Provigil .... anyone?

[Arizona-Willie]

Saw my sleep doc this morning and told him that I still fall asleep but not as bad as before CPAP.

They downloaded the info from my Resmed S8 card and thought it all looked pretty good.

He gave me some samples of Provigil to see if that would help with the daytime falling asleep.

Looking on the net it looks mildly scary with possible side effects and / or drug interactions.

Has anyone used Provigil?

How was your experience with it?

[JeffH]

I don't take it, but saw an article on the internets that some people are taking it as a "smart" drug.

[Guest]

I took it last year. I was having a very hard time adjusting to cpap therapy when I started on 04/20/08. After about two weeks of insane daytime sleepiness, missing work, blurry vision, inability to see or walk straight consistently, constant crying, and wanting TO KILL EVERY SINGLE HUMAN ON THE PLANET, I begged the doc for SOMETHING.

She gave me Provigil and told me to take it first thing in the AM. First day, I was so wired up, I shook all day like a meth addict, ran around crazy doing EVERY SINGLE THING IN THE OFFICE THAT NEEDED DOING, and finished out the day by cleaning an elderly friend's house until 10 pm that night. It was a bit much.

I backed down to 1/2 a tab a day, and it worked JUST FINE. Got me to "normal" so I could function and keep my job.

I took it until August 2007, when I didn't notice I was running out and suddenly had to go off cold turkey.

Not one side effect of quitting cold turkey. YMMV.

I can only encourage you to use it based on my personal experience. YMMV.

I DO NOT think anyone needs to take this long-term. It's a short-term crutch. YMMV.

I was also told it's "just an antihistime," which made me think it was pretty safe. YMMV.

Did I mention Your Mileage May Vary?

Good luck!
Babette

[Robbie]

I've been taking Provigil for just over a year now. Prior to that I have taken Ritalin, Adderall, or Ritalin LA for adult ADHD. After the sleep study, my doc swiched me over to Provigil as it is sometimes prescribed off-label for ADHD as well as for it's intended purpose(s).

First off, with any medication of this kind, there will be a number of different experiences. Mine have basically been good. My CPAP numbers were good, but I i still had a problem with daytime sleepiness. Provigil in my case does a nice job of helping me deal with that. I take mine right after lunch and I don't spend the hours between 12:30 and 4 trying to not fall asleep or walking around in a serious mental haze. I have absolutely no problem falling asleep at night.

Not sure what it's classified as - I see it basically as a stimulant, I take 200mg a day and find it gentler than Ritalin. I don't fall back in a rebound type mental fog when it wears off.

It makes some, myself included - a more attentive. I haven't experienced any real side effects. If you're prone to anxiety or anything like that, you may want to be careful with it. I'm guessing your doc has already decided you don't have high bllod pressure or any cardiovascular things going on. The only real downside I've experienced with it is that it loses it's effectiveness with me over time and I need to get off of it for a bit. The other major downside applies if you don't have health insurance with a prescritpion drug plan. It's expensive stuff - there is no generic right now.

Some people demonize the drug. I find it life changing.

[lvwildcat]

I took it for about 6 weeks. I refer to Provigil as "Legal Speed". I've read that other people don't get any effect from it at all. I'm just very sensitive to meds.

[IndyJudy]

I have been taking Provigil for two weeks. I was having a terrible time waking up and GETTING to work. I went to the doctor and basically begged for the medication, based on messages I had read on this forum. I was missing work and wasn't a good employee and needed to show up and perform. Based on recommendations in posts, I only take half of a 200 mg. pill. (Thank You Babette!) This has been "job saving" for me. I have even exercised a few times! So far, I haven't taken it on the weekends when I don’t work.

With insurance, I pay $60 for qty. 30, 200 mg. tablets. It isn’t on the “formulary list”. Since I split them, this script will last 2 months. My doctor gave me 2 refills. There is a coupon on provigil.com for a free 7-day supply. I didn’t have it when I got my script filled, but will try and use it on the refill.

I have no rebound, no side effects, no racing heart, and can sleep at night. In fact, around 3-4 in the afternoon, I start yawning. I have severe acid reflux and don’t have stomach problems with this medication.

I have had a positive experience with Provigil and believe it has saved my job. AND gotten me up and moving!

[dllfo]

I have been on it for over a year with no side effects. It does help me stay awake, but I also don't take it every day. I take it the days I get up early.

To my knowledge, it has not made me hyper or changed anything other than making me function better.

Good luck with it.

[Arizona-Willie]

Thanks to all for their responses.

My doctor gave me some 200 mg samples and yesterday ( Saturday ) I split one in half and took one half with breakfast. By noon I was feeling sleepy so I took the other half.

Seemed to get through the day ok ... didn't get hyper or anything. No symptoms at all really. At times my eyes did feel like I was sleepy but otherwise I wasn't.

But the 100 mg doses seem to wear off in 4 or 5 hours. I'm leery of taking a whole pill. Don't want to get hyper or anything. And right now I'm by myself ... girlfriend should be home from her mothers this afternoon though. Leery of taking a 200 mg when I'm alone.

But last night I seemed to toss and turn all night. Haven't checked my numbers from the S8 yet so dunno what I will see there or on my PO data.
But it feels like a bad bad night. Don't know if it was an aftereffect of the pills or just one of those things.

But, if last night was just one of those nights, and not related to the Provigil then I think I will like it well enough. But if I'm taking 100 mg doses it's gonna take a lot of pills because I'm up about 16 hours a day. Up at 6 AM and don't get to bed till 11 or a bit after. Looks like it will take 2 pills a day.

I don't know if a 200 mg dose would last longer or just have a stronger affect on me. Or both.

But at least I didnt' go running down the street naked ... yet.