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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 10 of 10. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by Dinah on July 19, 2004, at 7:35:33
This is only day three, any ideas on how much longer I should give it before deciding it's too activating? I guess it's possible that my insomnia and trouble staying asleep is unrelated to starting the provigil. I certainly have periods of time where I can't stay asleep. But it's unusual for me to have trouble falling asleep.
Posted by SLS on July 19, 2004, at 7:49:04
In reply to Provigil is definitely affecting my sleep., posted by Dinah on July 19, 2004, at 7:35:33
> This is only day three, any ideas on how much longer I should give it before deciding it's too activating? I guess it's possible that my insomnia and trouble staying asleep is unrelated to starting the provigil. I certainly have periods of time where I can't stay asleep. But it's unusual for me to have trouble falling asleep.
How are you dividing your doses? You can either take one dose in the morning or one in the morning and one at noon.Be patient. I don't think I would abort for initial insomnia. If it were producing profound anxiety or agitation during the day, that's another story.
I hope everything works out. When Provigil works, it can be a very smooth drug.
- Scott
Posted by zeugma on July 19, 2004, at 8:18:06
In reply to Provigil is definitely affecting my sleep., posted by Dinah on July 19, 2004, at 7:35:33
> This is only day three, any ideas on how much longer I should give it before deciding it's too activating? I guess it's possible that my insomnia and trouble staying asleep is unrelated to starting the provigil. I certainly have periods of time where I can't stay asleep. But it's unusual for me to have trouble falling asleep.
Provigil definitely can cause insomnia. At 100 mg, it was too much. I don't find it 'activating' (I suspect that nothing could 'activate' me) but I would wake up at 3 am and be fully awake, and unable to get back to sleep. And this was after a single dose that I would take at 6 am.
Maybe try 50 mg am? Also, are you taking any sedating drug? I had to up my dose of nortriptyline to 100 mg from 75 in order to offset the insomnia from Provigil.
Are you getting any benefits from the Provigil?
-z
Posted by BTR on July 19, 2004, at 10:04:48
In reply to Provigil is definitely affecting my sleep., posted by Dinah on July 19, 2004, at 7:35:33
> This is only day three, any ideas on how much longer I should give it before deciding it's too activating? I guess it's possible that my insomnia and trouble staying asleep is unrelated to starting the provigil. I certainly have periods of time where I can't stay asleep. But it's unusual for me to have trouble falling
asleep.I have been on Provigil for about 3 weeks and the first 3 or 4 days were the toughest. My pdoc had me take 100 mg initially in the morning and it was so stimulating I couldn't fall asleep the following night. When I did fall asleep it wasn't a real deep sleep. After a couple of days at 100 mg I dropped it down to 50 mg and this seemed to help. I stayed at 50 for about a week while my body adjusted then went back up to a 100 mg.
If you are having trouble sleeping at night you might consider taking the Provigil earlier in the morning. I set my alarm for 4:00 a.m. and take my Provigil then go back to bed until I have to get up for work which is around 6:30. I have no problem falling back asleep.
Overall the Provigil has helped with the fatigue I get from Lexapro. Give it some time and try taking it earlier in the day. Hope this helps.
Posted by Dinah on July 19, 2004, at 12:12:11
In reply to Re: Provigil is definitely affecting my sleep., posted by BTR on July 19, 2004, at 10:04:48
Obviously my neurons aren't working any better.
It is a 100 mg tablet and he wants me to take it twice a day. But I wouldn't even consider taking it more often than once a day. So I take it in the morning. But breaking it in half and trying a half instead of a whole at least at first sounds like a good idea.
I do think it's doing some good. Today in a situation where I normally feel groggy and in need of a nap, I didn't. I was able to get right to work.
I've had headaches and felt crummy two days in a row, but I can't say for sure, or even maybe, if it's the Provigil. There have been a bunch of thunderstorms the last couple of days, and thunderstorms coupled with sleep disturbances will usually cause a migraine for me. And migraines upset my stomach, etc. And I've been feeling the opposite of hungry and having a hard time getting the incentive to eat. Not a bad side effect, if it is one. :)
Posted by gabbix2 on July 19, 2004, at 12:55:39
In reply to Re: Now why didn't I think of that?, posted by Dinah on July 19, 2004, at 12:12:11
Not being hungry was a big side effect for me, and part of the reason I also got headaches, I had to make sure I ate. But I did still have headaches the first few days, and an upset stomach, it went away though. I think starting at 50 mgs is a good idea, that's what was recommended to me.
Posted by Dinah on July 19, 2004, at 15:50:10
In reply to Re: Now why didn't I think of that? » Dinah, posted by gabbix2 on July 19, 2004, at 12:55:39
I wonder if the neurologist didn't grasp what I was saying about a tendency to get easily agitated, to start me at 200 mg. I'm starting to get that itchy crawly feeling. So I'll definitely drop to 50. Then give it a few days and see if things settle down. It's so hard for me to try to last out the itchy crawly feeling! My impulse is to stop doing whatever is causing it immediately!!!
Posted by BTR on July 19, 2004, at 16:13:19
In reply to Re: Now why didn't I think of that?, posted by Dinah on July 19, 2004, at 12:12:11
One of the side effects from Provigil is headaches. I had them pretty bad for the first week or so but they have really gotten much better. After your body gets used to the stimulant in your system it adjusts and a lot of the side effects melt away. I still feel a little groggy sometimes but a lot better than before I was on the medication.
The only thing that would make this a great medication is if it had some AD effects which it doesn't seem to have but it seems to work great for what it's intended to do which is increase energy with minimal side effects.
Posted by Racer on July 19, 2004, at 16:37:55
In reply to Re: Now why didn't I think of that?, posted by BTR on July 19, 2004, at 16:13:19
> The only thing that would make this a great medication is if it had some AD effects which it doesn't seem to have but it seems to work great for what it's intended to do which is increase energy with minimal side effects.
>
>It seems to have helped my depression, actually. It may be atypical -- which is kinda typical for me -- but it's reduced my anxiety and the whole agitated/racing thoughts thing that goes along with depression for me, so it makes it easier for me to block out the sorts of negative thoughts that tend to worsen my depression, and it's pretty much stopped my periods of hysterical misery. So, for me, it does have some pretty good anti-depressant qualities. I do agree, though, that it's a kind drug overall. Good for what ails me, and not more trouble than it's worth.
As for hunger, though -- can't say it's made a dang bit of difference for me in terms of reducing my interest in food. It might make it easier to resist the impulses, but if so it's very, very subtle. (In fact, I kinda think it increases the impulses, because I'm having a harder and harder time resisting them. Hard to say, though.)
I have had some headaches from it, but they haven't been like regular headaches, for the most part. I do get periodic migraines, and I also get more benign headaches that are just headaches, and the Provigil headaches have been very different from either, although a little more like those migraines that hardly hurt -- you know, where you're in agony, but more from the nausea, seasickness, pressure than actual pain? I didn't even realize that I was having headaches for days! I listed them in my little drug-effect diary as something like "weird draggy-head feeling" for days before I realized they were headaches! Never had anything like it before the Provigil, and they stopped while I was not taking it, came back when I started it again.
Oh, well, Provigil is my friend. I think I will be loyal -- does good for me, doesn't seem to do bad, who can argue with that?
Posted by gabbix2 on July 19, 2004, at 17:31:01
In reply to Re: Now why didn't I think of that? » gabbix2, posted by Dinah on July 19, 2004, at 15:50:10
Well Here Dinah directly from Dr. R.
Are my instructions, Start at 50 mgs and increase by 50mgs every 3-7 days up to 200mgs.I thought that might be useful as he was writing that to me, someone else who is easily overstimulated and prone to nervousness.
I think 200mgs would have knocked me for a loop the first day.
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