CPAP + Provigil

I used Provigil for about a year. It took a few days to get used to, but after that, if I lay down to sleep, I slept. During that time, my pressure was titrated up, so I started decreasing the Provigil, stopping it finally a couple of weeks ago. I think my lesson in this is to make certain that my pressure is correct first. Then try caffeine. Then talk to the doc about something else.

My doc gave me some provigil to try last time I saw him. I wanted to maximize my therapy and avoid the drug, so (with his nonchalant approval) I ordered up an Intellipap Auto. Since I've started on it, I have had many fewer "bad" nights. I still need to find the right chinstrap and am always looking for less leaks, but just changing the machine definetly seemed to help. Of course I need to keep getting better at the whole sleep hygiene thing, but I am pretty good with it.

I've only felt a strong need to use the provigil one night in the month I've had the Auto. I had "excessive daytime" to say the least. Half a Provigil didn't keep me from feeling like a slug, but I was able to stay awake, drive, and work (sorta, kinda work). I had previously tried a half one on an okay weekend day to make sure that I had wierd side effeccts. To be honest I didn't notice it all that much. Maybe next time I have a can't-keep-my-eyes-open day I'll try a whole one. Anyway, I would much rather gget what I need through the hose.

elg5cats wrote: .......Rooster, I'm impressed at your benefits of so little caffeine intake. I'm jealous. In the past I could drink one 12 oz can diet coke before lunch and no more than 1/2 of a can at lunch or risk insomnia. Currently, I am drinking 60-80 ounces diet coke daily, never less than 40 ounces. I can drink a can of diet coke, go to bed and sleep 8-10 hours, get up, have a diet coke and return to sleep 3 hours later. I'm becoming concerned about side effects of caffeine at my rate of intake....I'm not sure it's any less risky than prescription stimulants types of medication.

........elg5cats

You may be taking in too much caffeine, but I bet the longterm bad side effects are still less than prescription stimulants.

Based on my experience, I think you may need to "reset". Gradually taper off caffeine over a period of several weeks. Get it down to zero and hold it there for six months. Then see if a small amount will have a big positive impact with little unwanted side effects.

I hope you can borrow a fully data-capable machine for a couple of weeks. With the problems you are having, there is a concern that your CPAP therapy is not working properly due to incorrect pressure or mask leaks.

On the other hand, the rooster in me says get rid of those cats and life will be so much better.

kaydacat wrote:Has anyone had success with adding Provigil therapy to their CPAP therapy?

I was homicidal with sleepiness when I first started therapy. Doc put me on Provigil after I begged for some help. I COULD NOT TOLERATE THE RECOMMENDED DOSAGE! Meet Barbara on Crack.... She shakes, she stays up for days cleaning other people's houses (really!), she goes ballistic...

When I cut the pills in half, I was JUST FINE, thank you very much!

Doc gave me enough samples for three months (since I was cutting them in half). I inadvertently forgot to get more, and realized I was running out, and thought, what the heck, let's just go off them cold turkey and see what happens.

NO PROBLEM AT ALL. No withdrawal, no return of the daytime sleepiness.

Now, however, one thing did change - after 6 weeks and 8 masks, I finally found a mask that I could tolerate all night every night, so my therapy improved radically after that point.

There are several variables you have to work on. Provigil will not CURE you. But it's a decent help, and I had no side effects (once I cut the pills in half) and it was a good experience for me.

Best of luck!
Barbara