I think I wrote about it before, but a cursory google search didn't turn anything up, and now there's another article...

I'm talking about Provigil, the FDA-approved pill that lets people stay awake for 40 hours straight, with no side effects (except mild nausea in a small percentage). As the LA Times reports, Provigil has been tested on swing-shift workers, military helecoptor pilots, and others extensively and is extraordinarily effective at obviating the need for sleep.

It's not a stimulant, it doesn't give you a rush, or make you hyper, or have a corresponding 'low'. It just maintains a normal wakeful state without lethargy or decrease in attention span.

There are days when I'm feeling creative, getting into the creative swing at 2am, and wow I wish I could just take one of these and be fine all night and the next day at work. Not every day, not every week, but once in a while it can make all the difference when time seems in such short supply.