[BrandonSS90]

Hello,

I am fairly new... and I need a little advice and opinions on something. First off, let me describe myself. I am 19 years old, with a tracheostomy, due to progressive illness of MD (Muscular Dystrophy), FSH type. And weigh around 100 pounds, due to extreme major depression, severe loss of appetite that will not go away. And.. I am constantly tired all time due to weakness especially physcially and mentally as well. Take Vicodin for pain, Methadone for breakthrough pain every 12 hours, and Ativan for panic attacks and anxiety issues, mostly due to breathing issues.

Since I am so tired and weak all the time, I keep telling my doctor (psychiatrist) I cannot be sedated due to medications. My psychiatrist does not understand that when I am sedated, I feel 10x the effects of it I believe than everyone else, cannot function and live life happily due to this extreme effect it has on me. He.. just won't listen to me. He prescribed me Remeron, of course not listening to me. And I asked him, is it going to sedate me? He said, yes, it will. I said, ok whatever, and have been on it only a month. Until I stopped it, cold turkey, not caring, since it was making me soo tired. I would take naps during the day and get extreme boughts of headaches due to the Remeron. Which is not normal for me. And I just felt like a total depressed black hole, worse then before. What made me really upset was when he took me OFF my Wellbutrin, when I told him it was working great for me, depression and energy wise. He said, "Well, it IS an amphetamine. And we don't want you to lose anymore weight." So, he took me off something that was WORKING, just FINE.

But, I emailed my main family doctor last night to tell him the situation and asked what his medical opinion and/or personal opinion would be about trying Provigil. I sent him the following email:

"But, anyways, I kind of have a personal, sorta, question, on what you think about a medication, that I have been researching and reading up on alot, that helps with energy. That I think might help benefit me, depression wise and energy wise. I don't know, if you've heard about it, but it's called Provigil. The site about it, is here, www.provigil.com/. It seems to help "keep you awake" I guess, I read that it is not particularry a stimulant, or like Wellbutrin, but from what I read it affects the monoamine receptors and also the hypothalamic histamine levels... and that it has been shown to be effective in things like depression, cocaine addiction, Parkinson's Disease, and fatigue related to disease... but the one thing is does to, and the sad part, is that it does cause weight loss, and that is really, something I don't need.. some of the side effects of the medication are Headache, Nausea, Nervousness, Insomnia, Anxiety, and dizziness. But, one thing I have read, and I like about it, is that it doesn't get you that "high" feeling, it just makes you awake and alert and more energized.

I really just wanted to ask if this medication may be appropriate for me, as it seems like a great alternative to the medicines Dr. -- keeps giving me, which are sedating drugs. And my mom even told me to talk to you about it, and just be honest with you, on what I myself, think would help. As we are seriously considering coming to you, about depression medication management. Instead of going to Dr. --, as I think in my opinion he is just, not the one for me. And just see what you say. Now, I'm not asking you write me a prescription for this, not at all. I'm just asking what your medical and possibly personal opinion would be, if you even considered putting me on this. I mean, I personally see real benefit from it, especially because it may help my depression, and mostly the problem of my constant fatigue, poor concentration, and just.. hard time focusing. And.. I know there is no magical pill that will cure my disease, but, I thought this medication may help with a lot of things. I hope you understand. Thanks!

-Brandon"

Still awaiting a reply from him. So.. what would your advice be? On this email, any suggestions about what else I could of put in it, to make him more understand? I.. am scared of sounding like a drug seeker. And, the stigma that I HAVE abused Vicodin and Tramadol in the past. I.. just want to find soemthing that may benefit, and help with my quality of life.