So if you read my mask post you will know that my Apnea is severe.
I was recently placed on Provigil. I am now up to 400mg. I find it generally ineffective and at $400 a month for this level of treatment way too expensive. I have very minimal insurance coverage. I would like to hear of others experiences with the alternatives,Ritalin, dexedrine and such. I am aware of the risks and side effects and have been reluctent to use them.
But I have reached the point where I need some level of functioning that is not constantly impaired by a crushing need to sleep. Jack
Provigil
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Wow Jack,
At $400 per month, It is a designer drug. What Provigil does is inhit the reuptake of Norepenepheren. NorEPI, is like adreline. How long have you been taking this drug? I have heard that it takes a couple of weeks to kick in.
There may be other drugs that work better on you. There is Wellbutrin that does the same as Provigil with NE, but it also inhibits Dopamine reuptake.
Don't give up, but always remember that Dexi drugs are a harsh ride.
Regards,
Ted
At $400 per month, It is a designer drug. What Provigil does is inhit the reuptake of Norepenepheren. NorEPI, is like adreline. How long have you been taking this drug? I have heard that it takes a couple of weeks to kick in.
There may be other drugs that work better on you. There is Wellbutrin that does the same as Provigil with NE, but it also inhibits Dopamine reuptake.
Don't give up, but always remember that Dexi drugs are a harsh ride.
Regards,
Ted
Provigil
Thanks Ted, my rescearch shows that Provigil is also a Dopamine agonist.
I have been taking it for 3 weeks now, gradually increasing the dose. I can't say that I am noticing any real effect. I may need more CNS stimulation. Provigil works on the hypothalmus, but not much else.
More later, About to give it the long haul drive test. 700 miles from Boise to SW Colorado. Jack
I have been taking it for 3 weeks now, gradually increasing the dose. I can't say that I am noticing any real effect. I may need more CNS stimulation. Provigil works on the hypothalmus, but not much else.
More later, About to give it the long haul drive test. 700 miles from Boise to SW Colorado. Jack
I have been on Provigil several years. It isexpensive. For me it helps. Make sure you are taking it on an empty stomach, and don't eat for an hour afterward. experiment with when you take it. For some of us it takes longer to kick in than others. I usually take mine about 4 am. Or at least I usually wake up to pee about then and take it. It helps me get up before noon. I used to take Cylert, before Provigil was approved. Unfortuneately, it can not be taken every day or it will stop working correctly for hypersomnia and it can cause liver impairments.
Exercise in the morning helps but can be hard to keep going. I hope you find a solution. And I hope Provigil hits the generic mark soon.
Exercise in the morning helps but can be hard to keep going. I hope you find a solution. And I hope Provigil hits the generic mark soon.
Hi,I also take alertec (modafinil) provigil.It's alertec in Canada.I've been taking it for two years now.Everyday 400 mg a day.Are you using your c-pap daily? Try different pill times. I've tried all 4 at once in the a.m. But tired by noon.Now i take two first thing in the a.m. and the other two before lunch.It gets me through the day. Good luck.
Prvigil 400 mg
Well we gave it the long haul drive test and it did work. However the damage to my pocket book is still unaceptable. Talked to my insurance(high risk in Colorado) and they won't provide for it. They will pay for Dexedrine or Ritalin. So nex trip to the sleep disorder clinic we discuss that with them. They don't want to pay for the mirapex for the RLS/PLM.
So without the Provigil and at 19cm am still dragging. Jack
So without the Provigil and at 19cm am still dragging. Jack
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Dani
Provigil 400 mg
Hi Jack,
One of Provigil's side effects is difficulty falling asleep or staying asleep, in case you didn't know. Is that counter productive or what? Some medications even cause daytime sleepiness. Anyway, after trying different medications to no avail, I took a different approach to my still being tired in the daytime after being on CPAP at night. I asked for a 2nd sleep test to determine if my pressure was set right the first time. The doctor felt that first test was surely accurate because it showed that everything was working like it should. To make things worse, my doctor said that some people just continue to be tired anyway. Still, I insisted on another test. Well, the second test revealed that not only was my pressure too low by 6 levels, but that I also had Periodic Limb Movement Disorder that caused my feet to move violently at night without my knowledge. These movements were waking me up all night long, and just like with my with my Sleep Apnea, I had no idea this was happening but suffered from lack of sleep the next day. So now I'm treating both and am feeling much better. Dani
One of Provigil's side effects is difficulty falling asleep or staying asleep, in case you didn't know. Is that counter productive or what? Some medications even cause daytime sleepiness. Anyway, after trying different medications to no avail, I took a different approach to my still being tired in the daytime after being on CPAP at night. I asked for a 2nd sleep test to determine if my pressure was set right the first time. The doctor felt that first test was surely accurate because it showed that everything was working like it should. To make things worse, my doctor said that some people just continue to be tired anyway. Still, I insisted on another test. Well, the second test revealed that not only was my pressure too low by 6 levels, but that I also had Periodic Limb Movement Disorder that caused my feet to move violently at night without my knowledge. These movements were waking me up all night long, and just like with my with my Sleep Apnea, I had no idea this was happening but suffered from lack of sleep the next day. So now I'm treating both and am feeling much better. Dani
Provigil
Dani, no difficulty falling asleep for me behind the Provigil. It took me over a year to get them to treat me for the restless leg syndrome/ periodic leg movement. That I had it was very clear from my first study.Treatment for it has been a noticable help. I am picking up a pulse oxymeter today for an at home overnight. That will be at 19cm with a nasal mask. At 17.5 I was still having nearly 24 desats over 3 minutes and more than 60 under 3 in one night. That was without treatment for the RLS/PLM. should be interesting to see what this does. With out CPAP I was at over 400 events a night on the average. Jack
update
Much better results at 19cm on the overnight. No desats over 3 min! no desats under 90%. 25 total events for the night. Event meaning a 4% drop or greater in O2 levels. Doc says, probably central rather than obstructive apneas at this pressure.
Adderall now for the still exsisting extreme daytime sleepiness. Looking for the right dosage still. Lots of misinformation from the insurance co as to coverage for meds. Three different agents three different answers, mostly wrong. First one told me 7.5 mg tablets only ones covered and did not mention need for preapproval, which takes days to get. Had to check five pharmacies to find that odd dosage and then pay out of pocket. At this point in time one and a half of these, 11.25 mg is not enough to keep my eyes wide open. I took that at 7:00 this morning and and it is 10:30 AM now. Doc says I may go up to 15mg. However my rescearch suggests this won't get me through the day. Jack
Adderall now for the still exsisting extreme daytime sleepiness. Looking for the right dosage still. Lots of misinformation from the insurance co as to coverage for meds. Three different agents three different answers, mostly wrong. First one told me 7.5 mg tablets only ones covered and did not mention need for preapproval, which takes days to get. Had to check five pharmacies to find that odd dosage and then pay out of pocket. At this point in time one and a half of these, 11.25 mg is not enough to keep my eyes wide open. I took that at 7:00 this morning and and it is 10:30 AM now. Doc says I may go up to 15mg. However my rescearch suggests this won't get me through the day. Jack
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Guest
Provigil and Diagnosis of Fatigue
While I have OSA and use my Respironics Remstar Plus C-Flex every night, I have Multiple Sclerosis and suffer from fatigue during the day. 200mg-400mg of Provigil works great for me. I have been taking it over two yeats. The big this is a proper diagnosis. Provigil, not being an amphetamine, will allow you to sleep if you make the conditions right. And, Provigil may not combat your excessive daytime sleepiness if you are sitting still and quiet. You will have to meet the drug half-way to wake up.
Provigil has been a HUGE help for me. And, unlike dangerous drugs like amphetamines, I can stop taking Provigil without experiencing any ill effects. Also, it does not alter moods or personality.
Provigil has been a HUGE help for me. And, unlike dangerous drugs like amphetamines, I can stop taking Provigil without experiencing any ill effects. Also, it does not alter moods or personality.
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GI Joe
Provigil , Wellbutrin
I started taking Wellbutrin XL a few months ago. Before I started taking Wellbutrin, I would feel very sleepy in the late afternoon, even after a night's sleep using my CPAP; the sleepiness much worse when I don't use it. Needless to say, this was something I didn't need while at work (or anywhere.)
During a routine physicial, I told my physician about my problem of sleepiness - I was already thinking he would put me on Provigil. Instead, my MD gave me a very short questionnaire (10 questions) which, of course, I answered honestly. After reviewing my answers and somewhat doing quick calculation, he said it appears that my norepinephrine levels were relatively low, and he suggested I try Wellbutrin XL. I started on 150mg x 1 week, then up to 300mg. I responded well and experience no adverse side effects.
Now, I stay awake and alert throughout the day until the evening, except when I don't get enough hours of sleep (5 hours or less). / Joe
During a routine physicial, I told my physician about my problem of sleepiness - I was already thinking he would put me on Provigil. Instead, my MD gave me a very short questionnaire (10 questions) which, of course, I answered honestly. After reviewing my answers and somewhat doing quick calculation, he said it appears that my norepinephrine levels were relatively low, and he suggested I try Wellbutrin XL. I started on 150mg x 1 week, then up to 300mg. I responded well and experience no adverse side effects.
Now, I stay awake and alert throughout the day until the evening, except when I don't get enough hours of sleep (5 hours or less). / Joe
Titrator wrote:Wow Jack,
At $400 per month, It is a designer drug. What Provigil does is inhit the reuptake of Norepenepheren. NorEPI, is like adreline. How long have you been taking this drug? I have heard that it takes a couple of weeks to kick in.
There may be other drugs that work better on you. There is Wellbutrin that does the same as Provigil with NE, but it also inhibits Dopamine reuptake.
Don't give up, but always remember that Dexi drugs are a harsh ride.
Regards,
Ted
11 posts
• Page 1 of 1