Fatigue / Provigil

[DaveT]

Anyone here taken Provigil for fatigue in conjunction with their opioids and other chronic pain meds? Anyone else think it's odd that it only seems to last about 6-8 hours, even though it has a half-life of about 12 hours?

Also, anyone have any insight into whether this med induces tolerance, etc... over time?

[suede]

Hi Dave,
I took it but I stopped as it just made me to anxious and I couldn't handle it.

I sure wish it had worked better for me, I am so sick and tired of being sick and tired.

Linda

[DaveT]

Suede,
Sorry to hear it didn't work for you. I'm still in that stage where it's unclear whether it's really going to work for me. By the way, how long did you try it for? Because it gave me some nasty side effects for a couple of weeks which seem to have ended. Just thought I'd mention that in case anyone has tried it once or twice and then given up on it thinking the side effects are intolerable.

[Maggie]

I felt that after taking it for 6 months that I was no longer getting any benefit from it. I quit taking it and still didn't think it had helped me after a period of time.
Maggie

[suede]

Dave,
I took it for about a month.
I really hope it works for you.
I've found I pretty much can take a med or can't if I'm going to have problems with it they don't clear up with time, unfortunatly.
Let us know how it goes gor you, good luck,
Linda

[Boxerlover]

My doc has mentioned provigil or ritalin and I am not thrilled to try it. I am very sensitive to meds that might make me jittery. I also have talked to a few people and it didn't work for them. I am already on SO many meds I only add some of it will help. I left my uro's with 3 new meds, but at least 2 are prn so I am only adding 1 on a regular basis. So that makes 16.:eek: Dang that freaks me out!!

Melissa

[Lil E]

CFS does not go away and is hereditary. Both my daughter and I have it. It is much worse than just being tired all the time. You also get cycles of flu-like symptoms with real bad muscle pain that can last for two weeks or more. I tried Provigil and was jumping out of my skin for eight hours. Unfortunately 100mg is as low as it gets.

I liked the explanation of what fatigue can cost. Some people think it isn't such a big deal.

[Mark N]

Melissa, don't you just get sick of taking meds to counter the SE of the other meds we take? I have mine down to 9 pills a day but I put up with the fatigue trying to get the most out of caffeine drinks. I know how you feel since you are taking 16 pills each day.

[Boxerlover]

Mark, you are not kidding! The sad thing is I have declined about 8 other meds because of side effects or I'm just not taking anymore. I may be needing to add another one. I am putting my foot down if it hits 20!

And from the sounds of it, provigil will make me too jittery. Well as much as I'd like more energy, not adding another med is great!

Melissa