This drug is being highly rated and used for patients who suffer crushing fatigue. Though it is mainly used for MS and in some cases CFS, you may be able to get it without having either.
Marc uses it and it helps him.. Talk to your Doctor and see if it could help you!
I was recently put on ritilin to help me wake up ,it is working better than the sleeping pills did.I still have sleepless nights,but I can at least stay awake the next day. I realize this can't go on forever,but I am hoping that it will be a reset sort of to get me up and make me tired so I can sleep.
I use Nuvigil sometimes. It is very expensive and insurance will not pay for it. It will get you through a difficult day, but then you will pay for it the next day with a crash. Sometimes I just have to do it.
thanks for letting us know about this drug...i am going to add it to possible drugs that i might try.
You did not say if you take it due to sleep apnea or some other sleep disorder. Or if you are like me and due to pain i sleep on average about hour than i wake up to move positions. If i should sleep 2 hours straight it is heaven!! I also have hard time getting to sleep due to pain so now when i sleep the best is about 7am to 10am...which is late for the 'old' me. I use to be early riser and go to bed early getting at least 10 hrs to 12 hours sleep with my lupus/RA.
Now due to more pain that is impossible. i was thinking this drug might help me to get up earlier so i can go to bed earlier out of exhaustion.
Also my husband was on provigil...similar drug but our insurance is not going to cover it unless doctor does the reason why and he gets a bad rash so he should not take it. I never tried it. He also tried ritalin but he fell asleep on it lol! He does not have ADHD at all nor has he ever.
I use to fall asleep while driving and in public like others have stated...but that was mainly due to being on too many drugs for me. I do best with taking least amount....even brain fog was result of too many drugs. Now when i do not sleep well it does catch up to me and eventually i will sleep almost around the clock ...just moving my positions. But sleep does win.
I get like drunk person....before it happens...wobbly, not making sense, thinking is hard..no way i should drive like this nor do i.
Coffee hurts my stomach as do caffeine pills so like to know what other options people use. thanks
Hi , am just wondering if you know anything about the medication Vyvanse. It is not a pure amphetamine it is combined with dopamine an no- epinephrine . I have been taking it for 10 months at a very low dose ( 10 mg) and it has changed my life . I asked my doctor about Nuvigil and he said it is one and the same as provigil . Just longer acting . He thinks that Vyvanse is much safer since I do not have narcolepsy and it helps with chronic fatigue, the fibro fog, depression and anxiety. Hence reducing need for multiple medications. So confusing any thoughts ?
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vyvanse
I have a free prescription for Nuvigil, I was so totally wiped out when I had a UTI, that my GP told me to try it, but after less than 2 days on the antibiotics, I was back to my normal, so did not try it. However, I am keeping it for when I am in a bad way. Winter is coming, that is my WORST time.
I do have my concerns about any of it, as any type of amphetamine makes me ill, I mean throwing up my toenails ill. I also have to be very careful with caffeine, and cannot tolerate any time release or extended release meds, so perhaps the Vyvanse would be a safer bet for me!
Thank you so much for the info, everyone is always asking about a med for fatigue, so though my knowledge and experience are limited, I'm passing on what I know.
Thanks to all who contributed info!
Nuvigil has a few other tweaks besides just longer acting. It is supposed to not give a head ache like Provigil did. I have taken both.
I have a son with High Functioning Autism, and he was put on Vyvanse for a short time, but it was not as good as the Concerta he has taken for years for ADHD. I was told by my son's doctor that the Vyvanse is related to Adderall but has a less severe "mean" side effect. My son was a monster on Adderall for a whole school year, and it took another mother telling me that their child could not tolerate it--it turned them into a monster--for me to realize that it was the Adderall and not regular teenage stuff making him crazy! So, we went back on Concerta. If the Vyvanse is working for you, I would not go on Nuvigil. I have been told that Nuvigil is not a controlled substance and has no addictive quality to it, whereas Vyvanse does. However, who even cares?
Thanks Kathy, appreciate the info!
Oh I know, it's pick you poisons all the way! I'm in the 'whatever works club'!
http://www.regencerx.com/docs/consumerRx/provigil.pdf This is the site I read about the two meds. As you said what ever works !! : )
Okay i am confused on how you can take it amphetamines make you very ill? Wiki and other sites all place it in amphetamines family.
My husband was using provigil which is similar but our prescription insurance refused it until doctor explains why it is needed. He gets severe rash on his scalp.
i been afraid to try it though since not being able to drink coffee(upsets my stomach) i have hard time waking up or getting moving....once i do get up i normally okay.
Plus...i personally try to stay on least amount of drugs. I realize i have hard time getting up due to not sleeping well most nights ...i am not even sure if pain doctor would accept it allow it since they are schedule drug. Not sure what kind though.
Does anyone else take it also use a narcotic pain medication? Does your pain doctor allow it?
Like one person states...on really bad days it might be helpful but i hate feeling like i had 5 cups of coffee.
Hi Kathy , I am sorry about your son must make it hard for both you and him. I will try and clear up your question. Nuvigil , Provigil and Vyvanse are all controlled substances and yes all can be addictive if not used properly and under the supervision of your doctor. The reason the Vyvanse was not as affective for your son is it is not solely a amphetamine such as adderall, concerta , ritallin , provigil etc etc. it is combined with dopamine and noephenephrine which help with depression and anxiety. Since your son has ADHD your doctor is correct . It is very mild and is being used for the brain fog , chronic fatigue , anxiety and depression a lot of us get with fibromyalgia. It has worked wonders for me .....where as another doctor gave me adddreall and I hated it . Since I do not have ADHD it made me feel horrible . Thast when I switched over to Vyvanse( again only 10 mg.) . The lowest dose it comes in is 20mg so I just use half a pill a day and it has changed my life. All other meds before only made me feel worse. I dont know if its for everybody but I am not giving it up , unless I start having negative side affects. So far nothing but a little sweating if I get stressed out . Other than that it has been great . I hope you find just the right one for your son and you ! It took me 6 years to finally get the right combination down even at that I still get the all over body pain . Today I was on the couch for most of the day . Been pushing really hard lately and today my body said "no way ". So I decided no way and gave into it . Bored to tears tho. Once you feel better and start living life again laying on the couch is the last thing you want to do !! My prays are with you . God Bless
Hi FM , I to use Drugs.com and Web MD . When I am researching a new medication If I like what I read I then go to my pharmacist for answers. They often know more than the doctors. After all if is their profession and they have an ethical duty to tell us what they think of what has been prescribed . I am very fortunate I have known my pharmacist for over 16 years and he is currently the President of the Massachusetts Pharmaceutical Assoc. Hes extremely kind and patient with me since I have to know every side affect about a medication before I will take it . I Have had such bad experiences in the past he does not mind a bit . Surprisingly enough oyxcodone for pain has 0 side affects ....EXCEPT abuse if you have an addictive personality. So no longer am I ashamed when I take it anymore . For the longest time I would not share with anyone that I used them for my FM pain. Do to the looks and judgement I would get . Quote by many people : " YOU LOOK FINE " : ) I know I do but if you turned me inside out you would not be saying the same thing . I feel like one big bruise inside. ... Well tomorrow is Friday and I hope all of you have a restful pain free week end !! Going to make an Apple Pie ...wooo big plans . : ) I do not care makes me happy .
Susan,
oxycodone as all narcotics has side effects...such as constipation which can be severe in some. Fatigue, nausea to even vomiting, dry mouth and itching are common side effects for most if not all narcotic drugs. This does not mean you will have these side effects but over time usually a person will develop at least one of them...such as constipation.
http://www.webmd.com/drugs/mono-5278-OXYCODONE+-+ORAL.aspx?drugid=1025&drugname=oxycodone+oral here is the link of side effects from WEB MD since you accept what they say and it has two pages of side effects!
What i want to stress is even though you do not have addict's trait(neither do i) our bodies still become dependant. Some people eventually must take more to get the same effect. But the worse part is if you ever must stop it cold turkey or just try and wean off the drug. It will be one of the worst experiences!! Even if you have assistance with the side effects of withdrawal you still will be so sick that your life will be hell for about month. Because your body became dependant to narcotic part of this drug.
Also if you stop taking it your body will experience pain at much more intense level. Eventually it will go down to what is normal for you but it could take from 6 months to years!
Lastly narcotics effect your brain where eventually things you once enjoyed such as gardening, art etc just does not have same effect. This is one thing that really also makes me angry. I try very hard to still do things and at times i do still enjoy it once i get myself doing it...it is getting me to do it. I seen so many of my friends, acquaintances i met at doctors',support groups etc become just sluggard.
I do not want you to feel bad about taking this drug!! I know when i first took my pain patch it was like i got my life back...a miracle!! I now just wish that pain doctor or information on pharmacy pamphlet about side effects said that anyone will become dependant depending on how long and strength...and all the rest or give site to read the rest.
What made me the most angry is pain doctor ...one who wanted me to take this patch now is not willing to help me wean off or help me to find or even them offer alternative choices.
But there are since i been reading on my own....so please read before using narcotics. Or my goal is to use them but only on most severe days....instead of daily at most 7 days for a month. Ideally i hope to not use them.
So Susan...i just hope you do not feel bad about using them....just look into other options or try now rather than later to start using less. Many people use them...and no one knows the pain you are in...and what maybe okay for one person is severe pain for another. So do not let what others say etc get to you! But i do really urge you to try and use as little and push yourself to use less.
For your own good! ;-)
Dear sisikiya,
Thank you for caring .and sending me the link. I do not think there is a medication that does not have negative side affects including Aspirin and Tylenol etc. I am totally aware of how narcotics become something you will depend on to take away your pain.Over the the last 7 years I have been on and off of them . I did not have your experience it sounded awful and I am so sorry you went through this . This is the problem with Pain clinics , they DO NOT warn you what can transpire . I am in total agreement with you . When I went to one they wanted me to start taking Morphine . I refused immediately , then they offered me dilaudid again I refused to take it , from there oxycontin again I said no. I returned to my Primary care doctor and we decided 5 mg of oxycodone would be most appropriate. He idd not want me taking Percocet do to the acetaminophen which can destroy your liver. So I am sure you are aware oxycodone is percocet without Tylenol in it . I have been an Interior Decorator for 20 years and just love it . However my pain was getting in the way. So difficult to rearrange peoples furniture , hang window treatments , have the patience to even pick out colors for their walls when in the height of pain . So I have decided to open up a furniture consignment shop . This way I can still do what I love but not have to carry heavy furniture , mirrors etc. So it is not really not an option for me to stop taking them at this point . I am a single mother of 3 children all in college and I am paying for their education , books, clothes etc. The reason I just take pain med and Vyvanse is that I can not take antidepressants they have the opposite affect on me . I felt like you described I did not care about anything and laid around all day, with severe brain fog and crying all the time. . Once I got off those ugly meds. ( ugly for me ) my personality and a love for life returned again. My self esteem /confidence returned and I took charge of my life again. At one point a physcopharmacologi had me on over 7 medications. I was a zombie And felt like I did not want to live. Its called the paradoxical affect. My father had the same condition . What was suppose to make me sleep would make me race. What was suppose to take away my depression made me more depressed. So for now I am comfortable with what I am doing , but truly appreciate your input. As my doctor says no two bodies are alike and what works for one with FM does not work for another. I should also mention I do yoga 2 x a day. Its just a DVD I pop in that only lasts 15 mins. in the AM it gets me going and in the PM it slows me down. I walk 30 mins a day a and meditate a great deal , so that I keep my stress levels down. Sometimes I leave a room and meditate while doing deep breathing . I do get the strangest looks when I re-enter the room . : ) I do not care it works for me and I am trying to deal with this insidious disease the best way I can for me. People around me are never going to understand . With one exception my son . The other 2 children attend college away from home . He however lives with me and commutes. Since it s just the two of us he is in tune to how FM affects me and bless his heart will actually give me a foot rub if I am in extreme pain. He just became my business partner and is going to handle all the marketing , computer software , and taking care of the bills. I am going to succeed despite this curse . The beauty of the shop is that it will not open till 11am and closes at 6 PM four days a week. I hired someone to write my business plan and through marketing research he discovered that Sunday , Mondays and Tuesdays are not days that would be profitable . So you can see I have my hands full and I have many options for my pain .if I want my children to get the education they deserve I have to push forward and not look back !! At times I forget I even have it because I am so engrossed in the shop. It was just what I needed. I hope your love for gardening and whatever makes you happy returns soon !! THANKS AGAIN !
Thanks...i really hope i did not offend you.
I just have had such a negative experience with being on narcotic pain medication that i want to prevent others.
I see you are on lowest or about lowest amount...and i was like that for over 10 years before....i have had RA since late teens early 20's and lupus with other health issues. I take pain with my motrin when i started hiking again. I thought no way i would be able too but slowly i did and even back packed!!
I am glad you invented another job! i believe strongly in working as long as possible..I was lucky to have nice employers who worked with me and i did my best to work hard to show my appreciation. I truly miss that job to this day. If i lived closer i think i still work just few hours a week still...problem is i always ended up working more than what what was good for me. I miss the clients and friends (other employees). I do keep in touch but still not the same. It really made my self esteem go in the cutter when i could not support myself.
I think you are one person who relate...if you could not help your kids with college or even worse depend on them for help or assistance. I think none of us want to be burden..i know i do not and doubt you do too.
We sound like we have lot in common ....meditation, i like to do yoga but i have RA and many of positions hurt my joints...but maybe i can work around them. I Just need a teacher than can work with me. I do walk my dogs daily which turns into small hikes often in nicer weather...i love being outdoors.
Well i sincerely hope i did not hurt your feelings. I just did want people do know truth about narcotic drugs...side effects are serious and Pain Doctors should be explaining them in detail but most want to do 'sell' and often as i was..in so much pain..i just wanted relief. Now i am ready to do battle for my life! I get that pain pills never get rid of the pain completely...so i just am going to find ways to fool my brain or other drugs that are safe to take. I already have had my eyes open wide at options!!
I sincerely hope you do well in your new adventure with your business!! I hope all your kids are doing well in college too. I helped a young man who came from Uzbekistan to NY with college. Well first gave him a place to live...long story. He got to attend his dream college and now has excellent job in video games and/or programming. Is your son also in programming..video is bit different. He might know the college, digipen. If he plays games..has he got you yet? if not try..they are way more fun than i thought! i love riding horses and it is so real on some games!
Again..i did not mean to hurt your feelings and hope you realize my intentions were to warn others about dangers of narcotic drugs. I also believe my cause of brain fog was due go all drugs ..once i weaned off them myself...my brain slowly improved..and i did do brain games etc..crosswords for example.
I think we have a lot in common...think we both prefer not to take any drugs if we could!! again i hope you know i meant to warn others. good luck with your store and let me know how it goes?
SK, you must have rather odd looking toes without any nails to paint! Or do you just paint your toes anyways?!
I couldn't pass this up.
Seriously, if this product is a type of amphetamine I would be very wary about using it.
LOL! I left myself wide open, Rachel!
I am with you Rachel! ...when we must take drugs to help us sleep, others to wake us up for me well i would not like it. Sounds like old movie stars such as Judy Garland or Marilyn.
I prefer to take least amount and though i did try many of the drugs people speak about, i have found that they also created so many more health problems. Now that i am on just 2 daily, and like to get off the pain patch ...i am doing so much better!
Having dealt with this for more than 15 years I am sory but I get so tired of those who need narcotic pain meds and act as if some how it is superior to be in pain than take them. Been there done that,I was wrong.Pain is not pleasent ,without side effects,it effect your personality ,and it is not virtuous to suffer. Be so very glad if you don't need them,yet,never say never.You may not realize yet how bad it can get,Or with life's other illness's packed on also,you may begin to realize that narcotics side effects aren't nearly as bad as what you are going through. Since the begininng of having this I have had 30 surgeries in the last five years amoung them a spinal fusion and radical hystorectomy for cervical cancer. Been through chemo and radiation ,kidney failure,and lyphedema. So before you all get on your high horses,just be glad it is not you who has gotten to this point.