Provigil - What's your experience?

[roster]

The sleep doc will do another titration. She mentioned if they have the pressure right and my fatigue/sleepiness/mental fog continues, she may prescribe Provigil.

In general, I try to avoid taking pharmaceuticals and I know little about Provigil.

What is your experience with Provigil?

[Guest]

POSITIVE! A) it helped, B) I had NO PROBLEMS with withdrawal when I quit it.

In fact, I'd love some right now... I've been so beat up the last few weeks. I'm so exhausted. I think it's related to my arm pain keeping me up at night.

My experience was that I could only tolerate half a tablet. I took the full tablet ONCE. I was up until 10 pm frantically scrubbing a friend's house.... I felt "methed up" all day, was jittery, was just crazy frantic. Next day I cut the tab in two and was fine.

I also experimented with skipping days, and had no withdrawal or undue tiredness. When I ran out, I just quit, and NO PROBLEMS AT ALL.

Socknitster tells me it is JUST an antihistimine, and I take lots of those, so I have had no worries about it.

It was a life saver when I started therapy. Remember my rants about CPAP being a scam? Provigil got me over the hump and to the 100% compliant point.

It helped me keep my job. I would have been fired if I'd continued on the way I was.

So, that's my experience. I took it from May to July, and then quit cold turkey and except for the recent tiredness, have been fine. Maybe I'll whine for some more...

Cheers,
Barbara

[Mrs Rip Van Winkle]

I have been on CPAP close to 4 years and am still in a fog...a Zombie. I have been re titrated 3 times and everything is fine with my AHI %. The last study includes the MSLT which I highly suggest to anyone that is 100% compliant with CPAP and has given it plenty of time to pay the sleep debt. Come to find out I have a 2nd sleep disorder causing my fatigue.

I was on 200mg of Provigil for 2 months...I wanted to give it enough time to see if it would truely be my answer. It was not. I stopped it and felt better than the prior 2 months. For me the cure was worse than the cause. I contribute some of the problems I had with it to other medical issues I have. I have nerve damage from herniated discs and RLS...the jittery feeling from the Provigil only added to the problem. Also, it made me alert but I was still fatigued. If I wanted to take a nap becuase my body was telling me to, my mind would not allow it which would leave me with a sleep deprived feeling even though I had a 10 hour full sleep the night before. The other reason I stopped is that I am a mild bipolarII. It seemed while on the Provigil I was having more mood swings.

I am not into taking meds either. Try it though...many people swear by it. As Barbara said...she loved it and it helped her. Like her, I had no noticeable problems just stopping it. Beware though...some insurance does not cover it and full price for a 30 day script 200mg runs around $400.00. Ask the Dr for 6 weeks of samples so you can see if it works for you.

[hzjpmp]

I have been on it over a year, but my doctor is using it as a treatment for my ADD. It has worked wonders with my ability to focus. It also gives me an energy boost. It is not labeled as a treatment for ADD but my insurance company paid for it (fortunately) because it is quite expensive.

[Catnapper]

I tried it - took half a tablet for a few days, with no real improvement. Then it started making me dizzy. Stopped taking it. No interest in trying it again after being dizzy from it. That may go away, who knows? I could not tolerate waiting for it to go away.

[Wulfman...]

Do a forum search on it.....it's been discussed at some length.

Den

[kteague]

Yes, it helped me be alert enough to drive to appointments, etc. Didn't take it consistently. I slept a little less during the day, but still napped when taking it.

Yes, it helped me sort my thoughts out some. But 30 days on Concerta made me feel smart again.

Didn't bother me at night. One night I mistakenly took 2 of Provigil instead of another med. Went to bed and slept better than usual.

Sometimes made me feel shaky.

Wasn't impressed enough to try to keep getting it, although I wish I still had a few for specific occassions. Won't take the place of sleep, but helped get thru a rough time. At the time I was so depleted nothing was going to really help me but sleep, so I may not be giving it a fair shake. I was like Mrs. Rip Van Winkle - the leg movements were a major player in my sleepiness. Provigil has it's place, just not as a sleep substitute or to be used in lieu of correct diagnosis of root cause of the need.

Kathy

[GertbeatFroeb]

For me it's been great! It's the only stimulant that doesn't have cardiac ramifications. It helps me beyond belief and I truly love it. Nasa uses it as well as pilots in the U.S. military. It took months for my insurance company to cover it as it has many off label uses such as weight loss. Like all other meds. Some people just don't tolerate it. For me though it has be a godsend. You can get a free 7 day trial on http://www.provigil.com. Print the coupon and have your doctor write a script and you'll be all set.

[Snoredog]

How old are you?

With avg. life span now 77.2 years, how many years are you going to take that drug?

I'd look for the root cause of the problem and address that where you don't need the drugs.

[RosemaryB]

[quote="rooster"]The sleep doc will do another titration. She mentioned if they have the pressure right and my fatigue/sleepiness/mental fog continues, she may prescribe Provigil.

In general, I try to avoid taking pharmaceuticals and I know little about Provigil.

What is your experience with Provigil?

[lvwildcat]

I was on Provigil for a short time. I used it only when I was scheduled to work 12 hour shifts;had no problems with withdrawal symptoms when I stopped taking it. It did make me feel jittery enough that I nicknamed it "legal speed"

[Cliff]

I take it daily. Doctory prescribed 400mg a day, but I find I do better with 200mg. Sometimes I try going without it on days off, but end up napping most the afternoon.

I am 100% compliant with cpap, but my weight is still high (although dropping). I look forward to seeing if I still need it after another 20lbs are gone, as I think my weight makes me tired now.

Cliff

[GertbeatFroeb]

I'm 46 and I take it to deal with my inability to sleep. Yes I have moderate apnea but I also have a severe case of insomnia with no known cause other than heredity.

I've done everything possible including hygeine, every sleep medication known to man, melatonin, tryptofan (spelling) etc., etc. I don't use ANY Caffeine, eat after 6pm, watch TV nothing!

I've been to 11 sleep specialist's throughout the U.S. as well as trying hypnosis. I also tried the essential oils which had no effect. I have no stress other than not sleeping. I'm a former proffesional athlete (baseball). And I'm in very good shape.

There are no answers for my insomnia other than heredity. My father doesn't sleep, my younger sister doesn't sleep, and my Grandmother didn't sleep.

The only sleep that I'll be able to count on is when the funeral director seals my coffin. Now you know why I use Provigil ! Some things cannot be explained nor can they be fixed. So "snoredog" if you have any answers I'd love to hear what you have to say as the Mayo Clinic didn't know so maybe you do.

[roster]

GertbeatFroeb,

Very sorry about your condition.

From what I have read from others, I think I want to stay away from Provigil.

How does Provigil affect you? How long have you been taking it?

Rooster

[GertbeatFroeb]

No bad effect at all!