New drug to lessen the stress of waiting

Since time immemorial people have complained of being kept waiting – the literary theorist and philosopher Roland Barthes said waiting produces a turmoil of anxiety. Nothing else that is so completely mundane can cause so much anguish and despair whether it be waiting for someone to turn up, for the traffic to start moving, the telephone to ring, or for a delayed train. Now a solution seems to be close: if not a cure, then a drug that will reduce the 'symptoms' of waiting. The developers of the drug, Scrips Inc., claim that it can be taken at any time without impairing the performance of any routine activity. "In fact it may improve it." claims Dr Laszlo Szalasi "We have used a dual action compound. Whilst the person is inactive the drug produces an effect which calms neural activity. However when the person who has ingested the drug exerts themselves they will experience a mild stimulation rather like that produced by caffeine or an energy drink. But the main constituent of the drug has the effect of causing what we have called suspended mental animation. This will make any period of inactivity, for instance whilst waiting, much more pleasant and relaxing." Nonetheless, Scrips say approval from the drug regulatory authorities is still some way off.