Modafinil for sleep disturbances?

[bcubed]

Yes, I know it's not amphetamine, but figured this is the best place for it due to its alterness-promoting nature.

I (not SWIM 'cause everything is legal, above-board, and medically indicated) am recovering from a horrific sleep disorder that cost me my career and briefly put me in a psych ward. I'm going back to school; I'm doing well, for the most part, but have streaks of poor sleep sufficient to prevent me from doing my studies or even getting to class in the worst case. Part of the problem is that a lack of certainty about my sleep is a problem for planning activities, even if problems DON'T materialize.

I learned about modafinil (provigil in the US) and it seemed perfect: it can obviate the need for sleep for short periods, which would help me if the worst-case scenario of 3 days no sleep just before finals came to fruition. As I understand it, it's different from the sleep-defecit-masking nature of typical stimulants, which I'm not interested in pursuing.

I guess what I'm asking is:
1. Would it be effective for short-term sleep disruptions, allowing me to be productive during those times?
2. Should it be difficult to get from an ethical, honest doctor? Does it have the same stigma of abuse potential that ritalin/adderal do?

[Zaprenz]

Depends where one lives, my understanding is its scheduled in the US so it might be harder to get. That said its far easier to gets prescriptions for ritalin & adderal [which are heavily controlled] in the US compared to the UK.

In europe its fairly easy to obtain as its not controlled [which makes sense to SWIM as its usefull but doesn't have abuse potential]

However in terms of getting it free on medical insurance or national health services its currently only licensed for a few things. Mostly narcolepsy although it is beginning to be prescribed off label for a number of things.

The other problem is if someone has a sleep problem that serious, depending on what the problem is it could make it worse by depriving one of sleep? I guess it depends exactly what condition.

Also in SWIMS experience - although it can increase wakefullness and (depending on the situation cognition) , its not going to reverse the negative effects of not sleeping for 3 days before exams. Sleep has been shown to re-jig ones memorising of information & learning so a topic or memory recall is much improved the next day. However if your not going to get to sleep anyway and you just need a little extra awakeness - it might possibly be useful. SWIM would recommend not taking large doses though - his experience has shown going over 200mg (especially in situations like having no sleep for three days) are counter-productive.