Sleep Apnea Forum Bringing Power to the Patient
Provigil vs Nuvigil
Does anyone currently take medications to help with excessive sleepiness? I have been on provigil for about 2 months now. I started off with 1/2 of a 100mg pill twice a day. Then I bumped up to taking 200mg a day. I'm currently taking 400mg a day. Still feeling fatigued. My doctor prescribed me Nuvigil (my copay was $45- I'll be looking to get reimbursed). Tomorrow is day one of 250mg of Nuvigil once a day.
Tags: excessive, nuvigil, provigil, sleepiness
Replies to This Discussion
-
Permalink Reply by Mike on -
Wondering whether your cpap regimen needs modification in light of your sleepiness.
-
Permalink Reply by KAREN JAFFE on -
Hello Victoria, I was taking Provigil for several months. I would take it at 6 a.m, right before I left for work. By 11 am I was really tired again. My doctor recently switched me to Nuvigil and it works much better. I stay alert for most of the day. I am taking 250 mg. It was costing me $55 per perscription,every 30 days. I told my doctor I couldn't afford this and she gave me a card (looks like a credit card) from Cephalon, the makers of Nuvigil. It works like a discount coupon. I just give it to the pharmacy and my cost is reduced to $10.00. Ask your doctor for this card.
Karen
-
Permalink Reply by kim smith on
-
I have been on Provigil for a few years now. My old dr told me that the way it works, it is not the type of drug that the longer you take it, your body gets used to it, Now, my dr switched me to nuvigil and it was not waking me as provigil did. The same company makes it, but nuvigil is supposed to last longer. ( hope i am not confusing ).Anyway, I always ask for samples when I go to the dr, and rarely do they have any. I have 2 script plans and still pay almost 200 for one and 2 something for the other. Go figure !! Good luck & keep me posted Kim
-
Permalink Reply by Joanne Williams, RPSGT on -
It is my understanding that meds have name brand pattens for 5yrs; once that period is up it can be made generically. It's kinda like Ambien....when it went to generic, here comes Ambien CR. My Dr Rx Nuvigil to me just last Friday. I went to get it filled and to my surprise it was going to be OVER $300 (I have Rx ins too). Let me just say I had taked Provigil in the past and know it really works, however, as of right now I am not a sell on the New "Nuvigil". I speculate it is all about the all mighty dollar! GRRRRRR......
-
Permalink Reply by Rock Hinkle on -
Don't get me started Joanne.
Joanne Williams, RPSGT said:It is my understanding that meds have name brand pattens for 5yrs; once that period is up it can be made generically. It's kinda like Ambien....when it went to generic, here comes Ambien CR. My Dr Rx Nuvigil to me just last Friday. I went to get it filled and to my surprise it was going to be OVER $300 (I have Rx ins too). Let me just say I had taked Provigil in the past and know it really works, however, as of right now I am not a sell on the New "Nuvigil". I speculate it is all about the all mighty dollar! GRRRRRR......
-
Permalink Reply by Mary Z on -
I have taken Nuvigil and Provigil- the provigil at a dose of 200 mg/day and Nuvigil at 250 mg a day. Some people with excessive daytime sleepiness, which is not always controlled by CPAP, continue to need medication, up to 800 mg/day or provigil. It sounds as though your doctor does not understand how miserable this is making you and is undermedicating you. And there is the cost! I just got switched to a small dose of Adderal XR to try for two months (as it's a controlled substance you need a new prescription each month). I had to explain to an arthritis doc who refused to even give me NSAIDS for severe pain about pseudo addiction. That is when what looks like drug seeking behavior is just a person seeking relief from their symptoms. When you are properly medicated you leave the doctor alone.
I took my drug formulary in with me today to see the sleep doctor and showed him what was allowed under my plan at a reasonable cost.
I'd be matter of fact, write down my symptoms, e.g. nodding out in front of the TV or reading a book, being unable to drive. Explain this is really impacting your quality of life.
Good luck. If this doc won't help you you may need to go shopping for a new one.
-
Permalink Reply by Joanne Williams, RPSGT on
-
I must have been really tired when I wrote this....lmao! I just re-read it and wow.... oops on my "english"
UPDATE: I tried the Nuvigil; while using it I had some serious issues with clenching my teeth and bruxism during my sleep time. Has any one had this come up?
Joanne Williams, RPSGT said:It is my understanding that meds have name brand pattens for 5yrs; once that period is up it can be made generically. It's kinda like Ambien....when it went to generic, here comes Ambien CR. My Dr Rx Nuvigil to me just last Friday. I went to get it filled and to my surprise it was going to be OVER $300 (I have Rx ins too). Let me just say I had taked Provigil in the past and know it really works, however, as of right now I am not a sell on the New "Nuvigil". I speculate it is all about the all mighty dollar! GRRRRRR......
-
Permalink Reply by D Shultz on
-
I started using the cpap in nov 2009 and felt awake for a change, then a few months later i was exhausted again. the dr gave me nugvigil (provigil was not allowed by ins) - it worked well for awhile but now, i can barely stay awake again! going back to dr to see if increasing dosage is what is needed or now what?? at 54 with a new grandbaby coming, i don't want to be tired all the time - any ideas??
-
Permalink Reply by Mary Z on
-
The doc may want to do another sleep study followed the next day by and MSLT to check for narcolepsy or hypersomnia.
However if you are lucky he/she will just listen to what you say and increase the Provigil, or prescribe a new drug since it's not working anymore. Good Luck,
Mary Z.
D Shultz said:I started using the cpap in nov 2009 and felt awake for a change, then a few months later i was exhausted again. the dr gave me nugvigil (provigil was not allowed by ins) - it worked well for awhile but now, i can barely stay awake again! going back to dr to see if increasing dosage is what is needed or now what?? at 54 with a new grandbaby coming, i don't want to be tired all the time - any ideas??
Latest Activity
Yup, if you've got insurance, your insurance dictates which local DME providers you can use.
Just because you bought your CPAP elsewhere does NOT mean that your insurance contracted providers can't or won't provide your masks and other accessories.…
Linda, thanks your your help. When I call Apria, I wil ask them why they did not offer me a payment plan.
Good luck!
Hi Candace,
Apria is giving me a payment plan for 10 months, after that I will buy it if I still need it. In the mean time, all of the folks here are so helpful they told me the best cpap to get and low and behold, Apria did not give me a newer mode…
Linda, I read your question re: CPAP Machine and Apria. I also am not impressed with them. I have Kaiser and Kaiser will not pay for my equipment. Apria says that I have to pay all costs up front. Are you on a payment plan with Apria. I have severe…
First, let me say, Thank you for going to bat for us. I think you are doing a fantastic job in spreading OSA awareness and providing us with OSA a place to go for support. Apparently there is no connection between a college degree and intelligence,…
You hit the nail on the head. I had a similar experience last year with another organization, The Alzheimer's Association. I ask for permission to pass out a flyer, "Does Sleep Apnea Cause Alzheimer's Disease?," at one of their annual meetings regar…
Then she should say that... Say anything other than the falsehood that the connection between OSA and heart disease isn't sufficiently proven.
"Respironics recommends that new patients purchase their devices, masks and initial accessories from a homecare company that can provide an individualized patient equipment set-up, clinical and after-sale support, and a program to assist patients wi…
Maybe you should be the communications director for the AHA ;-).
I believe that individuals should be free to make decisions for themselves. This goes for the patients and the providers. The patient is free to decide what to do and who to pay for what services. The provider is free to decide what services he offe…
I'M NOT A 100% SURE OF THE NAME OF MY MASK I THINK IT'S CALLED A PROFILE LITE IT HAS A THICK GEL CUSHION ON THE FORHEAD PIECE AND THE ALL AROUND THE MASK. I STILL END UP WITH RED MARKS ON THE BRIDGE OF MY NOSE AND FOREHEAD BUT THEY FADE IN AN HOUR O…
by no means am i suggesting that this one person believes one thing or another. rather, she is the director of marketing and communications for the AHA. it is her job to communicate the organization's viewpoints to the public, and that's what she wa…
HEY, I read the funny e-mails! HAH, I'm heading north tomorrow...
I received my machine in March with a nasal pillow mask. I switched to a full face mask because I was breathing thru my mouth.I was struggling with getting used to wearing the mask, finally got to the point of wearing it every night.I could not get…
Ah ha, BirdShell!!! You can ignore me, but we managed to lure you out of your hiding place w/this thread, eh??
Too bad too. Danielle, Ashley, Nicole and I are all meeting at La Placita in Saginaw for lunch tomorrow. I'll be thinking of you!!!! Nico…
I agree with your advice,Mike.Once I was treated for a sinus infection,I had replaced everything .Also, it is a good idea to use saline to cleanse the sinuses at least twice daily . You may look into the use of a Nettie Pot,,,,that can throughly cle…
I tried wearing a band aid on the bridge of my nose the other night and it helped, but not enough. Most of the "solutions' that I've found end up causing to much air to leak. I started wearing the bandana (folded in several layers and tied like a he…
I have to comment! I ran Jump Rope for Heart (JRFH) activities/fundraisers in my classes for years. (For more information: http://www.aahperd.org/jump/ and http://www.americanheart.org/presenter.jhtml?identifier=2360 This is a good condensation of t…
I've beeb using Sleep Strip for years. It's a good screening test that correlates pretty well with formal sleep studies. It won't give you a number, but rather ranges from none, to mild, moderate or severe. You still need a doctor's prescription. Ty…
© 2010 Created by The SleepGuide Crew.
