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Nuvigil & provigil anyone?

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Fibromyalgia
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Posted 5/5/2011 8:44 PM (GMT 0)
I read on that one website where patients talk about their reaction to certain meds that provigil was a good one to take for fm.  provigil's wibsite says it's prescribed for people who fall asleep a lot during the day or are extremely fatigued.  Well, I was wondering, maybe this would be good, cuz most of us with fm are fatigued, especially if we're on narcotics and other meds that make us sleepy.   However, I don't have insurance and for 30 provigils it would cost me $432.00!!!! Like, whoa, forget that I guess, I was just wondering if it's worth looking into, cuz I know sometimes you can get assistance through the makers of the med.

Anyone know anything about this med?

Posted 5/6/2011 2:11 AM (GMT 0)
Generic adderall is cheaper and works better for fatigue. I took provigil and got cold sores and diahrea. Wasn't any fun. Plus it made me nervous.

Good luck with your search for something for fatigue..

Hugs, Karen
Posted 5/7/2011 7:54 PM (GMT 0)
I'm still on my sample pack of nuvigal. I've got mixed feelings. Taken 4 so far. It worked great on 2 days. And didn't work at all on 2 days. I took one today at 2 pm then laid down and slept...very soundly...for an hour and a half. Adderall (timed release) used to work fantastic for me but I don't think I can take that now cuz of my lyrica and cymbalta. Anyone know?
Posted 5/7/2011 8:00 PM (GMT 0)
I really don't think that the lyrica or cymbalta would effect the adderall. I take the pills, they aren't timed released and are rather inexpensive for those without insurance, I do understand now that the time release are generic too. I would talk to the doc about it. I hope that you are able to take it. It is a life saver for me. I was so exhausted before hand. Now I can do things throughout the day other than sleep.

Hugs, Karen
Posted 5/7/2011 11:09 PM (GMT 0)
So those of you taking Adderall...what does it do exactly? I get profoundly fatigued and a saturating weakness. Is this what it helps be better? If it does improve that, do you feel normal or still fatigued but just less so? This is very interesting. Glad it is working so well for you Getting By.
Posted 5/7/2011 11:24 PM (GMT 0)
When I was on adderal, my neuro prescribed me to take 5 capsules a day (timed release ones). I was to take 3 in the morning and 2 around noon. They were 5 mg capsules so that would be a total of 25 mg. Well, I didn't do that. All I did was use them once in a while like if I was driving long distance and became really tired, I would take ONE. When I did, it just made me feel wide awake and alert and not jittery or anything. I wish I had that option now. I am guessing if I took all 5 as prescribed, I would have felt jittery. I guess they can be habbit forming so I was a little apprehensive to take them at all. As for the nuvigal, I've only taken one, every other day. As I read, I think you are to take one every day whether you are tired or not. Not sure why. I am planning on calling on Monday to ask what I'm supposed to do.

I assume I mentioned my current problem, that I just get insanely sleepy all the sudden, usually when I am driving. Which is dangerous and why he gave me something right away but also (of course) wants to find out WHY I have been like this for the last 2 months. Today I took a nuvigal then slept nearly 2 hours. Got up but had to force myself to do so. Then I just drank a cup of REALLY strong coffee and at this very moment, I am struggling to stay away. When I say it hits me all the sudden, I mean INSTANTLY. I hate it.
Posted 5/8/2011 12:36 AM (GMT 0)
Thank you for your answer. I really appreciate it. That's awful when it is like that, Mrs_Mike. I've had it change to extreme fatigue and 'sleep will not be denied' within a few minutes, esp when driving, but not instantly like you describe but close. For me some of that had to do with way, way low estrogen levels, a very low blood pressure/orthostatic hypotension and also dizziness actually with my eyes both wanting to be dominate if that helps any. I seldom drive without my h in the car and then only short distances, on a good day and then trying to be very aware of myself & where I'm at. My doc thought I had narcolepsy for a while there and still has it in my records as a question. But nobody has ever prescribed adderall or anything for fatigue except the usual anti-depressants which I can't take. Is it kind of a new thing? Or maybe regional? I hope, for your sake, you find out what's going on cuz that's terrible to try to live with.

And I couldn't agree more - fibromyalgia IS a jerk! :)
Posted 5/8/2011 1:02 PM (GMT 0)
I don't think it's new. I just think it depends on how your Dr handles such things. My primary care DR would NEVER prescribe anything to help me sleep or keep me awake. He didn't believe in it. But my neurologist (who I was going to at that time for migraines) didn't see a need to make me suffer. He's the one that prescribed ambien and adderall. My rheumatologist is the one that prescribed the nuvigil just a week ago.

Oh I am sleepy today. That's what I get for staying up late and surfing the internet :-). I usually never do either thing. I usually can't make it up past 9 and I get so irritated with the internet that I usually never pick up the computer.

I hope I get some kinda of solution/progress next week. Not sure I can be seen, can't remember my work schedule but maybe he can just get me a new medicine to try or just tell me to go ahead and see the neurologist.
Posted 5/8/2011 2:53 PM (GMT 0)
I sure hope so too, Mrs_Mike. It does sound like you need to see a neurologist. I think you hit the nail on the head about it being more how your doc handles things about the meds but I'm thinking I'll bring it up. Maybe it simply has never occurred to him. I'm in bed really early too. I get real sleepy in the morning and esp by afternoon. My husband finally got tired of trying to wake me up in the late afternoon/evenings - it would take like an hour plus I'd be really, really mad at him for it before I woke completely - so I actually set an alarm now for 6pm so I can get up, eat something and go back to sleep :) Good luck :) Hope they can get you in cuz this is important.
Posted 5/8/2011 7:27 PM (GMT 0)
NSCA,

When I first started taking adderall, it was like a miracle. But then I had to learn to pace myself because I was over doing it. But at first it is such a change from being fatigued that it is like a miracle. It keeps me going. I have gotten use to it. I did have to up my dose when I started working. I take 30mg in the morning and 30mg in the afternoon. But I don't take the timed release, it is just generic adderall. It is amphetamine and dextroamphetamine mixed. I guess. But you could look it up on the internet and see about it. They most likely will start you off at a low dose to see what you can tolerate. Probably about 20mg or so. If they do, and it doesn't work, don't get discouraged as you have to find your level. But they started me out with concerta and provigil. The concerta was in a wierd barrel form, it is ritalin. But it worked good when it worked. But it was in this form so it is time released and people can't break them up and abuse them. I don't think I had enough stomache acid to get it in my system. When it worked it was fabulous, but it didn't always work. Same with the provigil, it wasn't consistant. But the adderall is. I still have days now and then when I am not so energetic, on the good days I feel like a normal person now. Not like superwoman. (as I did in the beginning). I hope that if you try it, that it works for you. If you are add or anything like that, it wont give you the energy.

Best wishes,

Hugs, Karen
Posted 5/8/2011 8:43 PM (GMT 0)
Karen, thank you so much. The idea of feeling like a normal person is hard to imagine but you already know that :) I am so glad it works so well for you and I really appreciate the information about the others you've tried and how they did or didn't work for you. Wow. You don't want to get your hopes up, yanno, but it sure would be nice to work again. I'm not add so you never know. Might just be the ticket and certainly worth a try. Thanks again and hope you are having a fabulous day.

Hugs,
Sandi
Posted 5/9/2011 7:27 PM (GMT 0)
Hello,

 

I take nuvigil, I'm taking the max amount of 250 mg. At first, they worked great, now I feel like all I ever want to do is sleep. So for me after 2 years and increases, I think by body had gotten all it can out of it  I never had any side effects, and never felt jittery.

Posted 5/9/2011 8:35 PM (GMT 0)
Hopegirl,

I am sorry that the nuvigil isn't working for you anymore. The provigil wasn't consistant for me. I think if works for some but not for others.

Sandi,

I hope that you can try the adderall. And I hope that it works for you.

Best wishes to all.

And a painfree day...

Hugs, Karen
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