For an alternative to modafinil, I would like to take the opportunity to recommend trying ginseng.
I take it as gelatine capsules (good quality from a serious vendor), one every day. It takes a couple of weeks before it kicks in for me, but from then on it has a distinct effect - I can think about programming problems with a lot more clarity than usual, even when tired at the end of the day. Quite weird really. Traditionally one would run a three month course, then stay off for a couple of months before starting again.
There is always the possibility of placebo effect, but I've tried a lot of things and this one feels real. There are also real scientific studies showing enhanced mental acuity from using ginseng [1][2][3].
Of course is has the benefit of being a natural remedy (and legal, if you care about that).
Ginseng is nothing like modafinil and not an alternative.
> Of course is has the benefit of being a natural remedy
Other than being non-prescription there's no benefit of it being natural. Since they're so unregulated supplement purity and potency varies significantly. Many don't contain the advertised ingredients and some are contaminated.
Great to see ginseng on HN! My startup Rareroot may be of some interest to you: We are building a web platform to let people buy wild ginseng directly from growers. We have not launched yet, but you can sign up for our mailing list. Thanks!
The brand I use is from a local producer. Generally I would avoid anything that is well-advertised, those brands seem to usually contain lower grade or less active ingredient. You should look at the amount of ginsenosides. The one I use contains 16 mg per capsule.
I take it as gelatine capsules (good quality from a serious vendor), one every day. It takes a couple of weeks before it kicks in for me, but from then on it has a distinct effect - I can think about programming problems with a lot more clarity than usual, even when tired at the end of the day. Quite weird really. Traditionally one would run a three month course, then stay off for a couple of months before starting again.
There is always the possibility of placebo effect, but I've tried a lot of things and this one feels real. There are also real scientific studies showing enhanced mental acuity from using ginseng [1][2][3].
Of course is has the benefit of being a natural remedy (and legal, if you care about that).
[1] https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/20676609
[2] https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/16401645
[3] https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/20737519