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Provigil User Reviews & Ratings (Page 5)

Provigil has an average rating of 7.2 out of 10 from a total of 128 reviews on Drugs.com. 66% of reviewers reported a positive experience, while 16% reported a negative experience.

Reviews for Provigil

  • Anonymous
  • January 6, 2009

For Narcolepsy "I have used Provigil for about 4 years now and I really like it. I feel completely normal when I take it. In fact the only time I notice the drug is when I forget to take it. However, it is costly but I did find a substantial discount in my insurance's mail order program. Also, for someone who asked earlier, I stopped taking Progivil as soon as I found out I was pregnant. There is too little known yet and my kid was not going to be the Gineau Pig. Surprisingly, something changed because of being pregnant and I did surprisingly well for thoes 8 months. I just made sure to take regular naps."

9 / 10
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20 Report
  • sttkl...
  • July 19, 2009

For Narcolepsy "This is the first prescription I have taken for Narcolepsy. It has been 3-years now while taking 200mg's 3x a day. It turns out that naps are going to be a part of life. More particularly for the peak periods just to get over that tough time during the day. I would highly recommend letting your employer know about this condition. Narcolepsy is a handicap, of which you are protected. In other words, if you are caught sleeping on the job, they can not fire you for it. They need to make considerations for this condition and develop a work schedule that allows you ability to work a full shift. Provigil has worked well for me. I wouldn't want to go back to the way it used to be."

8 / 10
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  • wayney
  • October 12, 2011

For Drowsiness "I have multiple rheumatic conditions, fibromyalgia, etc. Because of sleepiness being one of the common side effects of many of my medications and the fact that with fibro sleep is messed up, I first took it in 2006 and the only time I've been off of it in that time was the 11 months in 2009 while I was hospitalized. It would have been pointless to take at that time due to what was going on. But, since restarting it, my alertness has been much better. I have no side effects that I notice. When I first took it, I did not think of the warning given by the NP at my pain doctor's office. She said take a quarter or half of the dose. That's the only time I've had bad side effects. Now I have none. I've been at 100mg/day for a year or so."

9 / 10
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Frequently asked questions

  • Exhau...
  • Taken for 1 to 6 months
  • May 21, 2022

For Narcolepsy "I have been prescribed Provigil for excessive daytime sleepiness. Originally 100mg twice a day. I honestly thought I’d been given a placebo. It did nothing. No side effects but also no reduction in sleepiness. Still fighting to stay awake during the day. My doctor doubled the dose. Still not working! My mental health is declining. What’s the point of living if this is life."

1 / 10
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  • Anonymous
  • July 26, 2009

For Narcolepsy "I was given Provigil for my narcolepsy, with dosage of 200mg/3 times daily. For the first 3 days it was amazing I had forgotten what it felt like to be 'awake'. Unfortunately, after just 3 days it was not effective at all. My neurologist nodded knowingly when I told him. He said that's how long it takes to metabolize. Apparently that's when you can tell if it will work for you or not. I'm now on Aderall, 20 mg/3 daily and it is working much better for me."

1 / 10
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18 Report

Are you taking this medicine?

  • SL8pi...
  • September 18, 2011

For Narcolepsy "I'm a 36 year old female and I've been living with narcolepsy for over 20 years and was just diagnosed about 2 months ago! I have been on Provigil for 1 week. 200mg twice a day with that I still feel like a walking zombie. I have not noticed a change with no side effects. I was taken off of Nuvigil 150mg 1x/day. I did notice a huge difference with that. I remember feeling..wow this is what it feels like to be awake. But it would die out by noontime and barley get me through the rest of my day. I also experienced a dull constant headache and random nausea. It now seems almost worth going back to it and dealing with the side effects."

1 / 10
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  • Furry...
  • Taken for 2 to 5 years
  • November 30, 2022

For Narcolepsy "Was prescribed it first at 100 mgs about 5 years ago, only for when necessary Worked for the first couple years, jumping between a dose of 100mg and 200mg when necessary, but it really didn't do much. Helped my energy management but I never really felt awake at all. Honestly just feels like a slightly more pronounced version of coffee, but even that stuff barely does anything for me at all. No longer taking it. Note, the taste isn't great and I've almost spat it out a couple rare times"

5 / 10
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  • Ketura
  • Taken for 1 to 2 years
  • April 9, 2017

For Narcolepsy "Hi, I have taken this medicine for a year. I have found that it works, but it takes a lot of work (if that makes any sense.) I I am on 400mg a day for narcolepsy. I have found with this medicine if I take it and then eat, almost no effect, if I eat wait about an hour, take the pill then that's fine. If I don't drink a lot of water then it doesn't matter, because it doesn't work. For a person that always wants to sleep, scheduling this little pill twice a day is almost not worth it."

6 / 10
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  • dozy
  • July 28, 2009

For Narcolepsy "I was diagnosed with Narcolepsy about 2 weeks ago. For 2 months I had been nodding off at work and at home, it got really bad when I nodded off while at a stoplight driving and when I got "written" up for sleeping at work. I was given Provigil to help me out which when I started taking it, it was like a miracle drug. I felt alert and not drowsy all the time. After 5 days I started feeling nauseous and then 2 days later out of the blue it stopped working. My Doctor put me on Ritalin but I'm still having problems later in the day, on my way to see a sleep specialist."

4 / 10
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  • Anonymous
  • July 31, 2009

For Narcolepsy "I was recently diagnosed with narcolepsy and started on Provigil. I started with 100 mg in the morning and then 100 or 150 mg in the afternoon. The first few days I was a little dizzy at first, a little nauseous, lost my appetite, had a mild headache every night (ibuprofen took care of that), and tense jaw/neck muscles. It was working great, but once I started classes (i.e., inactivity), I was falling asleep sometimes before my noon dose, and everyday around 6pm or 8pm. So, my doctor upped it to 200 in the morning and 200 after noon. For all 3 days of it, I was awake, only crashing around 8pm, but I was having problems with my memory and concentration. Just switched to Ritalin. "

5 / 10
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  • Coach
  • August 17, 2021

For Narcolepsy "Diagnosis with Narcolepsy at 23 yrs old and now I am currently 41years old. Saved me from quitting college. I now have 3 college diplomas. I run about 30+ miles a week. Fall asleep no problem and can still take naps if need to. My dose is 200mg am and another 200mg at lunch. Will often supplement with caffeine beverage as long as it’s not after 4pm. I have slight cataplexy, anxiety, and both are treated with Effexor XR which goes nicely with provigil. There is a weird side effect, if I am not hydrated enough I will have itchy legs. No rash or hives just uncontrollably itchy especially after a run in the summer. So if that happens and dermatologist can’t figure out, that’s your problem is you are not drinking enough. Sleep well y’all"

9 / 10
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  • teek
  • August 8, 2009

For Narcolepsy "For several years, I have been on Provigil, with a small dosage of Ritalin as a supplement. The Provigil was not enough for me, but it was much better than being on Ritalin alone. Ritalin had a tendency to make me anxious and talk constantly. Life is good now as a narcoleptic."

9 / 10
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  • neuro...
  • November 12, 2008

For Narcolepsy "This is a wonderful medicine. Costly, but great. However, I have found that it is best to take it an hour before eating or if need be an hour AFTER eating. This medication changed my quality of life. Future downfall....if I decide to have kids. Then what? Consider this if you are thinking about having kids."

10 / 10
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  • Juliu...
  • April 13, 2009

For Narcolepsy "Provigil works great for me, at 200 mg once in the morning. I usually feel dull-witted and fatigued, but I don't suddenly "switch off". After about a week of steady doses, however, I often develop a bad headache and have to quit taking the stuff for a few days. Maybe that's a good thing, if it keeps me from getting habituated. Ritalin did nothing except make my hands shake."

8 / 10
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  • Anonymous
  • October 1, 2009

For Narcolepsy "I was diagnosed with Sleep Apnea, for that I got a CPAP. But I also had trouble with zombie episodes and uncontrollable sleepiness (at work, while driving, very scary). I was diagnosed with Narcolepsy several years ago (not formally tested though). I have all the symptoms (night terrors, sleep paralysis.), but I have not been tested for it. Anyway, my Sleep Doctor put me on it primarily because of several driving issues. It seems to work well, I have not dozed off or had a zombie episode since I have been on it. I still feel tired, and I can sleep if I want to, so I feel a little more in control. I also don't feel like a speed freak, like Adderal. I am on 200 mg in the morning for the past 2 weeks. So far I am pleased with it."

9 / 10
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  • Not...
  • Taken for less than 1 month
  • October 25, 2021

"I just started taking provigil generic brand. I've been on it a few days but I don't feel any difference. It's off label use says it can be used for ADHD but if you have ADHD, try to find something else that's specific to ADHD. Hope this helps"

3 / 10
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  • doohaga
  • December 10, 2008

For Narcolepsy "This was the first drug that my doctor prescribed for my narcolepsy. I didn't experience any side-effects but it didn't improve my wakefulness to any discernible degree with two doses of 300mg. (one dose of 300mg upon waking in the morning; one dose of 300mg around noon)."

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  • toots
  • July 24, 2009

For Narcolepsy "I started taking Provigil about a year ago when it was suspected I had narcolepsy. I was tested and found it was Idiotic Hypersomnia (lack of melatonin) they call it Idiotic because they don't know what causes it. Provigil works one day for me then not the next. You can only take 200mg max per day. I went off it and on Ritalin. I am awake without any ill effects. I have recently been tested again for narcolepsy and was found that I am narcoleptic. The test given last year was done incorrectly (without my C-pap), it was supposed to be done WITH it on during my sleep study. All is good now."

2 / 10
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  • Anonymous
  • November 4, 2009

For Narcolepsy "Provigil has worked well at treating my Narcolepsy. I had to stop taking it when I was pregnant and resumed taking it after my daughter's birth. If you choose to take Provigil and have children, you need to be driven around for the duration of your pregnancy and up until you are back on the medication."

7 / 10
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6 Report
  • hippy...
  • August 7, 2009

For Depression "I've used it for 10 days now in my most recent attempt to kick meth. It helps so much. It won't buzz you, but it takes away the debilitating lethargy and depression."

7 / 10
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85 Report
  • j6ff
  • October 7, 2011

For Shift Work Sleep Disorder "I work a rotating 12 hour shift 3 days, 3 days off, 3 nights. I have been taking 400 mg a day for 5 years and I cannot say anything bad about this medication."

10 / 10
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73 Report
  • Anonymous
  • November 25, 2011

For Shift Work Sleep Disorder "Works well it will keep you up. At the same time if you get off work and need to sleep you still can. Not like other medications. Alert but no strong out feeling."

9 / 10
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69 Report
  • Kibbles
  • April 14, 2011

For Depression "Most awesome medicine ever made. Non- addictive. Will be used more for MS, MD and Parkinson's is much needed."

10 / 10
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64 Report
  • Miss...
  • June 6, 2014

For Shift Work Sleep Disorder "It has been a big help since I suffer from excessive daytime sleepiness. I have had surgery for apnea and do shift work."

7 / 10
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46 Report
  • Anonymous
  • November 29, 2011

For Obstructive Sleep Apnea/Hypopnea Syndrome "I suffer from sleep apnea. Provigil really helps improve my focus and concentration. I only wish it had been available when I was a student in college! No telling what I could have accomplished! "

10 / 10
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51 Report

Reviews may be edited to correct grammar/spelling or to remove inappropriate language and content. Reviews that appear to be created by parties with a vested interest are not published. This information is not intended to endorse any particular medication. While these reviews may be helpful, they are not a substitute for the expertise, knowledge, and judgement of healthcare professionals.