Adderall Anyone?

whatrdreamsmadeof · Post by **whatrdreamsmadeof** » Sat Feb 10, 2007 4:05 pm

My Dr. suggested Adderall, after I refused to pay for the Provigi that would break the bank. I was wondering if anyone has had experience with or is taking Adderall to help with the lack of engery during the day...Thanks, Ellen

Lyza · Post by **Lyza** » Sat Feb 10, 2007 4:35 pm

I have a coworker who is narcoleptic that takes adderall instead of provigil and it works for her, although she said it isn't as good as the provigil. Provigil will be covered by insurance if you have it. All they need is proof of your sleep study/OSA diagnosis.

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Sat Feb 10, 2007 4:40 pm

Thanks Lyza, My insurance co-pay even with my sleep study is off the charts. I appreciate your reply, and it looks as if I will be trying the Adderall. Thanks again, Ellen

tohegal · Post by **tohegal** » Sat Feb 10, 2007 4:44 pm

My co-pay for Provigil is 35/month. That is the highest co-pay out of all of our meds. It has changed my life though....I feel alive again.

I'm thinking that they will come out with a generic Provigil soon.....

I hope the Adderall works for you.

Do you have Narcolepsy and OSA?

kteague · Post by **kteague** » Sat Feb 10, 2007 6:10 pm

I have taken Provigil and Concerta. Neither could override the sleepiness when I was at my worst, but both helped when used in conjunction with improving sleep. Concerta helped to straighten my jumbled thought processes, but like Provigil, it was cost prohibitive. Sorry, haven't used Adderall.
Kathy

leaveye · Post by **leaveye** » Sat Feb 10, 2007 6:10 pm

Just a word of caution: If you work in an environment where random drug tests are performed, make sure and tell you friendly HR rep that you're taking the drug. It shows up as amphetamine (it IS amphetamine). I had to learn the hard way that people get really suspicious at first, but then tend to mellow out once they agree to pay your legal fees for having to hire a lawyer to keep your job.

preemiern · Post by **preemiern** » Sat Feb 10, 2007 8:32 pm

I have a question--and I'm not trying to start up any issues--I'm just concerned about the number of people here who talk about taking adderall, provigil, etc...
If you are on xPAP therapy, but you are still sleepy enough inthe daytime to need an amphetamine--is the problem that the xPAP is not working to it's full benefit? It just seems so extreme to take an amphetamine drug in the daytime to stay awake, and what are the side effects/risks of taking the medication? What is the addictive potential?
I just wonder if more people would be better served by an autopap machine rather than a drug with such harmful potential?
Please don't flame me for asking these questions...as a nurse, I just want to know why so many are needing these meds?
Cindy

kteague · Post by **kteague** » Sat Feb 10, 2007 9:20 pm

Cindy, I am so in agreeance with you. The need for wakeup meds is likely a symptom of ineffective sleep disorder treatment, and it seems to me it is still high risk behavior to mask sleep deprivation symptoms (warnings) with stimulants. Ideally, therapeutic treatment of sleep disorders over time would reduce or eliminate need for wake-up meds. If not, maybe one should be finding out why the meds are still needed. This leaves many in a predicament. In the interim, life must go on, jobs must be done. And a number of people have not and are not going to be fully successful in getting good sleep. And then there are those for whom stimulants ARE the treatment for their disorder.

Unfortunately it is faster, easier and cheaper to take wakeup meds instead of persisting in diagnostics and trying different treatments. That's why I mentioned their use being in conjunction with treating the root issue of sleep. Also unfortunately, this path can restore just enough functionality to give a false sense of success while the body continues to succumb to the effects of sleep deprivation.

I hear your concerns and echo them. That said, I still take occasional Provigil if driving more than a few minutes stretch.

If you're gonna get flamed, I'm going down with you, Friend.

Kathy

Lyza · Post by **Lyza** » Sat Feb 10, 2007 9:47 pm

Well my Dr. prescribed the provigil because I was still having excessive daytime sleepiness and i'm 100% compliant with my cpap therapy. We then discussed upgrading my machine to one that gives data so I could better monitor myself and if need be change pressures and guess what? Insurance denied it because I didn't medically qualify for it. So your damned if you do, damned if you don't. Ya know I have quite an important job in the medical field turning out labwork results on patients that reflect THEIR treatment for their diseases, etc so I can't exactly be falling asleep on the job or impaired either.. SO you either pop the pills till you can afford to pay for the machine out of pocket or risk killing someone from an error at my job because i'm sleepy or falling asleep at the microscope?

No I don't like paying for and taking more pills then I have to but what other choices are there?

whatrdreamsmadeof · Post by **whatrdreamsmadeof** » Sun Feb 11, 2007 3:25 pm

Thanks to all who shared their thoughts. No flames to fan here as meds. are a last resort. I've been 100 percent compliant, paid out of pocket for an auto machine after countless fights with the DME, Neuro, and Sleep Specialist. I have low ahi, and the rls is under control with the auto treatment. I've had 2 sleep studies that came out almost exact. I've bought a great new bed, use sound therapy, have finally after 15 masks found the one for me. So as you can see.......I'm out of options at this point......So again I thank you all and welcome all suggestions and input.......Ellen:roll:

kteague · Post by **kteague** » Mon Feb 12, 2007 6:33 am

Sometimes we just do what we've gotta do. Certainly didn't want to sound critical of those who have no choice but resort to meds. Just saying meds shouldn't be the end-all unless unless efforts have been made to end all causes of the symptoms. This sleep stuff is a tough contender, and we don't always come up on the winning side. Then it's about survival.
Kathy

KeziasPurr · Post by **KeziasPurr** » Mon Feb 12, 2007 9:02 am

I started taking Adderall XR a few years ago for adult ADD. It really did nothing for my energy level; it just made me more mentally alert. I still felt physically tired. After a couple years of constant fatigue I started taking Provigil (b/c I have OSA, my insurance covers it except for the copay.). The provigil does help me stay physically awake if I think positive and allow it to work. But there have been times where I've taken both and laid down for a nap an hour later and slept fine.

So much of the alertness is mental, in my case. If I feel motivated, then I feel more alert. If I get tired at my desk, I'll take a walk around the building and I feel better. If I'm bored, I just want to sleep.

This may not be helpful to you, but it's something worth thinking about.

Lisa

Adderall Anyone?

Adderall Anyone?

adderall

Wake-up Meds

just wondering

Why still a need for meds?

thanks

Tried it all

Machine	Mask