Modafinil By Peter Borden Summary

The article focuses on Peter Borden and his experience using Modafinil (known as Provigil in the U.S.), during a period in his life when concentration, speed and accuracy were crucial in helping him organize himself in order to succeed at two jobs. By day, Borden was conducting qualitative analysis's and acting as project manager for a B2B start-up, and by night he was busy working on developing a high-frequency Wall-Street-esque trading system. Borden desperately needed more time to work, and to continually perform well, he started using the new drug, Modafinil. Modafinil has recently been dubbed "the Limitless pill" after the movie, Limitless, starring Bradley Cooper. Borden (after taking the maximum dosage the first time) explains how the pill shifted his senses, making his auditory sense lessened while simultaneously increasing his visual sense. Soon after, he notes that he experienced a head rush "like Adderall, but without the speediness". He even experienced an increase in happiness and a decrease in nervous-anxiety while on the pill. Borden attributes these qualities of Modafinil as allowing him to perform faster, with less errors and frustration. Modafinil's popularity is growing fast because its users, like Borden, experience great increases in performance and focus. One of Modafinil's …show more content…
Unfortunately, there has not been a study conducted on the long-term effects of Modafinil on a healthy brain, which is rather shocking since its popularity is soaring with seemingly no hint of slowing down. While Modafinil seems like a truly groundbreaking scientific and pharmaceutical discovery, I couldn't imagine taking it. The lack of studies about the long term effects of Modafinil is a serious cause for concern; taking risks, even if the odds are known is still a gamble I'm not willing to