PROVIGIL Reviews (MODAFINIL)Average Rating: 3.6 (619 Ratings)Filter ResultsCompare PROVIGIL with similar:
Type: Rx Drug
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More on PROVIGIL: Reviews Summary | Drug Safety Information
| RATING | REASON | SIDE EFFECTS FOR PROVIGIL | COMMENTS | SEX | AGE | DURATION/ DOSAGE | DATE ADDED |
| 5 | Fatigue related to sleep apnea | Bruxism (grinding teeth), motormouth | Provigil is outstanding if taken correctly. I take 100mg on awakening in the morning and 50-100mg at noon - none after that. 32 years of type 1 insulin dependent diabetes has resulted in constant fatigue and occasional depression for which I use Lexapro 10mg once daily which also causes drowsiness. Last May, my doctor prescribed Provigil. The first two months produced pure euphoria to the point that I looked forward to getting up early in the morning to take it. I gained so much energy and ambition that I built an addition on my house. I am disabled/retired due to diabetes. To avoid insomnia, I don't take Provigil after noon and since it has only a 6 hour half-life, it's at a low level by night. I take 0.25 mg (1/2 tab) of clonazepam before bed for restless leg syndrome (developed many years before taking Provigil) and sleep like a baby. The euphoria is long gone and I'm taking a larger dose than when I started due to some tolerance developing. On occasion, I will stop taking it for 4-5 days without withdrawal symptoms just to clear my system. Bruxism has always been a problem for me and Provigil has made it worse. On Provigil vs. Nuvigil. Provigil will become generic next year and, by making an inconsequential change in chemistry, the blood suckers created a new prescription drug, Nuvigil that will fill their coffers for the next seven years. When Provigil goes generic, buy it instead of Nuvigil and save $. | M | 64 | 10 months 100 mg 2X day | 2/12/2010 | 5 | hypersomnolence | strong smelling urine, clenching | This drug has made a significant improvement in my quality of life. I was diagnosed with mixed (central and obstructive) sleep apnea, and faithfully wore my CPAP device to the prescribed levels with little improvement in my symptoms. I was diagnosed with borderline narcolepsy after a 24 hour stay at a sleep lab, and was put on provigil. Prior to provigil, I would regularly fall asleep at work or in meetings. I was afraid to drive alone for more than an hour for fear that I would fall asleep driving. (I had many close calls!). I have never felt any euphoria as described by others. The greatest drawback is the expense, but I compare it to the fact that I can keep my job and haven't wrecked any cars. | M | 52 | 3 years 200mg 1X day | 2/26/2010 | 5 | Idiopathic Hypersomnia | Headache | Headache goes away with Tylenol (1,000 mg). For some reason, Advil and ibuprophen meds don't work. I have Idiopathic Hypersomnia. At times I was sleeping up to 20hrs a day. I would eat, sleep and go to the bathroom. Tired all the time. I was literally sleeping my life away. I had seen around twenty different doctors before I was diagnosed and given Provigil/Modafinil (200mg). My wife says it is like I have come back from the dead. I do not "feel" the effect of this medicine. It is not like drinking a soda pop and feeling the caffine work (or eating a lot of sugar). For me, it does not "kick-in". But it works. I find myself staying awake during the day, and doing things. However, after two weeks, the effect started wearing off. I started taking naps and going for the sugar and caffeine. A month and a half after I started 200mg, the doctor raised the dosage over a number of weeks to 600mg a day. The medicine started working again, but after 400mg I couldn't tell much difference in wakefulness. As the dosage increased (by 100mg a week), I also noticed that I started waking up earlier and earlier. From 9:30am to 8:30am to 7:45am. I expected a lot from this medicine, and it has proven itself. Sadly, it has not been enough. The next step is to add other medications on top of this. Important notes: Around every hour and a half of taking this medicine, I notice a slight drop in its effect. No getting pregnant. | M | 39 | 90 days 400 mg 1X day | 5/1/2010 | 5 | Counter side effects of Gabapentin | Seems to works best if not taken every day. I stop taking it Fri-Sun and feel a bit of withdrawals by Sat. Primary withdraw symptom is uncharacteristically irritable. | Background: was prescribed Gabapentin (Neurontin) to address a pinched nerve. Gabapentin had the side effects SIGNIFICANT memory loss and "brain fog" for months after discontinuing use. Provigil was a lifesaver. It got me through this recovery period and kept me functional at work. Note: this short-term use of Provigil is not covered by insurance and the drug costs $$$, but well worth it my opinion. | M | 45 | 60 days 50 4X W | 5/5/2010 | 5 | Mood Disorder/Bipolar/Borderline/ | Increase in motivation,energy,focus: enhanced if taken on empty stomach. Caffeine, etc. can cause tinnitus & irritability. Behaves like an antidepressant. Mood changes, thinking changes, more outgoing personality (occasionally obstreperous/annoying to others). | I took this to help with suicidal thoughts and actions. It has been the only drug that has changed my thinking patterns & increased motivation to create (music). I have done outrageous things on Provigil, which fall into the Bipolar list - like walk out on a performance - or upbraid a priest in public. With experience, and therapy, skills, you can learn to control the "over the top" feelings. If I feel it waning, I may stop it for a few days, or break the pill in half. The withdrawal is like this: falling down a mental staircase. It is not nearly as unpleasant as coming off an SSRI. I have stopped the med many times, and felt fine for up to 1 month. I felt after 1 month that an additional drop occurs, since I've tried this many times. I begin to wonder if permanent changes have been made to my brain chemistry: or long term changes, at least. This is an effective agent to help with suicidal urges. It is sad that so many people feel these urges in our modern age. There is no pill to cure the entire socio-economic trend. | M | 46 | 8 years 100mg 1X day | 6/15/2010 | 5 | resistant depression, focus. | little headache, nothing else. | it's the best drug for attention ever taken it increased alert, concentration, without making you high or manic. you may use it such as augument of your antidepressant or alone. great med. | M | 24 | 7 days 100 2X day | 4/19/2010 | 5 | Hypersomniq r/2 to chronic pain t | Sometimes unable to fall asleep if taken after 6 pm | This drug is a lifesaver. I suffer from chronic pain related to 2 failed back surgeries to fix compression fracture in my spine. I have to take large amounts of oral narcotics along with an implanted pain pump giving Dilaudid into my spine. If it wasn't for Provogil, I would fall asleep any and everywhere. I don't get europhic from the drug and have been taking it for 8 years now. | M | 42 | 8 years 200mg 2X day | 8/18/2010 | 5 | MS | Tinnitus and jitters. | I've been taking Provigil for 2 years. It's helped me a lot. I also take Baclofen for tremor but the side-effects add to my MS Fatigue and I have trouble doing anything. I recently upped my dosage from 200 MG to 400 MG per day and I've noticed tinnitus (noticed! It's hard not to notice - but it's worth it.) | M | 46 | 1 months 100 MG 4X day | 9/25/2010 | 5 | dEPRESSION RELATED TIREDNESS | None. | Whee has this stuff been. After a sucide attempt due to deep depression and fatigue, prescribed this drug. I am smiling and feel normal. I have taken "speed" but this is much different, no mania and can sleep. Hope it lasts. I am going to have some fun now! | M | 60 | 2 days 200 1X day | 10/1/2010 | 5 | Depression/Rotating Shifts | Suppression of appetite, jittery/shaky at first (went away after a few days), could focus and get stuff done! Headaches at first, went away with time. | My psych HATES caffeine and I'm a serious caffeine junkie. Prescribed me this when I mentioned how first thing I do in the AM is turn on the coffee pot. Noticed effects IMMEDIATELY...like within an hour after taking. I've had days where I've cleaned the apartment and then some after taking my morning dose. However, effect seems to wear off and tolerance has increased over time and a years'-plus use. Has helped at times pull me out of mild depressive spells. Terribly expensive, my MD had to give prior authorization before insurance would cover it. HORRIBLE fatigue if I take it for awhile then stop or forget to refill it. But overall, satisfied. Except for the loss of appetite, bc I'm a little guy. | M | 28 | 16 months 400 2X day | 10/18/2011 | 5 | Mild Narcolepsy/Daytime Sleepiness | None | This medicine works very well. It helps me stay alert, but I don't feel "wired." I would recommend Provigil to anyone in the same situation. | M | 51 | 3.5 years 200 MG 1X day | 11/6/2011 | 5 | Excessive sleepiness | Jaw clenching (quite bad and annoying) Slight headache (tolerable) Everything else is down to managing the stuff, which is not easy. | This was self-medication as GP had no answers for bad sleep. Rather than use a sleeping pill, I tried modafinil to wake myself up. No systematic effect on hunger. Incredibly effective if short of sleep for a day or two. Very productive, brain very clear - things that had puzzled me got sorted very quickly (maths stuff!) and raced through design and analysis (I'm an engineer). Some mood lift, not manic, definitely more sociable and positive. And confident. After a couple of months I got very tired & thought I might have damaged myself, took a break for a week felt normal again and found brain was back on-form :) I find I can sleep perfectly well if still affected at the end of the day though tend to wake early feeling I've had enough sleep. The much-vaunted "focus" can make it hard to change to other tasks. It's also a bit hard to manage: the effects run into the night so you end up short of sleep again unless you force yourself to go to bed. Get a bit crazy if you run short of sleep for several days running - flights of fancy, slight peripheral vision effects (of the "was that a bug flying past?" sort), just like being over-tired (like I am now) - which you are though you don't feel sleepy. (A short nap clears the head and then you need to force yourself to go to bed at a sensible time!) I find 100mg will dispel my usual tendancy to doze off (or most of it), 200 is nice, 400 does get a bit manic, I suppose that's when the stimulant effects st | M | 62 | 90 days 200mg 1X day | 12/29/2011 | 5 | narcolepsy | None. | Stop when you don't need it, no side effects. | M | 42 | 2 years 400 1X day | 1/25/2012 | 5 | Major Depression | Early a little increases anxiety but not overwhelming. | I have tried 4 antidepressants Lexapro,Remeron,Wellbutrin and I am currently on Zoloft and Lamictal which keep me slightly above the bottom. My days are usually full of heavy depression related tiredness. The Dr prescribed me Dextroamphetamine 10mgs to take on the bad days. This gave me immediate results knocking out the depression the day I take it and the positive effects lasted up to 2 days after taking it. He said I could just stay on it but since it is addictive perhaps Provigil would work as well on a daily basis. I started the first 2 days on 50mgs and it worked beautifully keeping me alert and depression free. On the 3rd day it did not feel as effectve so I upped it to 100Mgs first thing in the morning at 6AM on an empty stomach and within 1 hour I am alert and feeling great. This is an expensive drug with no US generic. My insurance will not cover it. I buy the generic overseas "Modinifil" for a fraction of what the brand name sells for here. It worked the same as the Provigil samples I got from the DR. THis is not an approved med for depression which is a shame. As long as it works I will never stop it. | M | 57 | 1 months 100 MG 1X day | 7/8/2012 | 5 | sleep apnea, energy & adult A.D.D | I have had no side effects. It works better for me when I break it in half doses - half in the morning and half in the afternoon. I noticed that when I take a whole one in the morning (200 mg) I sometimes feel a slight headache,but quite tolerable and like my body is racing by afternoon - but not in a bad way. | I consider this a miracle drug as it has helped me daily with focusing and energy both as an educator and as a graduate student. When I don't take it, I get very tired around mid morning or noon and I remember that I had not taken the medicine. My doctor thought it was the perfect medication for seniors with no known side effects. | M | 68 | 2 years 200 1X day | 8/31/2012 | 5 | fatigued | more wakefullness, easier to focus, light euphoric feeling, more motavation | This drug works miracles but it's not easy to get hold of I wish I had it in highschool I've would've got so much more done. My life would be so much different. However I feel like I can't do anything with out this drug. Stripping me of it would be like stripping me of my lively hood. | M | 25 | 60 days 100-200mg 1X day | 3/2/2013 | 5 | fatigue from m.s. | none | great drug it has changed my life i no longer have to sleep 12 or my hours per day | M | 55 | 5 years 50 mg 1X day | 1/26/2013 | 5 | Hypersomnolence | Decreased fatigue | Helped me a ton! I now wake up and feel like everyone else during the day, and have no twitchiness, little anxiety, or other side effectsthat caffiene, etc. have. I switched from Paxil to Effexor about a year ago, and everything seemed alright...but after awhile, I noticed that I was always increadibly tired. I went off to college that year, and failed / dropped half my classes because I needed 12-16 hours of sleep a day, and would still be exausted when I forced myself out of bed. Evidently this kind of reaction is a common effect of Effexor. I talked to my doctor after returning home for the summer, and he suggested a few things (in addition to Effexor, as everything but the fatigue was great with that drug). Ultimately, Provigil was the only thing that has worked. I am currently working at a job that requires about 13 hours a day, 6-7 days a week of work, and am only very slightly tired throughout the day. I take 300 milligrams about 5-6 hours before I want to wake up, and I have wa | M | 19 | 6 months | 11/8/2005 | 5 | lifelong daytime drowsiness | For the first few months on Provigil I experienced flu-like symptoms - aches and chills - doctor said it was common, and gradually they went away. If I take too much, I can get a little shaky, but not anxious. Like others, my urine seems darker and stronger-smelling. The most annoying side effect is that I clench my jaws to the point of headaches sometimes, AND - this is the worst - I compulsively push my tongue against the back of my lower teeth so that after awhile my tongue and gums are sore; I've even gotten irritation sores on my tongue. Even though I'm aware of it, I can't stop it. My dentist doesn't think I'm hurting my teeth, anyway. And it's bearable. | Before Provigil, driving any long distance was agony because I had to fight drowsiness so often. (A sleep test said I have "fragmented sleep" but found no cause.)Now I'm totally alert, and the drug is amazing in that I can stay alert and interested through boring lectures and meetings; I contribute and perform much better. (I wish I had had it in college!) I read somewhere that it can make antidepressants more effective (I take Paxil and trazodone) and I really believe it: sometimes if I'm feeling down, I take Provigil for that purpose, it really helps. Interestingly, the drug seems to create a tolerance very quickly - if I take it for several days in a row, I have to increase the dose quite a bit; if I'm trying to work late in the evening, it seems that even taking more Provigil after dinner doesn't really keep me up much later. So I try not to use it every day, and that brings back its potency quickly. I take anywhere from zero to 100 mg to 200 mg and very occasionally mor | M | 61 | 4 times | 11/14/2006 | 5 | sorry, I meant to say 4 YEARS - this drop down menu is easy to screw up. | M | 4 years | 11/14/2006 |
PROVIGIL (MODAFINIL): Modafinil reduces extreme sleepiness due to narcolepsy and other sleep disorders, such as periods of stopped breathing during sleep (obstructive sleep apnea). It is also used to help you stay awake during work hours if you have a work schedule that keeps you from having a normal sleep routine (shift work sleep disorder). This medication does not cure these sleep disorders and may not get rid of all your sleepiness. Modafinil does not take the place of getting enough sleep. It should not be used to treat tiredness or hold off sleep in people who do not have a sleep disorder. It is not known how modafinil works to keep you awake. It is thought to work by affecting certain substances in the brain that control the sleep/wake cycle. FDA Approval Date: 1998-12-24 (Sources: U.S. Centers for Medicare Services, FDA)