# Legal alternatives to caffeine? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [December 11, 2010, 5:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/legal-alternatives-to-caffeine/563797 "2010-12-11T17:25:38Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 10\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Bambi\_Hassenpfeffer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/bbe5ce/32.png) [@Bambi\_Hassenpfeffer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bambi_Hassenpfeffer)\ **Post date:** [December 15, 2010, 5:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/legal-alternatives-to-caffeine/563797/21 "2010-12-15T05:02:44Z")
> [@Derleth](#): > > Heh. Betcha there are people out there with a psychological dependency on those drugs. Yeah, but I have a guy at work who buys a 24-ct box of Benadryl and (I assume) takes it every single day. You can become psychologically dependent on anything. ---
**Author:** ![Revtim](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/revtim/32/1042_2.png) [@Revtim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Revtim)\ **Post date:** [December 15, 2010, 3:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/legal-alternatives-to-caffeine/563797/22 "2010-12-15T15:03:06Z")
My doc gave me samples of Nuvigil, and it worked perfectly for me. Unfortunately, when I went to pick up my prescription, a 30 day supply was about 280 bucks, and this was after insurance paid a chunk of it. I couldn’t bring myself to drop that kind of money on it, so I passed. ---
**Author:** ![Wesley\_Clark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wesley_clark/32/20581_2.png) [@Wesley\_Clark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wesley_Clark)\ **Post date:** [December 15, 2010, 3:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/legal-alternatives-to-caffeine/563797/23 "2010-12-15T15:16:32Z")
adrafinil is the grey market drug the preceeded modafinil. ephedrine hcl also works in low doses (12.5mg, about 1/2 a pill) when you are sleepy. eta: if the med you are on that is making you sleepy is a pysch med it might not be good to take those drugs as the drugs could counter the effects. ---
**Author:** ![kaylasdad99](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kaylasdad99/32/3398_2.png) [@kaylasdad99](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kaylasdad99)\ **Post date:** [December 15, 2010, 10:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/legal-alternatives-to-caffeine/563797/24 "2010-12-15T22:21:09Z")
Sleeping is legal, and an alternative to caffeine. Might not be that great an idea when you’re at work, though. I’m with the people who say you should consult the doctor who put you on the medication. ---
**Author:** ![Spectre\_of\_Pithecanthropus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spectre_of_pithecanthropus/32/12343_2.png) [@Spectre\_of\_Pithecanthropus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spectre_of_Pithecanthropus)\ **Post date:** [December 16, 2010, 8:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/legal-alternatives-to-caffeine/563797/25 "2010-12-16T20:14:00Z")
> [@TriPolar](#): > > Crystal Meth. Oh wait, legal? Tell a doctor you have ADD. If he asks you why you think that, say ‘Hey, theres a loose thread on my shirt!’ Then look out the window for a while. I know you’re joking somewhat, but this isn’t true. Usually a GP will refer you out to a specialist, e.g. a neuropsychiatrist or psychologist, who administers one or more tests for the condition. If it appears that you have the condition, then usually the stimulants become an option for you, with the script coming from the specialist, if an MD, or your regular MD after consultation with the psychologist. ---
**Author:** ![monstro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ba9def/32.png) [@monstro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/monstro)\ **Post date:** [December 16, 2010, 8:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/legal-alternatives-to-caffeine/563797/26 "2010-12-16T20:28:10Z")
I haven’t abandoned the thread, just so ya’ll know. But suddenly I’m not so sure about the drug making me sleepy. I mean, I know it does, but I don’t think I should lay so much blame on it. My script ran out about three days ago (I’m getting it refilled tomorrow) and yet I’m still slamming my head against the desk. I don’t think Anafranil has such a long half-life. So maybe it’s just the cold weather that’s making me sleepy or something. It is true that I need alternatives to caffeine, though, because not only have I built up a ridiculous tolerance to it, as I said I’m not supposed to be taking it anyway. So thanks for all the advice. ---
**Author:** ![WhyNot](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/c77e96/32.png) [@WhyNot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WhyNot)\ **Post date:** [December 16, 2010, 9:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/legal-alternatives-to-caffeine/563797/27 "2010-12-16T21:15:13Z")
> [@monstro](#): > > …The hives on my fingers seem to be a testament to this. > [@monstro](#): > > Anafranil Woah, woah, woah, woah. **Hives with Anafranil is a very serious thing.** It’s a call your doctor immediately, perhaps on your way to the ER thing. I’m so sorry I missed that when I read the OP. Please, call your doctor. She may very well not want you to refill that scrip anyhow. While you have her on the phone, discuss the sleepiness. ---
**Author:** ![monstro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ba9def/32.png) [@monstro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/monstro)\ **Post date:** [December 16, 2010, 11:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/legal-alternatives-to-caffeine/563797/28 "2010-12-16T23:01:51Z")
> [@WhyNot](#): > > Woah, woah, woah, woah. **Hives with Anafranil is a very serious thing.** It’s a call your doctor immediately, perhaps on your way to the ER thing. > > I’m so sorry I missed that when I read the OP. Please, call your doctor. She may very well not want you to refill that scrip anyhow. While you have her on the phone, discuss the sleepiness. Does it matter if it’s just a small amount of angioedema on two fingers and three of my toes? I’ve had drug-induced hives before (from Wellbutrin), and nothing life threatening happened. I just lowered the dose and they went away. ---
**Author:** ![Guinastasia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guinastasia/32/5751_2.png) [@Guinastasia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Guinastasia)\ **Post date:** [December 16, 2010, 11:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/legal-alternatives-to-caffeine/563797/29 "2010-12-16T23:11:38Z")
Hives as an allergic reaction can always be serious. They can always get worse – I’d definitely contact your doctor. ---
**Author:** ![SeaDragonTattoo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/df705f/32.png) [@SeaDragonTattoo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SeaDragonTattoo)\ **Post date:** [December 18, 2010, 4:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/legal-alternatives-to-caffeine/563797/30 "2010-12-18T04:42:09Z")
Eeek! Yeah, hives can get worse suddenly, especially if they’re lasting more than a few days, anaphylaxis can still happen. If everything checks out, and the OTC route is still a way you want to try for pick-me-up, I’ll second the pseudoephedrine suggestion, the stuff you have to sign for at the pharmacy counter, not the crap in the aisle. I find one 12-hour caplet very useful when alertness is needed. It can raise your blood pressure quite a bit, though, so be careful if that’s also why you’re supposed to stay away from caffeine. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/legal-alternatives-to-caffeine/563797.md?page=1)