Provigil, a cure for fatigue?

[patti2957]

A doc (not my rh) recommended that I try Provigil for fatigue. It is made for people with chronic fatigue syndrome, narcolepsy, sleep apnea.
I'm not sure what's in it, just wondering if anyone has tried it? A pill that takes fatigue away, is non-addictive and doesn't have major side effects??? Almost sounds too good to be true. Anybody?
thanks,
patti

[JesseLou]

Hi Patti - I've never heard of it either, and was curious, so I looked it up on drugs.com. It's main use seems to be for narcolepsy. It says it may be habit forming, and lists possible side effects you may want to check out.

[cereal]

Hi Patti, if you decide to give it a try please let us know how you do on it. My hubby has been on it for at least a year maybe longer.... The doc prescribed it cause he was sooo tired during the day.... before hubby became disabled 5 years ago, he had worked 3rd shift for 15 years, and he just wouldn't/couldn't adjust to sleeping at night. I didn't see where the provigil helped him at all. I finally gripped loud enough and long enough and he went to the sleep clinic last spring, found out he has severe sleep apnea. They have him using a cpap machine..the doc at the sleep clinic kept him on the provigil, said I should see a new man between the machine and the provigil...(snort) (that was me laughing) :D ....it's been almost 5 months and I still haven't seen a change....

I would be interested in finding out how you/others have done on it cause my feeling is, if it's not helping hubby then there's no use in him taking it..... but he's a man.....and he's stubborn as all get out.... :(

[docmks]

Hi Patti and all,

As I told Patti in a PM, I am on Provigil. I just started it over the weekend with a small dose in the morning with breakfast and my other morning meds. I also take Effexor. My doc is worried because of the extreme fatigue that I have been experiencing among my other symptoms. So I am on 100mg right now and may go up to 200mg, but probably no higher. I have noticed no side-effects and I will ask about the habit forming potential. I do not feel any kind of "high" or euphoria or warm fuzzy feelings, etc. It seems to be quite subtle so far.

So, I am willing to be one of the experimental animals on this one and will let you all know how I do.

Take care all,
MK

[patti2957]

I just started on it yesterday and today. I think it's too subtle, I don't feel a difference yet.I may need to take a whole pill before it does anything. Let me know if you go up to 200 mg. or feel noticeably less tired.
patti

[docmks]

Hi Patti,

I felt a bit more energized this morning for a while. Actually woke up early but it didnt last. I did take 200. I am not falling out right now, but then, I just got through teaching. Of course, the pain is still here and the aches are here as well.

It is very subtle at 100. Maybe it takes a while for it to kick in.

MK

[foder]

I have been on provigil 200mg for about a year now. I have had p for 12 years and pa for the last 5 years. I have always had trouble with fatigue. I am only 28 and I take 15mg MTX and 2 50ng Enbrel every week. The thing with the provigil is that if you are truly tired it will not keep you awake. Also what I have noticed that if taken for long periods it starts to not work as well. What I started to do was take it during the week then off on weekends. I have not experienced any side effects. Which is rare because I am very sensitive to meds. Also take it as early in the am as possible. The other thing I noticed that it taked about 2 hours after injested to work. If you have any more questions please let me know. I have been a guinea pig for as long as I can remember.

[RichJ]

hi foder,
welcome to the p family. you have met some of the wonderful people on here and will find alot of great info. welcome and nice to meet you

have a good day all

richard

[foder]

Thank-you. I have always been reading but to chicken to reply.

[docmks]

:) Hi Foder, Thank you for posting your experiences with Provigil. It's very helpful to know how others are doing on different medications. I hope you will continue to post. This is a very supportive community, a great place to get information and to vent about the challenges of having P and PA. So welcome! Please don't go back to being "too chicken to post."

MK