![[dr. bob]](/dr-bob-sm.gif)
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 leary on March 6, 2006, at 9:00:35
Hi,
I'm a professional who uses provigil for attention-enhancement and to sustain long work hours. I am taking the standard ADHD dose of 400 mg. a day.
I'm interested in hearing stories from other people who have used provigil over a long period of time for focus and/or decreased sleep needs.
Coverage of provigil in mainstream magazines suggests that this drug can make it possible to significantly decrease the amount of sleep we need. Does anyone have experience with this? For example, if I wanted to reduce my night-time sleep needs to 4 or 5 hours a night on a long-term basis, would this be possible with provigil? Has anyone done this? What dosage regimen would you recommend?
Posted by mike99 on March 6, 2006, at 9:58:26
In reply to Long-term experiences with provigil?, posted by leary on March 6, 2006, at 9:00:35
Hi leary,I'm sorry I don't have any answers to your questions, but if you don't mind could I ask you how well provigil does or doesn't work for your attention? Do you take it with any other ADHD meds or can you compare it with any of them (in terms of attention and calming effects if any)?
Again, sorry to answer your questions with more of my own.
Mike
Posted by leary on March 6, 2006, at 10:32:57
In reply to Re: Long-term experiences with provigil?, posted by mike99 on March 6, 2006, at 9:58:26
Hi Mike,
No problem. Provigil does work very well for my attention. Sometimes too well. If I'm not careful, I'll find myself extremely focused on a task that is relatively low on my overall list of priorities.
I've only had moderate experience with Adderal. It was also effective, but I've been wary of the more hardcore stimulants. I experience and enjoy euphoria, and don't want to find myself in a situation where I keep escalating the dose to gain the same effects. Provigil seems much less likely to encourage this sort of abuse.
It definitely focuses my attention, and keeps me awake. I don't think I would describe it as calming.
If you read other messages on the board, you'll see that people do try to escalate the Provigil dose at times to stimulate mood. I tried this too at first -- out of curiosity -- but the mood-enhancing effects were not great enough to warrant such behavior on an ongoing basis.
Hope this helps.
Posted by zeugma on March 6, 2006, at 16:12:26
In reply to Long-term experiences with provigil?, posted by leary on March 6, 2006, at 9:00:35
Coverage of provigil in mainstream magazines suggests that this drug can make it possible to significantly decrease the amount of sleep we need. >>
I believe this is the surest way you will make the drug stop working.
No one really knows why we sleep, let alone that a drug can reduce the need for it. Provigil is given to those with sleep disorders because these individuals sleep for pathological amounts of time. Even so, narcoleptics suffer unknown consequences for reducing their sleep time with drugs. It is worth it in these cases because one trades unknown long-term consequences for the semblance of a normal life.
-z
Posted by leary on March 6, 2006, at 16:32:19
In reply to Re: Long-term experiences with provigil? » leary, posted by zeugma on March 6, 2006, at 16:12:26
Thanks, Zeugma.
There is not a scientific consensus, but some researchers really do believe that modafinil and the ampakines can significantly reduce the need for sleep. Provigil is given to soldiers to keep them awake for extended periods of time, and it is also approved for use with ADHD.
An article called "The Great Awakening" in last month's WASHINGTON POST notes that "in trials on healthy people like Army helicopter pilots, modafinil has allowed humans to stay up safely for almost two days while remaining practically as focused, alert, and capable of dealing with complex problems as the well-rested. Then, after a good eight hours' sleep, they can get up and do it again -- for another 40 hours, before finally catching up on their sleep."
If it is possible to safely reduce the amount of time spent sleeping, I am very interested in doing so. I don't want to *stop* sleeping, but it would be nice to get by on 4 or 5 hours a night.
It would be helpful to hear how others have safely integrated this drug into their lives.
Consider these excerpts from an article in last month's Herald:
Posted by leary on March 6, 2006, at 16:35:07
In reply to Re: Long-term experiences with provigil? » leary, posted by zeugma on March 6, 2006, at 16:12:26
Oops. Accidentally hit submit too soon. If you're interested in checking out the article in <i>The Herald</i>, it is posted at:
Posted by mike99 on March 6, 2006, at 19:14:36
In reply to Re: Long-term experiences with provigil?, posted by leary on March 6, 2006, at 10:32:57
Posted by zeugma on March 6, 2006, at 19:56:34
In reply to Re: Long-term experiences with provigil?, posted by leary on March 6, 2006, at 16:35:07
hi, thanks for the link.
Provigil and sleep are both fascinating topics.
this is a good resource for info on both (mostly Provigil, but sleep too):
http://www.modafinil.com/index.html
Posted by tessellated on March 6, 2006, at 22:44:57
In reply to Re: Long-term experiences with provigil?, posted by zeugma on March 6, 2006, at 19:56:34
I've used provigil on and off for just over four years.
I have found it the most effective by taking a few days off every week or so. Though it can absolutely reduce the immediate need for sleep, i'm not sure it would work well long term. Days yes, weeks no.The two worst side effects no all that uncommon are naseau and anxiety/agitation. The concentration is fantastic, and yes i've wasted many an evening googling to my minds desire with it.
The only med i found it difficult to not cause sustained reduced need for sleep was parnate. I went for about six months staying awake for 24to36hrs and then sleeping about 12. You can see thats not exactly a %50 reduction, but was significant for work and had IMHO and even more effective concentration/intellect stimulating affect.
Sleep deprivation is the most effective "natural" treatment for depression. Reducing sleep medically would therefore contribute to an agents AD profile.
Zen monks are known to arise when still seriously tired, and the sleep deprivation studies encourage people to sleep (i recall) from 11PM to 2:30 - 3am, and then arise and begin the day. Not far from your average monks agenda.
I notice that after going over even 300mg the diminshed return begin to rather seriously hit the ole pocket book, and so favor taking it as rarely as necessary to get the most use of it.
Posted by TylerJ on March 7, 2006, at 16:21:47
In reply to Re: Long-term experiences with provigil?, posted by tessellated on March 6, 2006, at 22:44:57
> I've used provigil on and off for just over four years.
> I have found it the most effective by taking a few days off every week or so. Though it can absolutely reduce the immediate need for sleep, i'm not sure it would work well long term. Days yes, weeks no.
>
> The two worst side effects no all that uncommon are naseau and anxiety/agitation. The concentration is fantastic, and yes i've wasted many an evening googling to my minds desire with it.
>
> The only med i found it difficult to not cause sustained reduced need for sleep was parnate. I went for about six months staying awake for 24to36hrs and then sleeping about 12. You can see thats not exactly a %50 reduction, but was significant for work and had IMHO and even more effective concentration/intellect stimulating affect.
>
> Sleep deprivation is the most effective "natural" treatment for depression. Reducing sleep medically would therefore contribute to an agents AD profile.
>
> Zen monks are known to arise when still seriously tired, and the sleep deprivation studies encourage people to sleep (i recall) from 11PM to 2:30 - 3am, and then arise and begin the day. Not far from your average monks agenda.
>
> I notice that after going over even 300mg the diminshed return begin to rather seriously hit the ole pocket book, and so favor taking it as rarely as necessary to get the most use of it.
>
>Tess,
You really know your stuff dude! I found your above post very interesting...especially about sleep deprivation. My prob is if I can't sleep, I don't even sleep a freakin' minute..and I feel like hell the next day!
Please check out my new thread below: "Help! Trazodone Problems." I trust and value your opinions and suggestions. Take care.Ty
This is the end of the thread.
Psycho-Babble Medication | Extras | FAQ
Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.org
Script revised: February 4, 2008
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/cgi-bin/pb/mget.pl
Copyright 2006-17 Robert Hsiung.
Owned and operated by Dr. Bob LLC and not the University of Chicago.