Modafinil: the last resort?

Suicide is not and should not be a verboten topic here.

Sleep-disordered breathing has driven people to suicide.

https://www.google.com/webhp?sourceid=c ... ep%20apnea

DeadlySleep wrote:

Suicide is not and should not be a verboten topic here.

Sleep-disordered breathing has driven people to suicide.

https://www.google.com/webhp?sourceid=c ... ep%20apnea

Very interesting.

Noctuary wrote:

DeadlySleep wrote:

Suicide is not and should not be a verboten topic here.

Sleep-disordered breathing has driven people to suicide.

https://www.google.com/webhp?sourceid=c ... ep%20apnea

Very interesting. I tried Modafinil and it didn't do anything. My AHIs are under 1 almost everyday, no leaks. But I still wake up feeling really tired. Now I don't even have a job; I couldn't handle 9 hr days seven days a week. It was hard enough dragging myself through a normal day.

I am so sorry about your job loss Noctuary.

49er

Noctuary wrote:

DeadlySleep wrote:

Suicide is not and should not be a verboten topic here.

Sleep-disordered breathing has driven people to suicide.

https://www.google.com/webhp?sourceid=c ... ep%20apnea

Very interesting. I tried Modafinil and it didn't do anything. My AHIs are under 1 almost everyday, no leaks. But I still wake up feeling really tired. Now I don't even have a job; I couldn't handle 9 hr days seven days a week. It was hard enough dragging myself through a normal day.

Job loss can be very difficult but you can get through this. Do you still have insurance?
Try to find a doctor that specializes in "fatigue" unrelated to OSA. You may have more than one diagnosis.
Consider getting checked out for PLMD/RLS and have your vitamin levels checked.
Does your insurance cover "Nuvigil"? Nuvigil is sometimes effective when Modafinil is not.
Also, ask your doctor about medications for fatigue other than Nuvigil and Provigil and whether they might help you.

Sonnyboy wrote:

Noctuary wrote:

DeadlySleep wrote:

Suicide is not and should not be a verboten topic here.

Sleep-disordered breathing has driven people to suicide.

https://www.google.com/webhp?sourceid=c ... ep%20apnea

Very interesting. I tried Modafinil and it didn't do anything. My AHIs are under 1 almost everyday, no leaks. But I still wake up feeling really tired. Now I don't even have a job; I couldn't handle 9 hr days seven days a week. It was hard enough dragging myself through a normal day.

Job loss can be very difficult but you can get through this. Do you still have insurance?
Try to find a doctor that specializes in "fatigue" unrelated to OSA. You may have more than one diagnosis.
Consider getting checked out for PLMD/RLS and have your vitamin levels checked.
Does your insurance cover "Nuvigil"? Nuvigil is sometimes effective when Modafinil is not.
Also, ask your doctor about medications for fatigue other than Nuvigil and Provigil and whether they might help you.

I don't have insurance anymore. I've had blood work for vitamin D, testosterone, and thyroid. My D levels were at 22, but I take a supplement; so far it hasn't made a difference. I have been to two doctors and two psychs. All wanted to give me "anti-depressants"; yes I'm depressed but that's because I wake up feeling really tired everyday. If I was rich then it probably wouldn't bother me. But having to work and do the normal things to maintain existence become crushing burdens when you are fatigued. Its all coming apart now; apnea has beaten me.

Have any of your doctors suggested Wellbutrin?
Wellbutrin is an antidepressant that can increase the energy level for some people.
Worth a try if your doctors are in agreement.

I know I bitch a lot, but my damn mood can change drastically when I don't sleep enough or well. These days there are a lot more bad days than good. However, the CPAP works. As miserable as I am now, I'm far better than those three months before CPAP. I had black circles under my eyes, one of them going down about an inch. I was absolutely miserable. Now I'm just miserable. I have no problem with using a cpap or a good med, if I could find one.

Noctuary wrote:I know I bitch a lot, but my damn mood can change drastically when I don't sleep enough or well. These days there are a lot more bad days than good. However, the CPAP works. As miserable as I am now, I'm far better than those three months before CPAP. I had black circles under my eyes, one of them going down about an inch. I was absolutely miserable. Now I'm just miserable. I have no problem with using a cpap or a good med, if I could find one.

Cpap works for sure! Finally you are getting a bit positive again.

Something else is going on too though and this needs to be addressed, whatever it is.

You have identified you do not want to have a sleep test at a sleep center which eliminates your being tested for PLMD, however, you can still practice some of the helpful suggestions by PLMD/RLS experts. Check out:

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3480566/

and see if any of these behavior suggestions might apply to you.

Also please note that Wellbutrin AKA Bupropion is an antidepressant that has not been shown harmful to patients with RLS/PLMD. Maybe this could improve your "damn mood" that can change drastically when you don't sleep enough or well. Look it up.

Just a thought. Talk to your doctors.

Yeah, sleep docs and some psychiatrists will use modafinil to treat residual sleepiness in CPAP patients. Providing your pressure is high enough and titrated properly, your AHI is low enough (under 5, preferably under 4) and your mask type is correct, yeah they sometimes will put you on a stimulant. Thats all modafinil is, a new stimulant. Its not supposed to be as addictive as traditional amphetamines.

If you believe your CPAP therapy is what it should be and you are truly compliant with it, I'd say go with it. Taking modafinil to treat residual sleepiness is better than crashing your car because you are sleepy during the day. Your work productivity will probably be higher as well.

Cpap works for sure! Finally you are getting a bit positive again.

There's no positivity here; no reason for it. I still wake up feeling wiped out, no matter what I do.

Noctuary wrote:

Cpap works for sure! Finally you are getting a bit positive again.

There's no positivity here; no reason for it. I still wake up feeling wiped out, no matter what I do.

Hi Noctuary,

Forgive me if this has been mentioned previously but were you tested for diabetes?

49er

Shore Snorer wrote:

"There's one remaining possibility I haven't ruled out. Maybe my feelings of fatigue have nothing to do with sleep."

I agree.

Have you and your doc considered daytime breathing disorder - aka Hyperventilation Syndrome?

You (and your doc) appear to have excluded everything else.

If you can't get referred to a respiratory therapist with the appropriate experience, might I suggest:

Self-Help for Hyperventilation Syndrome by Dinah Bradley. From Amazon, etc.

It won't cost more than the book price to give it a try. And it is drug free.

Noctuary wrote:

Sonnyboy wrote:

Noctuary wrote:

DeadlySleep wrote:

Suicide is not and should not be a verboten topic here.

Sleep-disordered breathing has driven people to suicide.

https://www.google.com/webhp?sourceid=c ... ep%20apnea

Very interesting. I tried Modafinil and it didn't do anything. My AHIs are under 1 almost everyday, no leaks. But I still wake up feeling really tired. Now I don't even have a job; I couldn't handle 9 hr days seven days a week. It was hard enough dragging myself through a normal day.

Job loss can be very difficult but you can get through this. Do you still have insurance?
Try to find a doctor that specializes in "fatigue" unrelated to OSA. You may have more than one diagnosis.
Consider getting checked out for PLMD/RLS and have your vitamin levels checked.
Does your insurance cover "Nuvigil"? Nuvigil is sometimes effective when Modafinil is not.
Also, ask your doctor about medications for fatigue other than Nuvigil and Provigil and whether they might help you.

I don't have insurance anymore. I've had blood work for vitamin D, testosterone, and thyroid. My D levels were at 22, but I take a supplement; so far it hasn't made a difference. I have been to two doctors and two psychs. All wanted to give me "anti-depressants"; yes I'm depressed but that's because I wake up feeling really tired everyday. If I was rich then it probably wouldn't bother me. But having to work and do the normal things to maintain existence become crushing burdens when you are fatigued. Its all coming apart now; apnea has beaten me.

If your D level is 22 and what are you taking isn't helping, then try another brand of D. This could be contributing to your fatigue.

49er wrote:

Noctuary wrote:

Cpap works for sure! Finally you are getting a bit positive again.

There's no positivity here; no reason for it. I still wake up feeling wiped out, no matter what I do.

Hi Noctuary,

Forgive me if this has been mentioned previously but were you tested for diabetes?

49er

My blood sugar was normal.

My AHI last night was 1.3. Feel wiped out.

rick blaine wrote:Shore Snorer wrote:

"There's one remaining possibility I haven't ruled out. Maybe my feelings of fatigue have nothing to do with sleep."

I agree.

Have you and your doc considered daytime breathing disorder - aka Hyperventilation Syndrome?

You (and your doc) appear to have excluded everything else.

If you can't get referred to a respiratory therapist with the appropriate experience, might I suggest:

Self-Help for Hyperventilation Syndrome by Dinah Bradley. From Amazon, etc.

It won't cost more than the book price to give it a try. And it is drug free.

Also checkout "Buteyko" on YouTube. It's overbreathing, same thing as hyperventilation. Amazon also has books on it.

And if the MD's are not able to help, try a Naturopath I find then much better for chronic disease or conditions.