Stimulants to provoke Alertness, wakefulness ???

snamvar · Post by **snamvar** » Fri Jun 17, 2005 5:50 pm

What other stimulamts are out there to promote mental awakeness/alertness? I know that Provigil is the one for more severe cases (like Apnea, Narcolepsy, DSPS). On a DSPS board, folks have suggested things like exercising in the mornings, Caffeine (coffee, caffinated drinks, Caffeine pills, Chocolate).
I went to the whole foods store this morning and saw that there are many supplements for mental alertness (Ginseng pills ..). Has anyone tried any?
Cheers.

rock and roll · Post by **rock and roll** » Fri Jun 17, 2005 8:20 pm

Other than proper rest these are all very tough on the system. They make your heart race and stress your body. NOW, I am a caffeine person as I drive so much but I know it's not good in access.

neversleeps · Post by **neversleeps** » Fri Jun 17, 2005 9:24 pm

Yes, r&r is right. Supplements can be pretty potent and tough on your system. They're still not regulated by the FDA so they can mix together some pretty powerful and funky combinations. Beware!

Also, you start taking the stimulants to stay awake, then you start taking the sleeping pills to get to sleep.... pretty soon you're Elvis Presley!

snamvar · Post by **snamvar** » Sat Jun 18, 2005 11:56 am

I do hear you guys. I do't like pills, drugs, supplements to that extent. You pretty soon become a junky. But with my DSPS condition, I do need some help for the job interviews I have as a computer programmer at 8 am. Just knowing about something that works would put my mind at ease and reduce my anxiety.
I did take 200 mg of Provigil yesterday and it did make me feel more alert. I also slept very well last night But taking a shower in the morning has been the best safe wake up stimulant for more.

ahujudybear · Post by **ahujudybear** » Sat Jun 18, 2005 12:14 pm

If you are taking Provigil, be very cautious about how you discontinue it's use. You cannnot stop cold turkey, especially if you have any sort of brain damage - whether from anaccident or from a disease (like polio). it can cause terrible depression.

It seems to be perfectly safe for all other applications though.

- JB

snamvar · Post by **snamvar** » Sat Jun 18, 2005 12:32 pm

Hi ahujudybear,
Are you saying that one should not take Provigil on an as-needed basis? I don not have any brain damage (as far as I know), but I do suffer from depression and insomnia.

ahujudybear · Post by **ahujudybear** » Sat Jun 18, 2005 12:57 pm

Those (yours) are two of the maladies for which Provigil was designed.

I think the problem comes after you have enough of the stuff in your system, and then try to stop (like after a week or two?)

But as far as I know this problem has only come up with polio survivors for whom it has been prescribed for daytime fatigue. In fact, it's not even in the literature yet. Dr. Bruno is trying to get the gov't to change the cautions and recommendations that go with the description of the drug to include a warning not to prescribe this for polio survivors.

It's like aspirin. It is perfectly safe, when used as directed. But you wouldn't want to use it for the pain from an open bleeding wound or a bad bruise. (It's a blood thinnner and could cause the bleeding/bruising to get worse.)

- JB

luckylinda · Post by **luckylinda** » Sat Jun 18, 2005 3:59 pm

Are you a polio survivor? You have mentioned the negative effects of Provigil for this population and I am just being curious.

My mother had polio when I was 2 1/2. After Mom was hospitalized I was given a gamma gobelin shot, that is what I was told as an adult. I also started running a fever and was vomiting. The doctor thought I might have had a slight case.

Does this preclude me from taking Provigil?

ahujudybear · Post by **ahujudybear** » Sat Jun 18, 2005 5:05 pm

Yes, I am a polio survivor and am always on the lookout for iothers who may not know that they are or its complications.

Are you a polio survivor? That depends.

You may have had a slight case of polio. Are you having any of the symptoms I listed in the "Other Ailments" thread?
viewtopic.php?t=3092 (Please PM me to continue this discussion.)

I am not a doctor, so I couldn't say for sure, but if I were you (and let me say that I hate Rx's) I would err on the safe side and stay away from the stuff. Depression is nothing to fool around with.

- JB

( and I think it's called gammaglobulin. I was given it too in the Isolation Hospital.)