A prescription medication called Provigil is being promoted as a stay-awake drug for shift workers, long-haul drivers etc. Apparently it has a long history as a treatment for narcolepsy, but the expanded applications are a new development. Claims are being made that it allows the user to remain awake and alert without the negative effects of caffeine or stronger stimulants.
This is the manufacturer’s web site:
http://www.provigil.com/patient/index.asp
Has anybody tried this stuff? Does it work? Are there side effects? (The web site mentions some, but minimizes them.) Could it be a jet lag treatment, in the sense that it would allow you to stay awake and functional until bed time in the new time zone? What happens if you use it a lot? Presumably we sleep for good reasons–does the body eventually try to make up for lost sleep?
Reports of first-hand experiences invited.