Provigil, short for "promotes vigilance," was approved by the FDA in 1998 for the treatment of narcolepsy, a condition in which people fall asleep uncontrollably. 

Provigil apparently has the ability to keep people awake and alert for hours, or even days without the side effects — the buzz and jitteriness, or the risk of addiction — of coffee or amphetamines.  

It is an interesting example of how individuals and companies might leverage early neurotechnology for their competitive advantage.