05-01-2016, 12:20 AM
As some of you know, I began to use Modalert 200 (Sun Pharma's Modafinil) three mornings per week some time ago to counteract both my chronic insomnia and the effects of working with an international clientele (midnight and 2AM calls two nights a week for program status reporting) and while limiting my use to three mornings per week, and taking a week entirely off it every other week has kept me from building a tolerance to the drug, I've been very happy with it - I no longer feel the need to nap instead of eating lunch, regardless of how little I slept the night before. Adding the Nootropic Phenylpiracetam (200mg twice daily, once at 4:30AM on an empty stomach with my Modalert 200 dose, and then another 200mg at 1PM or so by itself, works even better.
The elimination of my Narcolepsy was pleasing enough, but here's the funny thing: I also take Prilosec OTC every morning, and have found that the Prilosec potentiates the 3mg / day Alprazolam I'm prescribed. On the days I take ModAlert 200, though, the effect is quite different - While the Alprazolam continues to work as it supposed to, keeping my panic attacks at bay, it effect is somewhat muted, and there seems to be some synergy with the Modafinil, as during rare periods during the day when I don't have anything scheduled, I don't find myself pacing around looking for something to do.
All of this is good, of course, don't get me wrong, but I wanted to find out WHY that synergy was there, so I asked a couple of online Doctors. Here's what they had to say (interestingly enough, both responded to my emails by saying that they had been asked this question before, and were simply copying and pasting their previous replies):
So now I find myself wondering if I should switch to Clonazepam from Xanax for a while to test Dr. Simonov's theory (like any benzo aficionado worth his salt, somewhere in my stash are 200 Rivotrils), or just be happy that the synergy between my ModAlert 200 and Xanax works so well on the days I take them together. As my Daddy used to say, "If it ain't broke, don't fix it".
Anyhow, thought this might be useful for daily benzo users who are considering trying Modafinil - At the very least there's no harm in doing so.
Best,
- b2g
The elimination of my Narcolepsy was pleasing enough, but here's the funny thing: I also take Prilosec OTC every morning, and have found that the Prilosec potentiates the 3mg / day Alprazolam I'm prescribed. On the days I take ModAlert 200, though, the effect is quite different - While the Alprazolam continues to work as it supposed to, keeping my panic attacks at bay, it effect is somewhat muted, and there seems to be some synergy with the Modafinil, as during rare periods during the day when I don't have anything scheduled, I don't find myself pacing around looking for something to do.
All of this is good, of course, don't get me wrong, but I wanted to find out WHY that synergy was there, so I asked a couple of online Doctors. Here's what they had to say (interestingly enough, both responded to my emails by saying that they had been asked this question before, and were simply copying and pasting their previous replies):
Quote:Carlo Carandang, MD, Psychiatrist, AnxietyBoss.com
Great question- it seems that they would counteract one another, but they work on different neurotransmitters and brain circuits. Modafinil (Provigil) inhibits the reuptake of dopamine, and is effective for attentional problems seen in ADHD (attention deficit hyperactivity disorder). Alprazolam (Xanax) works on an entirely different neurotransmitter and circuit- it enhances the GABA neurotransmitter, and has an effect on the anxiety circuits mediated by the amygdala. Alprazolam is effective for panic disorder. A stimulant-type of drug (Provigil) combined with a benzodiazepine (Xanax) can treat both ADHD symptoms and anxiety symptoms, which can co-occur. So combining these two drugs does not counteract each other.
Quote:Peter Simonov, MD, Psychaitrist
Benzodiazepines seem to lessen the intensity of physical side effects, it takes care of potential hypehirdrosis-like symptoms like a pro; you're much less likely to experience the side effect of wanting to do something proactive and wanting it so much that you end up doing less than you normally would; as bizarre as it sounds, it actually helps with one's focus, you probably are familiar with the notion of having all this focus suddenly available and being aware of it but being unable to channel it properly, resulting in restlessness, being annoyed, irritable, other than that, you won't find yourself as easily exhausted when performing physical tasks. Having said all this, please keep in mind that I used the term benzodiazepines rather than alprazolam while forming my answer due to the fact that all this was based on the exosubjective perception of effects of clonazepam vs alprazolam in conjunction with modafinil, as you obviously know, it has a different onset time and duration, and recently discovered anomalous serotonergic effects of clonazepam, exclusively. Furthermore, clonazepam seems to be far superior to alprazolam from my observations at this point.
So now I find myself wondering if I should switch to Clonazepam from Xanax for a while to test Dr. Simonov's theory (like any benzo aficionado worth his salt, somewhere in my stash are 200 Rivotrils), or just be happy that the synergy between my ModAlert 200 and Xanax works so well on the days I take them together. As my Daddy used to say, "If it ain't broke, don't fix it".
Anyhow, thought this might be useful for daily benzo users who are considering trying Modafinil - At the very least there's no harm in doing so.
Best,
- b2g