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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
[email protected]Shown: posts 1 to 11 of 11. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by jealibeanz on September 6, 2006, at 2:59:57
OK, so I just started 400 mg Provigil to help relieve my excessive daytime sleepiness. It has changed sooo much in my wake-sleep cycle. I'm awake and alert during the day and can sleep at night.
Amazing... it's like there's a little piece of the puzzle that's always been missing, and I found it. I never thought I actually had this disorder, although it's very vague in nature, almost like chronic fatigue, but slightly different. I'm sure there are many causes, and the Provigil is one way to fix this. I think my sleepiness is chemically related rather than physical in nature. I'm very healthy.
However, my anxiety has definitely increased due to the Provigil. I want to blame it on added stress, but it's not. This is anxiety that is actually manifesting as muscle tension, difficulty breathing, tight chest, ect for most of my waking hours.
I take 1.5 mg Xanax daily right now. Before, that was more than enough, almost too much actually. I was just about to fall asleep at any moment, so the sedating effect was really felt. But now I feel like I could probably double it without feeling sedated and would need to do so to rid the anxiety.
I feel badly about having to take medication, but they are seeming to have positive effects, just are out of balance right now. Most GP's probably would have problems trying to counter so called "uppers and downers", but he may actually be fine with it, at least temporaruly.
I see him in 6 wks though. I guess I will just try to tough it out for now. I could call and ask to increase, but I'd so much rather talk to him in person about it. Making med suggestions is awkward as it is and I don't want to do it over the phone to his nurse. I also need to get his opinion on taking medication.
I bet he would actually try to convince my that I should, that it's OK. For now, it's the best option I've come upon. Who knows what will happen in the future, except that if I don't take the medication my future will have a lesser outlook.
Some people think it's a crutch, and maybe it is. But to me it's a crutch to help build confidence and skills which will eventually decrease anxiety. Putting life off will only make it worse. I'm young enough that I can probably escape my anxiety problems almost untouched in terms of my future career/lifestyle if treated.
Me admitting that I don't love the idea of needed Xanax and Provigil to function well is a good thing to a doctor. It makes me look less addictive and drug seeking.
Ahh... the anxiety's getting really bad though, almost near lowww level panic. It's never really happened before. But I can't stop the Provigil. I was sleeping alllll day and couldn't get up. It's really improving that aspect 200%.
Posted by Emily Elizabeth on September 6, 2006, at 7:18:47
In reply to Provigil = increased anxiety!?, posted by jealibeanz on September 6, 2006, at 2:59:57
I wonder if you could lower the provigil now that you have locked into a better sleep-wake cycle. You needed the high dose to get on track, but now you don't.
Also, don't feel you need to call doc w/ solutions, just call w/ questions. "My anxiety is way out of control, what do I do?" In my experience, my pdoc was always okay w/ hearing from me early b/c of excesive anxiety. I'd call your doc asap.
Are you afraid to call because you might not like his answer (e.g., lower Provigil, try something else)? If he is as good as you feel he is, you need to trust that he has good advice. It's hard, but you need to give some of the control over to him.
Let us know what happens.
Best,
EE
Posted by Phillipa on September 6, 2006, at 10:38:51
In reply to Re: Provigil = increased anxiety!?, posted by Emily Elizabeth on September 6, 2006, at 7:18:47
That sounds like a great idea. Love Phillipa
Posted by jealibeanz on September 6, 2006, at 11:31:35
In reply to Re: Provigil = increased anxiety!?, posted by Emily Elizabeth on September 6, 2006, at 7:18:47
I'd be more likely to call if doctors ever returned phone calls, but it's always the nurses. It's a very busy family practice. I leave a message with them and they return with an answer. I can't imagine a nurse trying to relay much advice... who knows. The only times I've ever called was to tell them Lunesta wasn't working, and ask for something else, and to ask for a dosage increase in Xanax (I was only taking .75 mg daily so I knew he wouldn't care). They were fairly simple requests. The nurse just called back and said I could stop in to pick up the prescription.
Yeah, I am afraid of a decrease in the Provigil. It's hard to let go of that since it's what I've wanted. I've taken only 200 mg in the past and it's just not enough.
I don't know what his advice would be and it scares me. Fear of the unknown... nothing ever turns out badly though. They're usually more sympathetic than I expect.
Posted by jealibeanz on September 8, 2006, at 1:56:43
In reply to Re: Provigil = increased anxiety!?, posted by jealibeanz on September 6, 2006, at 11:31:35
Has anyone else had problems with Provigil and anxiety? I'm not sure if the two are linked.
Posted by Oppycat on September 8, 2006, at 9:40:33
In reply to Re: Provigil = increased anxiety!?, posted by jealibeanz on September 8, 2006, at 1:56:43
> Has anyone else had problems with Provigil and anxiety? I'm not sure if the two are linked.
Yes, Provigil gave me extreme anxiety. However, Adderall gives me none. I would have thought it would be the other way around.Michael
Posted by psychobot5000 on September 8, 2006, at 11:16:15
In reply to Re: Provigil = increased anxiety!? » jealibeanz, posted by Oppycat on September 8, 2006, at 9:40:33
I also definitely had increased anxiety on Provigil (as well as dexamphetamine meds). It was an unpleasast, tense feeling which I did not care for. It's worth noting that methylphenidate does not cause these symptoms for me. You might give an extended release version of it a try.
Or you could try a few anxiolytics. While you're waiting for a scrip, Green tea has a modest anxiolytic effect. This suggestion might fit in better on the alternative board but...as someone pointed out a day or so ago, a chemical from tea called theanine appears to be partly responsible for its anxiolytic effects, and is sold in isolated form from some vitamin shops. It would likely help a little--the chemicals in tea are well-studied and their effect is real.
I don't know what else you take, but you could try supplementing with buspar or a dose of Remeron at bedtime--it's likely to have some sedating effects, but it's also a fairly powerful anxiolytic.
P-bot
Posted by jealibeanz on September 8, 2006, at 20:41:18
In reply to Re: Provigil = increased anxiety!? » jealibeanz, posted by Oppycat on September 8, 2006, at 9:40:33
Funny... Adderrall caused extreme agitation and depression with me.
Provigil I actually felt was almost soothing. Maybe I just went up to fast. Actually, yes, I did go up too fast. I didn't even think about the fact that starting at 400 mg isn't appropriate.
I think I can handle 400 mg eventually, but throwing it right at myself was risky! I'm going to call my doctor's office Monday.
I'm calling for my Xanax refill, which I will mention is not helping control my anxiety at the moment, to the point where I have problems breathing (I hope we don't start thinking asthsma here and throw some inhalers at me... I don't have asthsma). I tried cutting down on the Provigil and then stopping it altogether. It didn't help with the anxiety, and was also too tired to get through the day. Increasing the Xanax helped, but I don't have enough to do that. Could you ask him what he thinks I should do?
Hahaha, I should just leave messages that are as short as posible to make sure it get's to the doc correctly. However, I'd like to add that on a positive note... the Provigil has helped immensely. I'm able to get through the entire day without needing to sleep and feel well. I'm sleeping all through the night now and don't always need to take the Lunesta.
This is my way of saying... way to go doc! You really helped me and I'm making great progress. Soo... how about doubling the Xanax and become world's best doc? He might go for it since he know I can't see him for another month. He's actually seeming to be overly cautious. Doesn't ask too much about the Xanax and anxiety, just is very willing to give it to me if it gonna give me a chance at life. In these times of high stress, they really should do so... you never know when I might just start having recurrent full blow panic attacks, drop out of school, or when someones thinking of suicide (not me!)
Posted by jealibeanz on September 8, 2006, at 20:42:47
In reply to Re: Provigil = increased anxiety!?, posted by psychobot5000 on September 8, 2006, at 11:16:15
oooo Buspar wasn't good for me! Remeron... this is a TCA right? Scares me.
Posted by llrrrpp on September 9, 2006, at 13:17:21
In reply to Re: Provigil = increased anxiety!?, posted by jealibeanz on September 8, 2006, at 20:42:47
Hi Jeali,
I take 200 mg provigil to counteract extreme daytime drowsiness from 90mg cymbalta.It makes me feel tense, and I notice my heart racing sometimes, or have the kind of achey chest anxiety feeling.
HOWEVER- if I tell myself that these are physical symptoms of anxiety then it helps a lot. Mental anxiety is worse than physical anxiety, in my particular circumstances.
I know that without the provigil I would be getting ZERO work done, and I would feel awful and guilty and snxious about my low productivity. So, I channel the nervous energy provigil gives me into completing things on my to-do list. This to-do list is a very recent innovation. Definitely enabled by the provigil, and it has done wonders for my productivity and self-esteem and depression.
The other reason I won't stop taking provigil is that by combining it with coffee I get a mood boost. A pleasant and mild euphoria that makes me want too get my day started on the right foot.
Have you tried splitting your dose?
Also, yoga might help you learn to control the muscle tension and shallow breathing that could be misinterpreted as "anxiety".
best of luck to you jeali :)
-ll
Posted by Boss Lady on April 10, 2008, at 0:35:17
In reply to Re: Provigil = increased anxiety!? » jealibeanz, posted by llrrrpp on September 9, 2006, at 13:17:21
Hi - just curious how your progess was on this and what the end result was? I'm currently on xanax for panic disorder (all the physical symptoms...seemed to have inherited it) but also cannot wake up in the morning...I fall asleep within seconds of hitting the pillow and sleep through my alarms to where I get in trouble at work for arriving late. I went to an anxiety specialist and a sleep clinic. Zoloft and xanax together control my panic disorder; the sleep clinical said I have idiopathic hypersomnia (excessively tired w/ no known reason) so they proposed provigil. I'm anxious (no pun intended there) to take this given the potential for the anxiety side effects.
Anyone have luck w/ the two together? On another note, any other provigil side effects that could be favorable, i.e. weight loss? :o)
This is the end of the thread.
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