Modafinil
has been found to boost
histamine levels in the body
over time, which doesn’t
mean you’ll break out in
a rash or start sneezing
from hay fever. Rather, you’ll
increase your uptake of
testosterone, to boost both
sexual function and workout
performance. It’s a
compelling combo, we’re
sure you’ll agree.4
THE COMEDOWN
Clever or not, these
pillsare drugs and
there are downers. The
potential side effects of
modafinil include headaches,
nausea, sleep disturbance and
constipation. But the benefits
are believed to outweigh the
risks and, while the buzz is
undeniable, the FDA does not
consider it to be habit-forming- so you can stop if you react
badly to it. A word of warning:
studies suggest that
prolonged use (we’re talking
years, not weeks) can cause a
10 per cent drop in your body
mass index. Not the most
intelligent way to get
beach-ready.
23451MODAFINIL FIGHTS
FATIGUE AND
CLEARS YOUR
MENTAL FOG.5
TALENT
ACQUISITION
New research into the
drug’s impact on GABA
hormones, which regulate
brain function, may make this
pill well worth dabbling with
in the future. By reducing
GABA levels in certain parts
of the brain, modafinil is
thought to enhance your
ability to learn new skills,
making for a quick fix when
you’re under the pump at
work. With office stress now
a leading health risk among
men, popping a pill to lighten
your load may well be the
smart thing to do.Nine-to-fivers are popping
legallyhazypillstooutwit
burnout.Butisitclever?
This is our prescription...I Take
Smart Drugs?
WHAT HAPPENS WHEN...
WORDS: TOM WARD; ILLUSTRATION: PETER GRUNDY28 menshealth.com.au
A
HEALTH