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Modafinil for Biglaw
Posted: Mon Jul 04, 2016 5:11 am
by TFALAWL
Frankly, I'm surprised more people don't discuss this.
Modafinil is primarily prescribed for people with narcolepsy, but secondarily prescribed to people w/ shift disorder, so I'm sure there are plenty of psychs out there who would prescribe it for biglaw.
The main gist is that it seems to help people maintain optimal cognitive function while being sleep deprived.
I'd be interested in people sharing their thoughts on this.
IMO, drugs are generally only a short-term solution. But this seems like it could be useful for us, since most of us will only stay 3-5 years.
Thoughts?
Re: Modafinil for Biglaw
Posted: Mon Jul 04, 2016 10:39 am
by jkpolk
Not much to discuss. It could help someone but it is not required. When it comes down to it, if shit hits the fan and you need to be up all night, there's a lot of baked in adrenaline/fear/motivation. If you don't have that, it's likely you 1) don't actually need to be up all night or 2) are burned out and no chemical aid in the world will help you. If you have to pull a string of all-nighters, which is pretty rare unless you're in year 3-4+, I don't think mondy is the answer but I'm not sure.
Re: Modafinil for Biglaw
Posted: Mon Jul 04, 2016 2:00 pm
by ballouttacontrol
Never heard of this but have liberally used Addy xrs and vyvanze. This better?
Re: Modafinil for Biglaw
Posted: Mon Jul 04, 2016 2:16 pm
by Anonymous User
I've used it through undergrad and law school for specific situations (i.e. working up to the due date for a paper, long night of outlining) and it's pretty great. Plus, no proven negative side effects and some studies showing that there may be beneficial long term effects to cognition. Not sure about that last point, and not a reason to use it, imho. But I'd definitely recommend buying a few pills for times when shit hits the fan.
Also, it doesn't just produce adrenaline. It increases attention to detail, and pattern recognition. I took a pill and did a practice LSAT once back in the day, just to see what it felt like, for example, and it was much easier to pay attention to details.
Re: Modafinil for Biglaw
Posted: Mon Jul 04, 2016 2:42 pm
by Barack O'Drama
Anonymous User wrote:I've used it through undergrad and law school for specific situations (i.e. working up to the due date for a paper, long night of outlining) and it's pretty great. Plus, no proven negative side effects and some studies showing that there may be beneficial long term effects to cognition. Not sure about that last point, and not a reason to use it, imho. But I'd definitely recommend buying a few pills for times when shit hits the fan.
Also, it doesn't just produce adrenaline. It increases attention to detail, and pattern recognition. I took a pill and did a practice LSAT once back in the day, just to see what it felt like, for example, and it was much easier to pay attention to details.
Can you get it legally w/o a script in the US? I've read up on it and seen a documentary on youtube about it. Real life NZT-48

Re: Modafinil for Biglaw
Posted: Mon Jul 04, 2016 4:34 pm
by LeDique
uh the concern w -afinil's isn't getting a prescription for it, it's buying it. ur insurance almost certainly won't cover it - almost every insurance co requires pre-authorization for it. despite being a generic, the price is still sky high. and just lol at acting like it's some wonder drug or something. it's just like better and stronger caffeine, that's it.
Re: Modafinil for Biglaw
Posted: Mon Jul 04, 2016 11:12 pm
by Anonymous User
I have used it on occasion if I have a huge deal closing and am having trouble staying on top of things. I feel a bit like a superhero (my super power is billing 15 hours in a day and finishing my to do list).
Re: Modafinil for Biglaw
Posted: Mon Jul 04, 2016 11:18 pm
by Barack O'Drama
LeDique wrote:uh the concern w -afinil's isn't getting a prescription for it, it's buying it. ur insurance almost certainly won't cover it - almost every insurance co requires pre-authorization for it. despite being a generic, the price is still sky high. and just lol at acting like it's some wonder drug or something. it's just like better and stronger caffeine, that's it.
OK, yeah, I can see where that makes sense. I also had no idea you could get it prescribed for things other than narcolepsy. How would anyone who has tried it compare it to adderall?
Re: Modafinil for Biglaw
Posted: Mon Jul 04, 2016 11:22 pm
by bern victim
Anonymous User wrote:I have used it on occasion if I have a huge deal closing and am having trouble staying on top of things. I feel a bit like a superhero (my super power is billing 15 hours in a day and finishing my to do list).
marx wept
Re: Modafinil for Biglaw
Posted: Thu Sep 01, 2016 1:33 am
by Anonymous User
bern victim wrote:Anonymous User wrote:I have used it on occasion if I have a huge deal closing and am having trouble staying on top of things. I feel a bit like a superhero (my super power is billing 15 hours in a day and finishing my to do list).
marx wept
Ha. Just saw this.
Re: Modafinil for Biglaw
Posted: Thu Sep 01, 2016 2:01 pm
by Anonymous User
I use it regularly, generally 4 days/week. I cycle it some, going off for a week or two every few months. I'm generally sleepy by nature, this, plus liberal amounts of caffeine helps me function on 6 hours sleep, which I couldn't maintain without it.
I take a few other nootropics, but any benefit could easily be placebo.
FWIW, Adderall seems far more likely to turn into full fledge addicition. I know one assoc who actually went to rehab for it.
Re: Modafinil for Biglaw
Posted: Thu Sep 01, 2016 5:50 pm
by tyroneslothrop1
I just mainline methamphetamine and bill for three days straight. Have to sleep for two full days afterward but everything has trade offs.
Re: Modafinil for Biglaw
Posted: Mon Nov 21, 2016 10:01 pm
by LionKillerBJJ
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