Drug Ratings for NUVIGILAverage Rating: 3.3 (130 Ratings)
Compare NUVIGIL with similar: |
Results are sorted by Date Rating Was Added Key to Ratings: 1=LOW (I would not recommend taking this medicine.) Page: 1 2 3 |
| RATING | REASON | SIDE EFFECTS FOR NUVIGIL | COMMENTS | SEX | AGE | DURATION/ DOSAGE | DATE ADDED |
  | F M | | | | |||
| 5 | Narcolepsy | Anxiety, immediate need to delicate. | It's excellent. I don't take it every day. My excessive sleepiness I help counteract by hitting the gym and doing cardio around 1 pm. I counteract the short-term anxiety with small dose as needed of diazepam or Valium. On weekends I just take a nap if needed. It helps. To those who say they took days to get Nugivil out of their system, pharmacology of nyvigil is that it's out in 24 hours. No residual which is why I'm able to take as needed. No build up or withdrawal required. My dose is achieved by cutting pill in half. So.... It's not the drug. Go get some exercise and sweat out the toxins from our insane food supply. | F | 41 | 1 years 125 1X D | 3/31/2013 | 3 | fibromyalgia narolepsy | Jittery dizzyness dry mouth faster heart rate and speech problem i started to studder when i was talking problems with focus | F | 33 | 1 days 150 mg | 3/22/2013 | 4 | Profound narcolepsy | Awful dry mouth, sore mouth, stiff jaw and mouth, rash on both eyelids and around eyes that makes it look like I have red eye shadow on | I have had narcolepsy my whole life and never knew what was wrong with me. I could never stay awake in school, college classes or at work. I would fight to stay awake within minutes of sitting down at a meeting. I finally had a sleep study on the recommendation of a physician friend, where narcolepsy was diagnosed. I initially took Provigil but my insurance made me switch to Nuvigil. I like the effect of both and have no trouble sleeping at night at all. The drugs have truly changed my life and for that I am thankful. However, 4 months after switching to Nuvigil, I developed such severe dry mouth I was convinced I had Sjogren's disease. All testing for that was negative. Then I developed a red discoloration around my eyes and eyelids, it looks like I am wearing red eye shadow.My eyes are so dry, also. I actually thought I was allergic to my eye makeup and so stopped using any!!After reading about side effects others have described I realize these must be Nuvigil side effects. I had no side effectsat all on Provigil, am considering asking my MD to change me back. I am thankful to have found this website. | F | 57 | 9 months 250 mg 1X D | 2/18/2013 | 1 | Hypersomnia | nausea, no appetite, headache, jaw clenching, dizziness, jittery, dry mouth, sweating, body aches, insomnia | I will preface this by saying that I am very sensitive to drugs and have had very similar side effects from anti depressants. I took 1 pill (150mg). That was yesterday morning. Tonight, I am still suffering the side effects. First of all, I didn't feel any increase in energy. I still felt very tired all day. The first noticeable side effect is no appetite, I mean NONE whatsoever. I literally ate nothing at all yesterday. I tried to eat a salad and couldn't do it. And if it weren't for the other side effects, I'd probably continue taking it for that alone. Next was nausea and dizziness. I am still super nauseous, almost 36 hours later. I was jittery and felt like my nerves were shot. My head was very cloudy. Several hours later the headache kicked in and jaw clenching. By night time, I was having obsessive and paranoid thoughts (minor but annoying). I was sweating. Dry mouth was noticeable but not a big deal, I drank a sweet tea and that was all I consumed the entire day. Basically I feel like I have the flu x 10. I went to bed 11 hours after taking it, feeling very tired. I literally laid in bed ALL NIGHT LONG, from 10pm to 9am. If I slept at all it was only a few short bursts after 6am. It was absolute torture. I was able to eat today but still no energy, very sick feeling, very nauseous, headache, and jaw clenching. Plus added body aches. I still feel like I have the flu and it has been almost 36 hours. | F | 32 | 1 days 150 1X D | 2/10/2013 | 1 | Obstructive Sleep Apnea | No side effects | Not only no side effects, but no effect at all. I may have well taken a breath mint. | M | 61 | 14 days 150mg 1X D | 2/4/2013 | 3 | Narcolepsy | Sore neck and shoulders. Irritability. Fogginess. | I was diagnosed with Narcolepsy about 2 years ago. I am taking 150mg of Nuvigil in morning with 30mg of Adderall XR and 40mg of Prozac. Throughout the day, I take 2 additional 20mg of Adderall. Nuvigil was added to my list 2 weeks ago. Taking Nuvigil does keep me awake and focused as it's supposed to, but I feel like there are some negative side effects that come with it. I constantly feel irritated or unsatisfied. I feel very sore in my neck and shoulders all the time, and I also feel like I have bruises all over my legs even though there are not "bruised spots." | F | 26 | 2 weeks 150MG 1X D | 2/2/2013 | 5 | Obstructive sleep apnea | Dry mouth, which is improving. This drug changed my life. I was sleeping 12 hours per day even though I used a C-pap. From the first day I have been alert and clear headed. I have also lost my appetite for sweets and have lost 12 pounds which is a good thing. I sleep soundly. I wonder if I was self medicating with sugar to increase my energy level? I have renewed interest I things I haven't done for a long time. I haven't felt this good in 30 years. | F | 59 | 1 months 150 | 12/6/2012 | 5 | extreme episodic hypersomnia | No adverse effects. Nuvigil performed exactly as stated. It is twice as strong as Provigil. I am a real patient. I have no self-interest in this company. | M | 68 | 3 years 250 mg | 12/5/2012 | 5 | psoriatic spondylitis/ parkinsons p | Extreme rebound crash if I go with out dose longer than 2 days it gradually gets worse the more days without. Hyposomnia. Dry mouth. Jitter like tremors in the AM as I am waking. Expec tant apprehension and acute memory recall with hyper atentivness... I have severe sensory nerve damage as well as cataplexy attacks. I also have fused facet joints in spine. I have a fused sternum. My si joints are fused solid. Now my hip are over 80% non functional. I also have 60% tendon inclusion in my legs and shoulders. I walk but very limited. If I don't drop seize from cataplexy I jerk out then drop from the parkinsons. I have very little flexability do posture change is not easy. NUVIGIL is the only medication that I don't drop as much on. I get so exhausted and fast. I will take the side effects because they are better then the other. I was on provigial and found it can cause an autoimmune. Skin condition Nuvigil is less sensitive that way. But they are the same medication somewhat so it may be the same issue | M | 41 | 2 months 500 daily | 10/28/2012 | 3 | MS | trouble sleeping, anxiety, rash, itching | thought this was the wonder drug at 1st. Gave me back my energy with a bit of nervousness and anxiety but dealt with it because I finally got to function in life. Now dealing with horrible, itchy skin rash and cant focus on anything else. So glad to find this site because I never thought it was from nuvigil. "Been trying to figure out what causing the rash for 6 mos now that comes and gos and leaves horrid scaring. | F | 35 | 6 months 50 mg 1X D | 10/15/2012 | 5 | fibromyalgia | Upset stomach, but I also have ibs | F | 37 | 10 days 150mg | 9/13/2012 | 1 | narcolepsy and ms | Doesn't Work!!! | M | 38 | 2 months 250x d | 8/21/2012 | 3 | Somnolence (secondary to OSA) | Burning skin, allergic blisters on extremities that take a while to go away and leave Nasty scars (I cut my dose in-half and these subsided FYI---but you probably should stop this med if this happens btw), decreased skin quality (acne), decreased/absent libido, increased allergies/itchiness, muscle spasms, dry mouth/dry eyes, mucous gland sensitivity, arthritis activation, sharp joint/muscle pains, blood circulation problems from swelling aka hypersensitivity vasculitis (be very careful!), jaw clenching, hyper-aware attentiveness to EVERYTHING including minor/trivial things (your family/close friends will not like this I promise you), fear from side effects worsening into delayed hypersensitivity reaction or Stevens-Johnson syndrome, not to mention the psychological effect of the drug which a majority of people just can't handle because it can get pretty intense. | The way this medication works is not entirely understood, but it effectively increases your body's histamine levels (the opposite effect of anti-histamines). This is a really messy biological hack of a way to get people to stay awake during the day. You will be shocked and scared by all the side effects, which I have listed above (and I really experienced them all). You should only take this medication if you've been down the road of taking stimulants in the past and you've come to the conclusion that you cannot do it (long-term) again. There are much "cleaner" ways to get a boost (Concerta), which do not cause you body to go haywire like this medication does. DO NOT take any other stimulants while on this medication---caffeine or any other type of 'upper'...you will have a bad experience if you do. Also- do not take this medication after say 9 AM because you will not be able to fall asleep at a normal time. As for the medication it works the whole day evenly (which is great), but you cannot drink alcohol EVER if you take it (seriously). Be very careful when taking this medication. IF it is something that you MUST take I recommend taking it no more than once or twice a week, spacing it out to both monitor the effects and also give you body time to adjust back to normal. Try Rosavin by Ameriden or Mind Body Spirit Rhodiola Rosea if you are looking for nature's cure for chronic tiredness/fatigue people. Thanks for sharing your experiences everyone! Get wel | M | 27 | 1 months 125 - 250 1X AN | 8/19/2012 | 5 | idiopathic hypersomnia | excessive talking, excitability | Began Nuvigil due to strong sleepiness during the day. Sleep study was conducted which led to prescription. Would fall asleep anywhere and any part of the day, including while standing if I were leaning against a wall, sitting across from someone talking for an extended period of time, bathroom stalls, watching tv, etc. This drug has made me feel more alert and not sleepy during the day. For as long as I can remember (I'm 44), I never knew what it was like to not be extremely SLEEPY and walking around half dazed bec I was. Love Nuvigil; however, am experiencing extreme excitement and continuous talking. I CANT shut up!! Just tooooo bubbly as I was told by someone today. It's weird bec it's an abnormal happiness...too giddy and out of control! Will see about halfing my dosage, but in the meantime, I feel great! | F | 44 | 28 days 150 mg 1X D | 8/10/2012 | 5 | Fatigue | Just headaches late in the afternoon early evening. This has been a wonderful help. I'm more energized and alert. Thank you for giving me a normal life again. | F | 42 | 2 weeks 150mg dail | 8/2/2012 | 5 | MS-related fatigue | dry mouth, tight jaw, occasional trouble falling asleep | I cut the 250 mg in half and take one as soon as I get up -- but only on days when I know I'll need energy or have a lot of things to do. I take it about one to three times per week. It really helps my stamina -- my muscles still get tired and my balance is off, but I don't have the feeling of increased gravity and soul-numbing fatigue that I usually get. I feel much more clear-headed, which I love, and just a tiny bit "jacked up," which I don't like but am willing to put up with for the good effects. | F | 65 | 30 days 250 mg 1X O | 7/31/2012 | 3 | Fibromyalgia,Chron. Fatigue,PossMS | I was diagnosed with FM and CF but may also have MS or just MS. I have been sick for 2 years with pain and extreme fatigue amongst other symptoms. I had to beg to get to try this after reading it might help. It seemed to help the fatigue mildly but the headache it caused is horrible. I even cut it in half and only took 75 mg but still a horrible headache. Not sure the slight help in fatigue is worth the terrible headache. I don't think I'll take again. | Had wanted to try Provigil but the company now pushes Nuvigil. Couldn't afford Provigil but got a free 30 day supply of Nuvigil. That is terrible when money dictates what you can take. I've heard Provigil is more tolerable for some reason but until generic can't try. Anything else helpful? Is Provigil better? | F | 45 | 2 days 150 1X D | 7/31/2012 | 5 | Narcolepsy, Depression | In the beginning I had a few headaches, and a little trouble going to sleep for a couple of nights. | Nuvigil has made my life so much better. I used to fight sleep all day at work, it got to the point where I was staying home because I just couldn't stay awake. Once I started Nuvigil I have not had this problem at all, I feel like I have more energy, and my mental alertness has improved 100%. I am so grateful for this drug, it had truly changed my life for the better. I have found that if I don't take it on the weekends that it works better. Seems like I've built up a tolerance for it. Some days I will take another pill around lunch time to get through the rest of the day. I'm thinking of asking my MD to increase the dosage, put I have my doubts that she will. The benefits for me totally outweigh the side effects. | F | 46 | 1 years 250 mg 1X D | 7/21/2012 | 3 | Narcolepsy | Headaches, Faster Heart Rate, Moody, Confused, Majorly Increased Libido, Blurry Vision, Very Shaky and STILL Sleepy | I was taking 250 MG per day and it didn't put a dent in my "Daze" or Sleeping several times per day. The Neurologist got permission to double the prescription. I'm awake more than normal, but am so frustrated because I'm still sleepy along with the other side effects (one of them I can deal with, lol). If you take this stuff, you know I should be zooming for days after that dose. What gives?? | F | 47 | 7 months 500 MG 1X D | 7/4/2012 | 1 | Narcolepsy | enlarged heart, elevated heart rate, difficulty swallowing/breathing, fatigue, narrowing vessels, poor blood circulation, narrowing esophagus, | I have all of these side effects and I really do not have a choice of another medication. Without this Nuvigil, I would be prescribed depression medicines again. | F | 43 | 5 years 250 mg 1X D | 6/14/2012 | 5 | Idiopathic Hypersomnia | Occasional increased heart rate, occasional insomnia, jitters | (*Note: My doctor has me only on half of a 150 mg pill a day, and I take the weekends off, so as to avoid developing dependence.) The side effects, for me, were few and far between--not to mention well worth it. This medicine has allowed me to be able to get my life back on track. I've gone from sleeping over 16 hours in a day to sleeping a normal 9 hours at night, with no necessary nap time, and an ability to concentrate better, exercise, and get up easily in the morning (as long as I take my pill right away). I understand that everyone reacts differently. But it's really saved my quality of life. | F | 23 | 6 months 75 MG 1X D | 5/23/2012 | 3 | narcolepsy | I am so torn. Although this medicine is very helpful with day time drowsiness it has had a big effect on my mood. I was first on provigil and that had me REALLY tense and angry with some headaches. Nuvigil is better but i do get slight headaches and my mood is still scattered. When I'm off of it for a couple of days i am in a great mood. With the help of xyrem i can get 6 hours so the sleepiness is bit more manageable. | M | 32 | 4 months 150mg 1x | 5/17/2012 | 5 | idiosynractic hypersomnia | At first mild headaches, insomnia, jitters, dizziness, dry eyes/mouth. Now only loss of appetite and occasional mental foggy-ness. | F | 21 | 4 weeks 150mg | 5/16/2012 | 5 | Sleep work disorder | Weight loss, I was peeing out my butthole most days but the weight loss was worth it. I lost 30pds total. I was able tO focus and it changed my life very productive in work and school, aside from having to run to the bathroom 7-8 times a day. (diarrhea) highly reccommend. | M | 34 | 3 months 150 | 5/7/2012 | 1 | narcolepsy | It gave me headaches, but other than that, this medicine gave me absolutely no relief from my extreme daytime sleepiness. | F | 49 | 2 months 250 mg | 3/30/2012 | 2 | narcolepy | I am lazy,tired,memory loss and anxiety.I take with xyrem at night so I should feel better. | F | 36 | 6 months 250 | 3/26/2012 | 4 | Narcolepsy with Cataplexy | Mild headaches and a cloudy mind after 12 hours. A tiny bit of dizziness but went away after a week. Memory Loss. Weight loss. | I got diagnosed with narcolepsy a month ago, my doctor placed my on Nuvigil (I have never been on a prescription medicine and have never taken any form of birth control). Every day I have been awake the entire day without needing a nap (unless I thought it was a great idea to get less than 6 hours of sleep, then I would be tired during the day but still awake.) At night the first week or two I still woke up constantly but after that I have been so exhausted when I go to bed I cant even remember if I wake up or not, and I cant remember my dreams like I normally can. A really nice effect of Nuvigil (at least for a young person like me) is that Nuvigil removed my hunger almost. I still make sure to eat three meals a day but I don't have hunger cravings all day and if I do get hungry my stomach complains but it doesn't hurt like it normally does. The bad thing I want to complain about is the memory loss. Its really important for a student like me (studying for a bachelors in Mechanical Engineering) to be able to study and memorize things. I pay attention in class, take good notes, and study like i always have but even in my easy classes I failed every exam. I could tell you things the day I studied them but the next day I would go back to study and not remember a thing or how to do it. When I needed to study in the evening I would get headaches and like fog or fluff would cloud my mind. | F | 20 | 30 days 150 1X D | 3/4/2012 | 4 | sleep apnea | I have had some head aches but I can deal with that. | I love this medication because it gave me a normal life again. I was always so exhausted and was having trouble getting sleepy while driving. I have sleep apnea, diabetes, IBS, and high cholestrol but I am doing so much better. My only concern is what it effects will be long term and if it will have to be increased. | F | 58 | 3 months 150 1X D | 1/28/2012 | 4 | Narcolepsy | For the first weeks or so....Initial headaches, moodiness, weightloss, inability to sleep. | Great med. Gave me a life that I never knew was possible. I take half of the 250 in the morning and the other half at noon. Occasionally, I take another half pill at supper time. Doesn't prevent me from sleeping at night. I'm out at about 11 and up at 5 every day. Crazy expensive pills - $3 per day even with insurance - but worth it for me. Improved my work and family life. I still fall asleep multiple times during the day, but it is nowhere near the frequency that it used to be. | M | 46 | 8 months 250 1X D | 12/18/2011 | 5 | Complex Sleep Apnea/Shift Work | Nuvigil has given me my Quality of Life back to working full time again. Take 150 in AM and 100 mg late afternoon. If take or double dose you won't sleep and will become very moodie. Stick with directions and Nuvigil will give new lease on life. Nuvigil WAY BETTER than Provigil. | M | 51 | 2 years 250 | 12/1/2011 | 4 | Chronic Fatigue/Sjogrens/Fibro | Worst is when medication wears off, feel like I am crashing, anxiousness, sadness, moody and cant think very clearly. Lasts for about 30 to 60 mins. To reduce this, I split dose and usually take half in am and half again at lunch. Sometimes, if I take it for a week or two without vacation, I will have difficulty going to sleep at night. If I stop medication after 5-7 days for a day or two and go back on, this side effect is reduced. | Has really helped me with Fibro Fog and ability to stay awake during the day. Seems to work better if I take periodic vacations from medication for a day or two and then back on. Was on provigil for about a year before Nuvigil. Nuvigil seems to work better with less side effects. | F | 52 | 8 months 150 1X D | 11/17/2011 | 2 | Sleep Apnea - day time sleepiness | I only took this drug two days because the second dosage caused my blood pressure to spike to 198/110 and I had to call the EMTs. The first two days I did experience much less sleepiness but after the second dosage I was up from 5:30a until 2:30a. My heart started rapidly beating, sweating, and just unable to settle down for any sleep. I should say I had 8 cups of tea and 1 cup of coffee - perhaps if I left out the caffeine this wouldn't have happened. Or, perhaps a much smaller dose. | Why do people with day time sleepiness due to chronic sleep apnea use a drug such as Nuvigil to be more awake when obviously what they need is SLEEP?? I did like how Nuvigil kept me awake and alert but if it causes elevated blood pressure how is that going to effect my health? Now I am back to 2 cups green tea (using 4 tea bags) one cup black tea (using 1 tea bag) 24 oz green ice tea (using 4 tea bags) and sometimes one cup of coffee. I have tried to cut tea or caffeine use off at 2p and when doing so slept better. I also try to nap - but often if I let me self lay down my nap is 1.5 hours long - I awake feeling refreshed but that is not really a nap - that is someone who NEEDS sleep. | F | 54 | 2 days 150 1X D | 11/9/2011 | 5 | Idiopathic Hypersomnia | Nausea, dizziness, upset stomach, headaches, dry mouth, difficulty sleeping at night | The majority of side effects I only experienced the first day or two. Headaches went away by day 3 (but were really extreme first 2 days). I still have a little difficulty sleeping because I don't feel sleepy when it's time for bed (unless I didn't get much sleep the night before) but I found that if I just try to relax and fall asleep, I can. The only side effect that has stayed throughout is the dry mouth, which is bearable (just annoying at times). At least it gets me to drink a lot of water, but it never goes away. Overall, the drug helps me feel very alert, functional, and (best of all) normal. After the first 5 days, the drug didn't seem as effective and I was falling asleep all day. However, I think it's because I was having trouble sleeping the first few nights so I was really sleepy. During the 2nd week, I was able to fall asleep better each night and stay at the 150mg dose for the most part. I took the pill at 5:00 AM each morning and if by 8:00 or 9:00 AM, I still felt a little drowsy, I took 1/2 of another 150 mg pill to total 225 mg. It seemed to help. The next day, I just went back to 150 mg and was fine. The drug isn't perfect but it's definitely better than feeling sleepy all day. | F | 29 | 14 days 150-225 1X D | 10/29/2011 | 5 | Idiopathic Hypersomnia | Headaches. Headaches faded over period of a week. Goes away with 2x extra strength Tylenol (ibuprophen, and everything else doesn't work). | Originally started on Modafinil. I started to feel more like myself after a day. That effect lasted two weeks and I fell about half-way back to pre-Modafinil state. Mayo clinic worked me up to 800mg a day. Benefit seemed to stop around 600mg. On Modafinil alone I never returned to that first two week state. There was a slight improvement each time the dosage was raised, but my body adapted to it quickly. On Modafinil alone I never returned to that first two week state. About 1.5 years later doctor prescribed Nuvigil (Armodafinil). The dosage is 1/2 of Modafinil (its supposed to be 2x as strong). I had heard it was a waste of time - a pharmaceutical company's way of extending their patent. It appears there is some difference because when first started taking it, the headaches returned for a week. Now I rarely if ever take naps. I reverted to Modafinil for 2-3 weeks and I could tell there was a difference. I still haven't gotten back to work, but I am conscious, able to work on the house and be present-even if I am not quite alert. It's not the correct use of the term, but I refer to myself as "minimally conscious". For a short while Ritalin (15mg) was added to the mix and I was about 1/2 way back to work. Sadly, the doctor who prescribed it left/retired and the new one doesn't "believe in it." So the Ritalin went away and I have returned to the world of the "minimally conscious." | M | 41 | 6 months 375 1X D | 9/28/2011 | 1 | Sleep Issues | Dry mouth, mouth sores, sever stomach cramps, sever diarrhea, joint and muscle pain, depression, thoughts of suicide, extreme loss of appetite, weight loss and loss of concentration. | M | 25 | 14 days 250 1X D | 9/27/2011 | 4 | S.A.D. Depression | I take 1/2 a Nuvigil at 5 a.m. and and cannot sleep easily for 2 nights, BUT I am alert, mentally sharp, have tolerance for previously irritating things and best of all, amazingly, I am my best self. It's hard to believe, but absolutely true for me. B/C I only take occasionally I am positive the effects are the result of the medication. When I do, I love that I actually like myself again and get things DONE with a good sense of humor to boot! Too bad b/c of the insomnia for 2 whole days, the which is the horrible part and precludes me from taking more often. | Insurance doesn't cover and it is $$$, so can only take once in awhile and b/c of side effects. | F | 45 | 3 years 225 mg. 1X AN | 9/26/2011 | 1 | Narcolepsy | For the first day or two it went great i was awake than went to sleep at night; without passing out numerous times randomly during the day. Than this medcine started making me more depressed and it was as if i lost my memory. I ended up having to have a friend come take care of me. I was writing everything down trying not to forget what i did with stuff.It was the biggest mess i've been in. I've never been so depressed, i went to the hospital because i felt so crazy and off and the docters kept telling me that this drug has no side effect of memory loss. After talking to other people and reading results. It does. I also without some kidof medicationg to bring me off of the Nuvigil, i ended up staying awake more than i was sleeping. I quit taking it obv. now my memory is beack and after the medicine was fully out of my system i wasnt depressed. | F | 20 | 2 weeks 1X D | 9/7/2011 | 2 | UARS | Eyes twitch, I'm dazed, awake enough not to sleep but to out of it to really do anything, dizzy, constinatly feel like i'm falling, Imobilized, stiff body, confused, not hungry, depressed, | Started out great but that last only a day or so. Day by day the effects (being awake) wore out sooner and sooner, the awakness for me lasts about 2 hours then for the remaining 10 hours of the day its down hill. Feel sick, dizzy and all the side effects I listed. | F | 42 | 25 days 250 1X D | 8/15/2011 | 3 | Narcalopcy | Joint pain. Seems that if I strain a muscle its intensified. Bruise easier. Seems to help a bit with the SSRI withdrawal (brain zaps). Seems to cause some sleepyness that I do not need anymore of. | Tried provigil and that put me right to sleep. Nuvigil does not interupt my sleep and helps me to not wake so often. Somedays after taking it, I feel I am drunk but this only last about an hour then I'm awake. I can at least make it through the day without falling asleep at my desk but once I'm home I start getting sleepy again. I would like to take more but don't know if that's a good idea. | F | 50 | 1 months 250 1X D | 8/3/2011 | 4 | Narcolepsy | Dry mouth, headache, nausea, easily bruise, anxiety, irritable. | I love it, and thank it to being able to live my life. Before I was sleeping over 20 hours a day. I would get up eat and go right back to sleep. I didn't feel like doing anything or being around anyone, I just wanted to sleep. While I have had side effects, I know that for me the pros outweigh the cons. I have learned to cope and deal with most of them. The headaches went away after a week or so, now I only notice them when I forget my pill. My doctor had recommended that I not take anything for the headaches because it would probably only make them worse if I ever do come off of it. Dry mouth I have been able to treat and I think is important to treat with an over the counter tooth paste and mouth wash called Biotene. I found out that dry mouth causes extra plaque to build up on your teeth and causing gum disease to form. Since I began the Biotene (which doesn't taste bad at all, just no extra minty flavor) I haven't had a problem with dry mouth. I found out that it does effect hormonal forms of birth control, so I convinced my doctor to put me on the ParaGard which uses no hormones and works for 10 years. The only long term form of birth control that I have complete control over. I still get nausea though I'm used to it by now. I still can go out and enjoy my friends...though I just feel a little sick to my stomach sometimes, when I do I just don't eat. I bruise easily...they don't hurt for me it's just a skin discoloring things. My anxiety and irritableness | F | 23 | 3 years 150 MG 1X D | 7/27/2011 | 5 | Narcolepsy & Idiopathic Hypersomnia | headaches, loss of appetite, short bouts of nausea, some anxiety and increased irritability | I was diagnosed with fibromyalgia at 19. After many years of taking naps after sleeping 12+ hours and falling asleep during meetings, classes, or driving, I had a sleep study and was diagnosed with Narcolepsy and Hypersomnia. I hate meds (I only take IB Profen for the fibro), so I was leery of the Nuvigil. The first day on Nuvigil I felt like I had never felt before: My mind felt awake for the first time in what seems like forever. I had no jitters, extreme energy, or shakes. I did not feel any more energetic, instead I just felt clearer and more focused. I did not want to nap throughout the day, and I have little problems falling asleep at night. The few side effects are headaches (some mild, some sharp "ice pick" headaches. I've had severe migraines for years so they do not bother me much), loss of appetite (I have to remind myself to eat. Usually the headaches are relieved by eating), and short bouts of nausea throughout the day (I have severe IBS and my stomach is very sensitive. Also dairy products make me nauseous and I've read this drug contains lactose). Some anxiety and irritability as well, especially during stressful situations at work. After day 4, still the same. Overall this drugs benefits outweigh the side effects for me. I feel my age for the first time ever! My worries are developing a dependency and the fact that it interferes with any hormonal BC. Neither doctor or pharmacist told me this, so I'm glad I read up on the drug before I began it! | F | 22 | 4 days 150 MG 1X D | 7/23/2011 | 1 | multiple sclerosis | This drug does next to nothing for me. It doesn't help my fatigue and I feel a little buzzed on it. Provigil saved my life. It helped me get out of bed in the morning and kept me going most of the day. And I never, ever felt any buzz or anxiety on it. | F | 51 | 3 months 250 MG 1X D | 6/18/2011 | 3 | Shift work disorder | Teeth/Jaw clenching, Dry eyes, Dry mouth, Aching joints, extreme anxiety, depression, insomnia. | At first this medicine was fantastic. Made me feel alive again. I've worked 14 hour shifts for six years, so I beg for wakefulness. My body seems to get used to it, sometimes I will take 250mg twice a day. Which is probably not a good thing. The first weekend I started taking this I couldnt sleep for 4 days. But, I thought if i fought through it, I would be fine. Which I was. I quit taking it for a whole weekend and I physically could not function. Slept all day and all night. My anxiety is at the most extreme high, was prescribed Valium for Jaw/Teeth clenching. Just realized recently after reading ratings and peoples views, that it was this medicine. I hope to quit it soon. When I get a few days off to sleep from the withdrawals. Pretty disappointed. | F | 27 | 3 months 250 1X D | 6/17/2011 | 2 | Narcolepsy | Initial headaches and jaw clenching/pain. One day developed chest pain that came-and-went for hours, getting worse, and radiating up in to my neck and jaw. | Had to stop taking it because of the chest pain. 250 MG worked nicely otherwise, and didn't have the ups and downs Ritalin gave me. Tried 150 MG after the heart issue, but that didn't really do much to keep me awake. | F | 21 | 7 days 250 MG 1X D | 5/31/2011 | 5 | anxiety, depression | urinate more frequently | I've tried 44 anti depressants and only got about 25 percent relief, Nuvigil obliterated my depression and eased my anxiety by about 60 percent | M | 24 | 5 days 75 1X D | 5/27/2011 | 5 | ideopathic hypersomnolence | The first 4 or 5 days were definitely an adjustment. Headaches, brief dizzy spells, difficulty with memory recall, speech, & attention. I was nervous about continuing but at the end of my rope & so desperate to feel awake that I stuck it out. It was so worth it. | I was nervous about the initial side effects but after a few days of adjustment I absolutely LOVE Nuvigil. I have autoimmune disorders such as psoriasis, psoriatic arthritis, and IBS, so I've been tired for as long as I can remember. It was getting progressively worse to the point where I was starting to worry about driving after nodding off for a few seconds at a red light, and worried I would fall asleep at work and get fired. I tried Adderall for a couple months but it's short acting and I felt a crash when it was wearing off. I also got debilitating migraines from it which affected my job. Luckily for me my insurance covers Nuvigil with a $50 co-pay and it works great. I finally feel normal again, it's been so many years. There's no highs and lows, jitters, or crash. It's smooth and I don't feel like I am on anything at all. I get occasional mild headaches easily cured with Tylenol. I feel like I have my life back, I'm not worrying about falling asleep at work anymore and I even started running again, which I haven't done in 25 years! | F | 44 | 3 weeks 150 mg 1X D | 5/24/2011 | 4 | Multiple Sclerosis Fatigue | Usually I am exhausted by 2 or 3 in the afternoon. This drug has helped be stay awake and alert with few side effects. I am a medical biller/accountant and I need to be able to concentrate. This drug has helped immensely. I used to take Provigil but stopped because it didn't work at all for my symptoms. The only thing I would do is cut the dosage in half because for me 150mg is a little too much. | F | 49 | 1 months 150 1X D | 4/13/2011 | 4 | ADHD | Headaches Severe neck and shoulder pain | After taking Nuvigil for 3 weeks I noticed severe neck and shoulder pain. I blamed stress until on the fourth week my doctor's office ran out of samples. During the week I waiting for approval from my insurance, I didn't take Nuvigial and felt no neck and shoulder pain. Now I've restarted Nuvigil and have headaches around my sinuses and sides of my head. | F | 42 | 6 weeks 150 mg 1X D | 4/13/2011 | 2 | Narcolepsy | Anixious, suicidal ideation, jittery, dry mouth, tinnitis, loss of interest in food, weepy. | The first day was Great! The fog had lifted, I wrote for hours and had a thousand creative ideas. Cut the dose by 1/2 after that as I did not sleep. 2nd day the tinnitis started. Constant, even at night. This is now the 9th day and I won't take it anymore. I feel like I'm going to jump out of my skin. I was so hopeful. | F | 55 | 9 days 150 mg 1X D | 3/31/2011 | 4 | MS related fatigue | Headache, nausea and trouble falling/staying asleep on the full dose of 150 mg. But doctor said to cut in half so now I take 75 mg and much better. I am jittery though and have a little appetite loss. | Without Nuvigil, I am totally worthless come 2:00 in the afternoon. Everyone notices the difference, it's obvious when I take it and when I don't. I like it so far. Not too crazy about the jitters but at least I'm not falling asleep at work, in the car, etc... | F | 34 | 1 weeks 75 mg 1X D | 3/28/2011 | 1 | Narcolepsy | chest pain, difficulty breathing, led to asthma attacks, racing pounding heart, alert and awake but body fatigue, soreness, tension in neck and base of head, headaches, 20pt increase in blood pressure diastolic and systolic, 20pt increase in resting heart rate. worst: 152/88 resting hr 88 (previous norm 110/68 hr 68), walking stairs could raise my heart rate to 140+ and cause severe heart pounding and lack of breath- I would have to sit and recover. I could not function beyond basic daily activities at best. | I had taken Provigil for 4 years with great success, and decided to try Nuvigil since it was new and cheaper - potentially even more effective. The first month was ok - i was selling a house and moving - thought I was stressed. Second month on trip severe lung area chest pain - like pulled muscles under the rib cage. Third month I though I had an inflated balloon in my left lung cavity and could not breath. Never thought it could be the Nuvigil... after 6 months of unsuccessful asthma treatment, sinus surgery, and allergy treatment I decided to go back to the beginning and rule out any changes I had made beginning with Nuvigil. One day off Nuvigil, using Provigil most all breathing symptoms were eliminated. Three weeks after changing to Provigil I no longer fear I am dying - I can breath! My blood pressure is back to my usual 110/68 (from 152/88 worst) heart rate back to 68 (worst resting 88) and I no longer have to sit and recover after a flight of stairs. I will NEVER use Nuvigil again. | F | 30 | 8 months 150mg 1X D | 3/16/2011 | 4 | Narcolepsy | First week or so noticed rapid heart rate and sweaty hands Cont side effects.. Irritable Some heade aches... Wake up in am with swollen sore hands ...anxiety Charley horse in calf Disinterest in food | I love this drug for many reasons .... It def helps me wide awake for entire 12 Hr release period ..no more fighting sleepiness all day and I haven't taken a nap once since I ve been on this rx... I'm more motivated and focused and just energized ... I do have muscle tension I'm shoulders and back .. I pharmacist friend of mine said that's very common and most people on nuvigil are also on muscle relaxers..I also have anxiety and occ Headaches , loss of appetite ( which is not a bad thing),swollen sore hands in the mornings, And last night I my first Charley horse (left calf)in my life ... It woke me up during sleep .. Super painful and lasted for a few of long mintutes... Not sure if it's related to this rx .. That is the reason for finding this website... To find out if anyone else has had the same experience | F | 30 | 4.5 months 250 1X D | 3/12/2011 | 5 | narcolepsy (without caterplexy) | initial difficulty sleeping at night that went away ocassional mild heart palpitations in the evenings if I don't get enough excersize I get a little anxious | It took sometime to correctly adjust and get use to the dosage. When I first started I was on 150 mg and couldn't sleep at all, I lasted about 5 days before I had to decrease the dosage (I cut the pill in half) this worked ok for awhile but I was still having a lot of 'sleep atacks' and fatigue so after a month on the lower dosage I went back up to the full 150 mg and haven't had any more problems falling asleep at night. I think that I ether needed to work up to the full dosage or that when I started I was having sinus problems that were keeping me up and confounding the effects. | F | 25 | 2 months 150 mg 1X D | 3/10/2011 | 5 | Excessive Daytime Sleepiness | Extreme loss of appetite - I have to remind myself to eat, and even then, I have no desire to do so. As the effects begin to wear off in the evening, I am able to eat a decent dinner, so this is no biggie. | Before Nuvigil, I was sleeping 9-12 hours a night and then taking a 2-3 hour nap each afternoon. I was always tired. I couldn't drive for longer than an hour, or I would have to stop to nap. I also found it impossible to go to the movies. I knew I slept a lot, but I thought that was just me! Thankfully, my neurologist recognized my quality life was being affected by this. It is unrelated to my other medical issues (it is actually the opposite of what you would expect). I take it in the morning, as soon as I get up, and by the time I walk out the door, I can start to feel the effects. They last about twelve hours, and I actually feel as though I sleep better at night because I'm more active during the day. | F | 29 | 3 months 150 1X D | 3/4/2011 | 4 | OSA | Occasional slight headache. Took Provigil and had AWFUL side effects, but have not had those with Nuvigil | Has helped tremendously with excessive daytime sleepiness. Have severe Obstructed sleep apnea and have slept with CPAP for 7 years, Nuvigil has worked for me !! | F | 49 | 60 days 150 1X D | 2/26/2011 | 3 | Depression | Jaw clenching, irritability, detachment, no appetite, poor circulation, OCD behaviors (hair twirling & skin picking), decreased sexual interest, anxiety | The one thing that REALLY bothers me about nuvigil/provigil is in the last 3 months, my circulation gets so bad that my hands literally turn blue. The other thing is my fiance ALWAYS notices the difference between when i"m taking and when I'm not taking it. When I'm taking it, I am antisocial and very detached. I like not being tired but at the same rate I may be risking my relationship | F | 28 | 3 years 250 1X D | 2/23/2011 | 3 | sleep apnea | No side effects | It has helped me stay awake during the day. I think when this sample is finished I am going to ask for the 250 MG as I am still having a bit of trouble staying awake at work. | M | 54 | 5 days 150 MG 1X D | 2/21/2011 | 3 | Extreme Fatigue | I have only taken this medicine for one week and I have been experiencing nausea, extreme heat race, jittery and a foggy mind yet i am still tired at the same time and could still fall asleep. At night when i get home my heart races so bad i feel very anxious so Im just going to keep taking it and see what happens I guess. | F | 43 | 1 weeks 150 1X D | 2/16/2011 | 4 | Narcolepsy | Anxiety. Muscle spasms, especially in my hands and feet. Jaw clenching and tension, makes my mouth and tongue hurt from this! Headaches. Dry mouth!! Dry eyes. Rage like emotions. Irritability. OCD behaviors. Antsy feeling, physically and mentally (ie: impatience). | I have taken many medications to combat Narcolepsy. So far this is one of the best, even with the negative list of side effects. I like the smooth feeling it has compared to Provigil because with the Provigil you could definitely feel it wearing off as you crashed towards the end of the day. I dont feel that with Nuvigil. The anxiety and muscle tension is less than most amphetamines I have tried in the past. The only thing that is really bad about Nuvigil for the side effects is the jaw tension and clenching. It is killing my mouth!! Overall the best medication I have taken for Narcolepsy is Xyrem, but I cant take that at this time so I think Nuvigil is probably the best alternative that I have found. Thank goodness my insurance covers it though because the cost is insane! Without insurance it is approximately $350 a month!! | F | 30 | 3 weeks 150 mg 1X D | 2/11/2011 | 3 | Excessive daytime sleepiness | Jaw clenching, trouble sleeping at night because I felt very wired, heart palpitations, baseline level of relatively high anxiety | I am still trying to figure out if this is the right medication/dose for me. It is great to not be sleeping 10+ hours a night and then needing 1-2 naps of 2-3 hours as well. However, the heart palpitations are really bothering me and make me feel like I'm on the verge of a panic attack. I also can't fall asleep at night and though I have seen that it helps other people focus, it has done nothing for my attention span. | F | 21 | 5 days 150mg 1X D | 2/9/2011 |