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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.
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Replies to This Discussion
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Permalink Reply by K. S. on
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Yes, Terry, I meant that improving his CPAP AHI number with lessening his arousals, he was able to decrease the Provigil dose. He is less fatigued. In his opinion, the CPAP was the "magic bullet" for treatment of a chronic disease, not cure. For years, we just had him on Provigil rather than treat the root cause. First and foremost, study your CPAP to optimize that treatment.
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K.S., it was the magic bullet for me as well, you are correct that it is a treatment not a cure and also that alot of Dr's would rather treat the symptoms with meds than find the cause. That was what happened in my case and on another site I am on regulary they are all prescribed meds rather than finding the cause, then when they don't get better they wonder why. I now try to give others advise on alternatives to meds but it is up to each person to make their own decision.
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Permalink Reply by Mary Z on
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I assumed my EDS was due to sleep apnea- some people never seem to get over the daytime sleepiness. I take thyroid meds and my levels are ok. Since no cause could be found for my daytime sleepiness I took provigil or nuvugil. Don't need it any more and don't know what changed.
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My doctor prescribed Provigil for me initially, but my insurance denied it. And that's fine because the copay for the Nuvigil is cheaper! I'm still paying $40/month. I can't recall my dosage without having it in front of me...
I started taking it in January and at first it was working great! I still deal with fatigue, but I am hardly missing any work now. Before, I was out at least twice a month. I may get a higher dose when I go back for a followup. I would like a bit more energy to hit the gym after work (I'm still NOT a morning person, lol). Good luck to you!
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Ok..... I recently found out that my Vitamin D level was WAY LOW. I asked the Dr. why they have suddenly started checking vitamin levels - didn't really get an answer but he did say that low levels of Vitamin D can really cause problems, one of them being extreme fatigue and also aches and pains. SO....rather than assuming its because of apnea, maybe your fatigue could be caused by something else??? I really hate it when you have a diagnosis and suddenly EVERYTHING that is wrong with you is because of that diagnosis. Why can't the doctors think outside the box sometimes. I know I have started to - and have found out some very interesting things! AND...Vitamin D is very inexpensive. Of course, get it checked out before you start taking it as this may NOT be your problem at all. But according to my DR. as we age we don't absorb it as well. Take into account the fact that you feel bad and then put in the factor that you probably don't spend quality time in the sunshine, where your body normally gets most of its Vitamin D, and maybe, just maybe. How does Provigil and Nuvigil work anyway. Is it just a "pep" pill?
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Think Your Problem is more than sleep apnoea. I would fall asleep anywere like eating or in a conversation but getting the correct settings on my cpap machine cured that. Cheers Dave C
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I have serious issues with clenching my teeth and I'm not even on either of those drugs. I got a mouthguard and it seemed to even mak it worse. I wish I knew what to do about that. But that is another subject.
Joanne Williams, RPSGT said: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......
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From PubMed-" Modafinil is in a class of medications called wakefulness promoting agents. It works by changing the amounts of certain natural substances in the area of the brain that controls sleep and wakefulness."
It's not a "pep" pill-never gave me energy or felt like speed- just helped me stay awake.
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You sound like you are getting the wrong help. Nuvigil really could "buz" you brain. confusion and look like your on speed. Unsafe driving so don't drive to work with it or watch kids. You may have blurred vision too. Try the CPAP machine. I am telling you it makes a huge difference to improve our lifestyle sleep and funtioning wide. The price for Nuvigil is out of site! Dump it.
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Beverly, have you ever tried Nuvigil? Some of us couldn't drive or watch kids without taking a wakefullnes agent. CPAP did not cure my daytuime sleepiness as proven by a MSLT. Everybody has a different reaction to drugs and I've heard from people who said it made them feel like they were on speed. But I have heard from many more people who returned to normal lives because of Nuvigil/Provigil. It was worth every penny for me. I couldn't drive to the 7-11 four blocks from my house before Provigil. I couldn't go to appointments. I slept my life away. Provigil just helped me stay awake.
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Yes I have. Although I was taking 150 mg tablets, I had to cut them in half because they were way too powerful and made my heart go wild. The half dosage worked well but I could not take it when I was at work because all of a sudden I would appear very chatty, excited but very happy and felt "smart". I became "spacey" too. Almost like I was on "speed".It was noticable by others at work who started looking at me like "what is SHE on?" I had several packages ( samples) which my doctor gave me because my insurance company would not approve it. And also was extremely expensive. I could not stay awake at work and driving home became dangerous. I figured I was better off drinking coffee (price wise). I am keeping in mind that I take Synthroid for my thyroid, and atacand for BP along with Innopran xl. So with taking blood pressure medicine and thyroid medication perhaps my affect was not a positive one. I still have the samples which do not expire until 2013. I keep them "just in case". JMO thanks for your experience and imput on my reply.: )
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My sleep doc prescribed Provigil when I told him I was tired and low energy on many days and couldn't accomplish much despite AHI in the ones. But there is a difference between low energy and daytime sleepiness. After reading more about it I realized this wasn't for me; I wasn't falling asleep during the day. He said he believed the apnea was well-controlled and that my tiredness is from something else. So, I did a 4 times a day salivary cortisol test - ordered it online on my own - and it came out low each time. My GP doesn't know what to do with this info but is sending me to a rheumatologist b/c I have many aches and pains to go with this. Two endocrinologists say I'm fine b/c my blood serum 8 AM cortisol level was mid-range normal (13). They didn't bother to check the other 3 times a day levels. My thyroid is supposedly normal even though my FT3 is borderline low normal. Just argh - and just saying terminology is important.
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