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I'm diagnosed ADHD and I saw during law school a lot of others that didn't have diagnosis and had adderall prescriptions or dexedrine/vyvanse. During my 1L SA I needed my prescription but it affected my personality negatively and I'm trying to work with my doctor for better medication to deal with my anxiety/depression along with focus without being a robot. I know our industry is prone to depression and hard drugs like cocaine, but I wonder how common it is for people to be on Adderall and other prescription stimulants ?

Instead of worrying about what medications other people take, you should probably just worry about your own mental health, which is far more important than recreational drugs your coworkers may or may not be taking.

I would say more common than the population at large.

I worked with a guy who had to quit biglaw after heavily abusing aderall. He had an Rx, but was taking like 4xs to dosage and burned himself out. If you believe in nootropics there are more subtle stimulants than getting into hard/ very illegal drugs. If you have ADHD, I'd work closely with your doctor.

FWIW: I occasionally use modafinil/provigil, but at least for me, it's been non-addictive, easy to cycle and save it for rougher patches.

I also use modafinil as a focus improvement tool. Rising second-year in lit. It is stunningly good for staying focused and energized on those days where you are just boned from 8am-10pm (or later). Have also found it non-addictive and save it for my worst days; I end up taking it 0-2 times a week (2-5 times a month) depending on how things are going. Feel like I would've killed law school if I'd discovered it then.

Protip for it, though: do not discount the diuretic aspect. Drink fucktons of water. If I drink less than a gallon on a moda day my head will just be pounding by 5pm.

Don't know whether anyone else at my firm does it but would be surprised if there were not adderall users, at least. But not exactly great lunchtime conversation to chat about which gray market stimulants we're using.

NOT asking for personal benefit (why I’m not anon!) and not asking judgmentally, just curious: can you get an rx for modafinil, like for adderall?

A. Nony Mouse wrote:NOT asking for personal benefit (why I’m not anon!) and not asking judgmentally, just curious: can you get an rx for modafinil, like for adderall?

Yes, but some insurance companies won't approve the prescription.

Anonymous User wrote:

A. Nony Mouse wrote:NOT asking for personal benefit (why I’m not anon!) and not asking judgmentally, just curious: can you get an rx for modafinil, like for adderall?

Yes, but some insurance companies won't approve the prescription.

Got it. Thanks.

A. Nony Mouse wrote:

Anonymous User wrote:

A. Nony Mouse wrote:NOT asking for personal benefit (why I’m not anon!) and not asking judgmentally, just curious: can you get an rx for modafinil, like for adderall?

Yes, but some insurance companies won't approve the prescription.

Got it. Thanks.

There’s also armodafinil, which is branded as Nuvigil. I’m not sure what the difference is between the two but Nuvigil is definitely the most natural feeling of alertness I’ve experienced with an upper, and it’s very consistent with no down period after it wears off. Can also be pricy if insurance doesn’t approve.

A. Nony Mouse wrote:

Anonymous User wrote:

A. Nony Mouse wrote:NOT asking for personal benefit (why I’m not anon!) and not asking judgmentally, just curious: can you get an rx for modafinil, like for adderall?

Yes, but some insurance companies won't approve the prescription.

Got it. Thanks.

My general practitioner said he'd give me an Rx for it when I had a trial etc. I've also found it pretty easy to find online without going all dark web. It's available without a prescription in most of the rest of the world.