energy question

Is there anything I can ask my Doctor for energy?  Is there a magic pill!

Just wondering if anyone has address this particualy question.

Forget the pain, I need energy!!

Thanks,

Marilyn

 

Hey Tara, I have tried all that over the counter stuff. It actually makes me feel sick. I do try the 5 hour energy. Thats doesn't make me feel sick. I was just wondering is there is something stronger the Dc. could give me for fatique? The fatique is what is holding me back.

I have been wanting to find that out myself. I decided to go to the chronic fatigue forum. They have some good insight it seems. Haven't done homework to find my answer yet. That is one of the biggest things I suffer from. The fatigue keeps me from so many activities.

I am in the exact position. I was Dx'd over 8 years ago, with CF first then my doctor added Fibro with it. Over the years I have figured out what to avoid to keep the pain very manageable for me (Tylenol and occasionally tramadol). Walking almost every day helps me immensely. I was given provigil years ago, but I didn't remember if it worked or not for me, because at the time I took every drug my doctor (former) gave me, and all of them made me more tired.

I have never been able to get the fatigue under control. I currently go to school part time and take 2 or 3 classes (as many online if not all as possible). I work part time when I am able to, and they are contract jobs that usually last a few months. Sleeping all day and being awake enough to get my homework done is usually acceptable to me, but when I can't work it's a problem since I don't have any other means to support myself.

I recently went to my doctor of 2 years and she gave me provigil (100mg) at my request. I asked her for something I could take on occasion, that I don't *have* to take everyday. Unfortunately I don't have health insurance and it was going to cost me $500 to fill it. I just got my student loan refund so I could afford 6 pills (I am desperate to find something that works). I am in the process of getting financial aid through my doctor's office for visits + prescriptions, but it takes time. Provigil sort of works for me, I feel awake, but sort of jittery and it's still difficult to focus on anything. It also makes my pupils dilate in a weird way, the left eye dilates significantly more than the right. I tried cutting the pill in half, but the jittery feeling is still there. I haven't tried cutting it smaller, but I may try that.

When I was given provigil years ago, I remember my doctor sending me to an eye specialist to find out why my pupils were dilating unevenly, and all they did was give me glasses that didn't fix it or help. Now I know what caused it.

I recently tried adderall, 30mg xr (which I do not have a prescription), and it was magic. I saved it for a day when I had poor sleep the night before, and where I would have some tasks (nothing outstanding, just some reading homework, laundry, etc.) to see how I would function. I didn't feel jittery or amped up. I felt more normal than I have in months.

The day I was given the RX for provigil and found out how much it was, I asked the pharmacist what would be equivalent in adderal ( I told him it was for chronic fatigue/fibro). The adderal would have been around $50 to fill. My doctor is very hesitant to prescribe it and wants to wait and see if I can get the provigil covered under financial aid. I would rather have the adderal since it works better for me, and the added bonus is I could get it filled for $5 with financial aid.

It's very unfortunate for us that adderal has a reputation for being abused. I did some research online, and found that provigil is abused as well, people are taking it work longer hours, however it's in a different drug schedule so it's not as monitored.

The downside to using either of these drugs for myself is the risk of over-doing it. Since I feel like I have more energy, I can see trying to do more than I should, which would cause me to be in pain the following days.

I wish you the best of luck in finding something that works for you, and keep us updated :)

Hey Y'all

There are meds that can ease fatigue somewhat, but as usual they have drawbacks. My hubby took Provivil but, even with insurance, it was too high cost.

My doc has recently prescribed me adderall for EDS (excessive daytime sleepiness). If I just take one in the am, I feel more alert, alittle more focused but not revved up or jittery. 2 is too many. Without insurance, it costs $33 for 60. It has potential for abuse and addiction (it is amphetamine) but I only take it a coupla times a week, so even with my addiction problems, I am ok. In the same group of drugs are ritalin and strattera. I'm not sure ins. will cover these for fibro, that's why my doc gave them to me for EDS( a sleeping diagnosis) or ADD.

If you have a sleep study done, you may be prescribed these if your sleep is poor. Generic adderall is cheap, ritalin too...just be cautious using them. I take them on days I have outside errands to do, appts etc.

Good luck

Maggie

Amantadine treats fatigue, it's not a stimulant, but it kind of takes the edge off of the fatigue. I've been on ADHD medications for fatigue but the type of fatigue I have, it wasn't the best choice. Some doctors treat chronic fatigue syndrome with long term therapy of cycline antibiotics, the theory is that your immune system isn't functioning normally, and those antibiotics help it to do so. This idea was supported through Dr Brown, genius in my opinion, it does work.

I have been taking adderall for years and it works well. I don't take the xr, I take the 30 mg pills twice a day. That way if I don't need the second dose, I don't have to take it. I found if you build a tolerance with it, which might happen over a period of years, you can take a med holiday, which means taking a lesser dose for awhile and then the regular dose works again.

I hope that you can get the adderall. My doc quit prescribing it for new patients. But there is also provigil and nuvigil. I guess that the nuvigil is much cheaper than the provigil. But if you have a choice, go with the adderall. Oh yes, there is also ritalin. I tried what was called concerta. It was ritalin in a really weird form. And I don't think I had enough stomache acid to break the medication down out of the pill. It was like plastic or something. So it was very inconsistant for me.

I wish you luck getting something for energy.

Hugs, Karen

I have taken both Nuvigil & Provigil, but my insurance won't cover them. They are very expensive. They worked for the mental fatigue.

Hi, I have the pain, and the loss of energy. The later to the point without meds I can't get out of bed. It's awful as I"m sure you understand. Especally when I'm foggy. Anyway, I have had the provigil, but it didn't work for me that well. It helped, but it made me feel too weird for lack of a better way to describe it. Also, I have high blood pressure and the docs didn't like me taking it with the bp problem. So, until recently I only had pain meds to take, and there only for pain, not for energy. So, I kept bugging my doc, and they took me off of Prosac, and put me on Wellbutrin. The meds made to help quit smoking. I take 100mg twice a day, and have now for about 10 weeks. It works quite well for me. At least after I take it, I have enough energy to do some stuff or a few hours. I then take the second pill almost immediately after I feel the first has wore off. Then I'm able to get something else done for a couple hours or up to maybe even 4. Then I'm able to sleep at night. If, I take it too late in the day, I'm up all night. Sometimes I only take one and it's enough. OTher days I can take both and it barely works, but 95% of the time it really helps. I would highly suggest you ask. It's a little hard on one at first, or at least it was for me. I became very dizzy and sick at my stomach for probably 4 days after starting, but I learned long ago that one has to keep at it with Depression meds. I honestly don't think it helps with any depression, or mood. Actually prosac helped with that more, but I guess the doc dosen't want me to take both Anyway, I am glad I'm taking it even without the prosac, as I'm only depressed when I don't have the energy to live, or the pain is awful or both. This illness is tough. Hang in there. God speed
Tim

 

The DHEA I have is a supplement, not a prescription.  If you email me (in profile) I can give you the website where I get it.

 

I am taking Herbalife supplements. They seem to be helping me with more energy. I have been taking them for almost a week.

Nana I will email you. i would hate to do something against the user agreement. : )