Ask MetaFilter questions tagged with Modafinil

Bringing legally prescribed controlled substances through customs in Asia?

Anonymous — Wed, 12 Aug 2009 06:01:33 -0800

Advice on bringing a small quantity of legally prescribed Ritalin (methylphenidate) and other prescriptions for personal use into Japan, Thailand, Singapore, Hong Kong, China, South Korea, and the Philippines? I'm traveling to a number of Asian countries in the next three weeks, and I would like to bring my prescriptions with me. The drugs are 30x20mg Ritalin (methylphenidate), 6x200mg Provigil (modafinil), and 30x10mg Ambien (zolpidem). These are legally prescribed by a U.S. doctor, and I will carry the pills in the original, labeled bottle and will have an official-looking letter from the doctor.

But Japan, Singapore, and Hong Kong, according to their customs Web sites, either ban these drugs outright or require preapproval through a bureaucratic process. I wasn't able to find info on the other countries, but it's those three places that I'm most concerned about anyway (Japan and Singapore especially).

In those countries, since they require preapproval, if I indicate on my customs forms that I have controlled substances, then I'll almost certainly have them confiscated and could face other penalties (right?). If I play stupid and just state I have no items to declare, I'd most likely get through OK. But if they pull me aside and search my bags, then I'd be in big trouble, right? I will have entered and exited different countries ~13 times by the end of this trip, so at least on that I'd look suspicious.

So: what actually happens if Japan/Singapore/Hong Kong customs finds undeclared, un-preapproved but legally prescribed controlled substances in your bags? Is it something I can plead ignorance on and just get a warning, or are there serious consequences? I'm not sure if these laws are actually enforced in the case of small quantities and legal personal use. Should I just not bring the drugs?

How to get a perscription for Modafinil?

Anonymous — Sat, 30 May 2009 16:32:49 -0800

I have to work night shifts three nights a week, and it has turned me into a zombie. I strongly suspect I have shift work sleep disorder. I've done a lot of reading, and I think Modafinil (Provigil/Alertec) is right for me. I'm a healthy, non-depressed young man, not on any medications. How do I ask a doctor for it without getting the run around? Canadian, if it matters. Since I don't have a family doctor, I have to go to a clinic where the doctors usually rush things, and I'm worried the doctor will be unfamiliar with Modafinil and simply say no. I have to work the night shift until the end of August. Quitting is not an option. I've had two months to get used to it and haven't. Modafinil seems like a good short-term solution, until I can have my normal life back in the fall.

Don't have a family doctor because I moved to the province not too long ago.

How well does Modafinil work?

jason's_planet — Tue, 26 Sep 2006 09:35:14 -0800

Has anyone here taken Modafinil (Provigil) or any similar drug? I'm curious about Modafinil. If you've ever taken the drug, what effects did it have on you? Did you get jittery? Were you able to concentrate? Did you actually feel awake and alert? How long could you go without sleep? Were you able to stay up for 24 hours? Seventy-two hours? If you went without sleep, were you able to function at work the next day? Did other people notice anything "off" about you?

Just curious.

(I'm not interested in on-line pharmacies supplying this substance. I'm more interested in hearing about the actual effects, the experience of Modafinil.)

Modafinil in the UK

lunkfish — Wed, 01 Jun 2005 04:20:35 -0800

According to this website (Maybe NSFW, Mail order medicines) it is legal to order Modafinil in the UK. Is this true, and if so is there anywhere to get it cheaper?

Sleep RX

daksya — Fri, 21 Jan 2005 12:01:07 -0800

How have Mefites' experiences of modafinil been? I don't suffer from narcolepsy, although I do tend to get my circadian clock askew. Mostly, I'm interested in the nootropic aspects. Can I get a prescription? Or without one? I'm in the US, and without insurance. If not, how does adrafinil compare?