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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
[email protected]Shown: posts 1 to 18 of 18. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by pseudoname on July 13, 2006, at 15:32:44
A dear friend is starting Provigil tomorrow morning and wants to know from Babblers what to expect. Your reputation preceeds you.
She's a little "freaked out" (her term) by the enclosure warnings. I sent her a list of recent Provigil posts and was surprised that no one seemed to report any really bad experiences.
She's starting tomorrow on "half a tablet".
Any reassurance / advice appreciated. Avoid caffeine, I guess?
(This is the ONE who lives 135 miles away, for those who are keeping track.) ;-)
Posted by pseudoname on July 13, 2006, at 19:04:40
In reply to What to expect on Provigil® (modafinil)?, posted by pseudoname on July 13, 2006, at 15:32:44
Actually, my friend's question is covered really well in this thread ("nervous to start provigil…"):
http://www.dr-bob.org/cgi-bin/pb/mget.pl?post=http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20060408/msgs/631340.htmlAnd these quotes from other threads:
•JOST: Provigil should be okay with cymbalta. I took them together. If anything provigil was a mild AD and good promoter of alertness, for me. It helped quite a bit when I was tired, and improved my mood, although not enough to be truly AD. It was more time-limited, so I felt better an hour or two after taking it, with lessening effects in the next few hours. I usually took it twice or three times a day. It didn't give me a high — it was more that I felt more upbeat and had better energy for a few hours. http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20060623/msgs/662405.html•LLRRRPP: So I took my first dose of provigil 200mg about 5 hours ago. I feel AWESOME! I haven't felt this good since? god knows when! I got a lot of errands done, and I feel more organized. And I just feel happy. I have to say. mild euphoria. Kinda scary, but that's the best explanation. I'm worried I'm going to go hug a stranger (okay, that's not going to happen!) I haven't yawned in over half an hour, or gotten an attack of the yawning-eyes tearing-wobbly rubber legs vertigo since I took it. I feel like I used to. When I was all healthy, and organized, and exercising regularly and had lots of energy. Even if this "side effect" goes away, it was worth it for one happy afternoon. http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20060701/msgs/663818.html
•BILL LL: I've been on Provigil (400 mg) for about 6 months. I like it. It works better for me than Concerta (72 mg) which I previously tried. Provigil is very good at eliminating my impulsiveness and improving my concentration. It also allowed me to stop putting my head on my desk every day out of tiredness. Without meds, I have horrible anxiety. I think that Provigil has a calming effect on me. But it's hard to tell because I also take Lexapro (30 mg), Lamictal (200 mg), and a beta blocker (Toprol) for blood pressure. http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20051031/msgs/574484.html
•SATURN asked: Does provigil lower the seizure threshold?
JEDI replied: According to this published paper modafinil works as an anticonvulsant. http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20060617/msgs/659035.html
Posted by psychosage on July 13, 2006, at 23:45:38
In reply to recent Provigil thread links, posted by pseudoname on July 13, 2006, at 19:04:40
Provigil is great. It really has few side effects besides headache and maybe a little nausea. It is a very nice stimulant. If it breaks on a little hypomania or decrease sleep by two hours a day or so then both should subside in a month.
It should keep you alert without feeling restless or high.
Posted by Jost on July 14, 2006, at 7:49:41
In reply to What to expect on Provigil® (modafinil)?, posted by pseudoname on July 13, 2006, at 15:32:44
What were the enclosures about?
Is that half of a 200mg tablet?
I've taken provigil with parnate and emsam as well as cymbalta. I probably was taking it when I tried other ADs which I stopped right away , also because of side-effects. I can't think of anything bad about it, except that my insurance won't pay for it, for off-label uses.
I also drink coffee with it, but I originally took it because of daytime sleepiness, and I needed both at times.
Jost
Posted by pseudoname on July 14, 2006, at 8:12:31
In reply to Re: What to expect on Provigil® (modafinil)?, posted by Jost on July 14, 2006, at 7:49:41
Hi, Jost.
> What were the enclosures about?
The usual PDR stuff: allergic reaction; difficulty breathing; closing of the throat; swelling of the lips, tongue, or face; or hives; shortness of breath; anxiety; infection; etc
http://www.drugs.com/provigil.html> Is that half of a 200mg tablet?
She says yes, correct.
Posted by Dinah on July 14, 2006, at 18:40:07
In reply to What to expect on Provigil® (modafinil)?, posted by pseudoname on July 13, 2006, at 15:32:44
The first few days I felt itchy jumpy.
Since then it's been fine, and I'm very sensitive to meds. I don't feel hyped up at all. Just awake.
The only problem is that I seem to be building up tolerance. At first one a day was fine (100mg). Now I need two a day just to keep awake. And I can foresee that not being enough in the not too distant future.
Posted by Jost on July 14, 2006, at 19:25:22
In reply to Re: What to expect on Provigil® (modafinil)? » pseudoname, posted by Dinah on July 14, 2006, at 18:40:07
>
>
> The only problem is that I seem to be building up tolerance. At first one a day was fine (100mg). Now I need two a day just to keep awake. And I can foresee that not being enough in the not too distant future.I've wondered about that myself. I took it for several years, at about 300 mg/day in three doses. At some point, about four or five months ago, I noticed it wasn't having much effect and stopped taking it.
I now take about 100 mg a day in the morning, to wake up. On rare occasions, I take another one in the afternoon. I'm not sure if it helps much-- but it definitely did for quite a while. So, for a time, it was very useful.
Jost
Posted by pseudoname on July 16, 2006, at 12:05:01
In reply to Re: What to expect on Provigil® (modafinil)? » pseudoname, posted by Dinah on July 14, 2006, at 18:40:07
Thanks to everyone for sharing. My friend had been sleeping a lot during days with tiredness that really interfered with her life. She'd have to leave highly desired, fun activities in the afternoon just to go lie down for a while and was fatigued a lot else besides.
She's had problems with panic attacks in the past, so I think she was mostly concerned about Provigil triggering anxiety. She's also on Paxil and something else (and a heart medication, I think). I've suggested that these, especially in combo, easily could be contributing to tiredness, too.
She took her first 100 mg Provigil Saturday morning. The report:
> Went okay,,,
> Got pretty sleepy yesterday afternoon, but didn't sleep...just rested.And last night
> didn't sleep much but well.
She's supposed to increase to 200 mg in a week, I think.
Posted by Dinah on July 18, 2006, at 19:16:16
In reply to Re: What to expect on Provigil® (modafinil)?, posted by Jost on July 14, 2006, at 19:25:22
Kind of scary. I've grown to rely on it just to stay functional.
Posted by Dinah on July 18, 2006, at 19:18:16
In reply to Re: What to expect on Provigil® (modafinil)? » Jost, posted by Dinah on July 18, 2006, at 19:16:16
Of course, at one time I didn't need to.
Which leads to some troubling questions.
Posted by meds4life on July 21, 2006, at 10:40:18
In reply to Re: What to expect on Provigil® (modafinil)? » Jost, posted by Dinah on July 18, 2006, at 19:16:16
I have been exhausted lately and am unable to get things done. I'm currently on 10 mg of lexapro and 1 mg of klonopin, which I think is contributing to the sleepiness. I continue to drink more and more caffeine, which isn't really helping. I can fall asleep in the middle of the day after drinking a triple latte! I've been interested in Provigil, but last time I checked into it, it was not covered by insurance. If it's not, do you know the cost of it?
Posted by Dinah on July 21, 2006, at 10:58:04
In reply to Is Provigil covered by your insurance?, posted by meds4life on July 21, 2006, at 10:40:18
It's not on the formulary? That's surprising but I see it's true on my insurance too. I'm lucky in that they just charge a higher copay.
It's not out as a generic yet, apparently, so it's probably rather costly. My pharmacy doesn't show how much my insurance pays.
Posted by laima on July 23, 2006, at 12:22:28
In reply to PDR warnings » Jost, posted by pseudoname on July 14, 2006, at 8:12:31
Respectfully, I heard that they have to list any and every side effect reported by all study participants in those warnings- could that be making it sound more dangerous than it really is? Just a thought.> > What were the enclosures about?
>
> The usual PDR stuff: allergic reaction; difficulty breathing; closing of the throat; swelling of the lips, tongue, or face; or hives; shortness of breath; anxiety; infection; etc
> http://www.drugs.com/provigil.html
>
> > Is that half of a 200mg tablet?
>
> She says yes, correct.
Posted by KB on July 27, 2006, at 3:12:21
In reply to Is Provigil covered by your insurance?, posted by meds4life on July 21, 2006, at 10:40:18
My insurance requires that the doctor call ahead for "authorization" - they require that for cymbalta, too.
Posted by pseudoname on July 27, 2006, at 11:40:01
In reply to Thanks » psychosage »jost » Dinah, posted by pseudoname on July 16, 2006, at 12:05:01
My friend is on her 11th day on Provigil. She's now been taking 100 mg in the a.m. and 100 mg 4 hours later.
She says she hasn't notice much benefit yet. Felt like napping yesterday, but didn't.
Posted by gardenergirl on July 27, 2006, at 14:15:42
In reply to Provigil update, posted by pseudoname on July 27, 2006, at 11:40:01
More than anything else, I think Provigil helps keep me from my old habit of napping in the afternoon. I tend to take 2-4 hour naps, you see, so this was a very bad thing.
It also has helped me with impulsivity a bit. Now if only it would also help me focus, that would be great.
My insurance paid for it without question, but it does fall in the highest co-pay group.
gg
Posted by Dinah on July 27, 2006, at 15:29:06
In reply to Re: Provigil update, posted by gardenergirl on July 27, 2006, at 14:15:42
I'm the same as gg. I don't notice any changes per se. I don't have more energy or feel wired. I just don't fall asleep. Or at least not as often.
Even Provigil can't contain my mighty naps.
Posted by Jost on July 27, 2006, at 18:38:15
In reply to Re: Provigil update, posted by Dinah on July 27, 2006, at 15:29:06
I'm trying my insurance again. One drugstore covered part of the prescription, so I don't know if the policy has changed, or because the amount changed, they're less willing to cover.
It's not the strongest activator, so it depends on the cause and intensity of your friend's tiredness. When I took Parnate, Provigil didn't help, but when I'm on things that aren't as enervating (my sleepiness on Parnate was very unusual), it's more effective.
Jost
This is the end of the thread.
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