"please keep me updated about oximeters "
Sleep Apnea Forum Bringing Power to the Patient
New? Free Sign Up
Then check our Welcome Center to a Community Caring about Sleep Apnea diagnosis and Sleep Apnea treatment:
CPAP machines, Sleep Apnea surgery and dental appliances.
CPAP Supplies
Latest Activity
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.
Views: 20847
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
-
-
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 RockRpsgt 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.
-
-
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......
-
-
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??
-
-
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??
-
Permalink Reply by Renee on
-
Hello Victoria ~
I have had no luck with all the RX that I have been prescribed to help with extreme tiredness / fatigue. Either they were not effective or the side effects have been too severe for me to continue the RX.
Just recently, however, I started taking Nuvigil at 150 mg. It did not seem to be effecive and I wound up with extreme abdominal and chest pain and nausea so that wasn't working out. My doctor suggested lowering the dose to 75 mg. I thought that since Nuvigil didn't seem effective at 150 mg that lowering it to 75 mg was not going to help. But I have found this particular doctor to be very experienced and very caring about my health and sleep problems and so I switched to 75 mg.and now - 1st off - NO more pain or nausea - and, although it's too soon to tell, I think Nuvigil may actually be helping me.
Seems nowadays most people with sleeping problems are being prescribed Nuvigil rather than Provigil but my doctor has advised me that some people are helped by Nuvigil and others are helped by Provigil. My good wishes to you as you try Nuvigil.
Best,
Renee
-
-
Sorry to see that everyone is 'buying in' so easily to Pharmaceutical solutions to fatigue. They are flawed beyond belief, let alone the long-term side-effects to your physiology. Honestly, I feel your pain and frustrating. Have you experimented at all with a natural supplement called 'NADH' ? More information and genuine research can be found at www.nadh.com
There are also some studies, although less convincing, on Acetyl L-Carnitine. High doses of Vitamin C for tired adrenals is important as well. Best Regards, Jay
-
-
I was just prescribed Nuvigil and have started out with a 1/2 of a 150mg tablet to start. I am feeling kind of stoned. Has that happened to anyone else?
© 2025 Created by The SleepGuide Crew.
Powered by
