No-go pill
In the U.S. military and other uses, a no-go pill refers to a hypnotic medication taken to ensure adequate rest in preparation for upcoming tasks or for rest and recovery. As of November 2012, medications approved as no-go pills by the U.S. Air Force for Special Operations[1] include:
Go pill
In contrast to the sleeping agents, a go pill refers to a wakefulness-promoting agent used for fatigue management, especially in a military combat-readiness context; this is contrasted with a no-go pill, which is used to promote sleep in support of combat operations. A go pill generally contains one of the following drugs:
- Amphetamine (methamphetamine having been used historically, such as during the Second World War), which is a strong psychostimulant drug; no longer approved officially for use by the U.S. Air Force,[2] possibly due to safety concerns brought up in the wake of incidents like the Tarnak Farm incident.
- Modafinil, a wakefulness-promoting drug (or eugeroic)
The U.S. Air Force uses dextroamphetamine as one of its "go pills", given to pilots on long missions to help them remain focused and alert. Conversely, "no-go pills" are used after the mission is completed, to combat the effects of the mission and "go-pills".[3][4][5][6]
References
- Air Force Special Operations Command Instruction 48-101 Archived June 11, 2014, at the Wayback Machine, U.S. Air Force Special Operations Command, November 30, 2012.
- Air Force Special Operations Command Instruction 48–101 Archived June 11, 2014, at the Wayback Machine (sects. 1.7.4), U.S. Air Force Special Operations Command, November 30, 2012.
- "'Go pills': A war on drugs? – US news – Only – January 2003: BRIDGING THE GULF". NBC News. 9 January 2003. Retrieved 5 January 2017.
- This story was written by Tech. Sgt. J.C. Woodring. "Air Force scientists battle aviator fatigue". Archived from the original on 14 October 2012. Retrieved 5 January 2017.CS1 maint: BOT: original-url status unknown (link)
- Emonson DL, Vanderbeek RD (1995). "The use of amphetamines in U.S. Air Force tactical operations during Desert Shield and Storm". Aviation, Space, and Environmental Medicine. 66 (3): 260–3. PMID 7661838.
- ‘Go pills’: A war on drugs?, NBC News, 9 January 2003