Nuvigil and Tiredness: What Users Say

• Anonymous
• December 11, 2011

For Depression "150 mg NuVigil does work somewhat for my depression, but the primary effects wear off after a few hours, and I feel more tired than usual. It is better than any SSRI, SNRI, MAOI, atypical, or tricyclic antidepressant that I have taken."

• Jus...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• May 1, 2013

For Narcolepsy "Was diagnosed with depression, then bipolar, then bipolar narcolepsy. The cocktail I was on for well over a year was 5 mg Abilify, 60 mg Cymbalta, and 250 mg Nuvigil. Recently came off the Abilify, and I can't even explain how good I felt, not high, not mania, just that 'finally, just me' feeling. I was content with life, at peace, and for the first time in YEARS, I was even happy! After a week of no Abilify, we decided to begin weaning off the Nuvigil. Been taking 150 mg Nuvigil and 60 mg Cymbalta for a week now and feel horrible. Don't care about a thing, no motivation, tired, etc. Doc said give it a month. Hope I can last that long. I just want ME back, as does my wife and kids."

• Cam...
• October 13, 2021

For Narcolepsy "I took a sleep study a couple of months ago and, of course, failed because of my extreme anxiety. I was prescribed Nuvigil, and each time I have taken it, I have still been extremely tired, but my mind will not let me nap. I can’t even sleep at night, even if I take the drug in the morning. I woke up today bawling my eyes out from an anxiety attack, and this is the second time it has happened. I’m done with this medication. I was so excited to get my life back."

• Anonymous
• March 27, 2010

For Narcolepsy "I was diagnosed with narcolepsy about a week ago. I started taking Nuvigil 150 mg, and at first, I felt as though I could see life with clear eyes. Colors were also brighter. But then, a day or so has passed, and I am completely exhausted. I had a sleep attack at work, and I didn't fall asleep, but I felt very weak and could have easily gone to sleep. I hope this improves. I know I need to give this medicine a chance though."

• JDS...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• October 24, 2019

For Obstructive Sleep Apnea/Hypopnea Syndrome "I started on 150 mg Nuvigil, but I was still tired. Dr. added Adderall, but it is still not helpful throughout the day. I still feel like taking a nap. Thinking about going up to 250 mg when I see the doctor next week."

• Anonymous
• February 4, 2012

For Narcolepsy "I've been taking Nuvigil 250 mg for about 1 month now. At first, it was amazing and helped me stay alert and kept me from needing naps every day. About 2 weeks after starting, I discovered a major decline in its effectiveness and had to stop using it for a while to see if my tolerance would go back to normal. I still cannot go a full day without being tired, so I am considering doubling my dose or trying something else."

• sle...
• August 27, 2010

For Shift Work Sleep Disorder "I have been using Nuvigil for one week now. It was working great in the beginning, but after around the third day, I got extremely tired around 12 pm, and all I wanted to do was take a nap. I continue to take it thinking that this will change. I only take 150 mg, maybe I should ask the doctor to up the dose."

• Anonymous
• April 20, 2010

For Drowsiness "I was diagnosed with idiopathic hypersomnia after months of falling asleep during the day and very early at night. It very much affects my life, making me feel overwhelmed and unable to complete what a normal person should be able to do. I was put on Nuvigil, and a few hours after taking the first pill, I began to feel jittery. It lasted a couple of hours, and as that feeling left, I got migraines. The migraines lasted for 2 days. I then had 2 days where I felt absolutely awesome - I slept fine at night and had ample energy to get through my day. The next 2 days, I felt tired and dragging again. The last day, I was tired, depressed, and crying on and off all day. I am now off the medication."

• tir...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• July 29, 2012

For Drowsiness "I suppose I am in the first stages of figuring out what causes me to be tired all the time. I am frustrated, and memories are flooding in of the onset of my tiredness. I remember falling asleep in every class in 9th grade at the age of 14. I always assumed my tiredness was from one reason or another. With that said, recently I have been back and forth to the doctor for four months now. This last time, he prescribed Nuvigil, and wants to order a sleep study. I was so excited at the prospect of feeling awake, and to my dismay, I have not felt anything good. Headaches mainly, tiredness, anxiety, emotional, spaciness, and even on 200 mg took a 2-hour nap. Been on 150 mg dose, still tired and don't feel as much anxiety and spaciness."

• man...
• September 1, 2011

For Drowsiness "Nuvigil was not for me. I felt very drugged and groggy. Dry mouth and eyes. I also found myself staring into space a lot, and my skin was tingly. I felt way more tired than I did before I took Nuvigil. I didn't dare drive while taking this medication. I switched back to Concerta at a higher dose than I was taking before, and it is working very well for me. I feel completely normal."

• jlg...
• February 24, 2011

"This is my first day taking Nuvigil 200 mg. I felt jittery for the first 4 hours after taking it. Got a pretty severe headache around that 4-hour mark. Took some Tylenol, which relieved the headache, and I felt great the rest of the day. Worked a 10-hour shift in a physically demanding job, and I still was able to come home and stay up a few hours before going to sleep. I will keep posting my continued experience with this medication. It really helped me out to get on here and see what I could expect with this medication. Thanks to everyone. Oh yeah, I take this medication to help with the fatigue caused by MS. I was taking amantadine, which kept me awake but didn't help my body from feeling completely exhausted."

• JLH...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• June 21, 2022

For Shift Work Sleep Disorder "Been taking Adderall to get me through my long days and just did not like the crash and pounding headache to follow. It also seemed no two days were ever the same, one day just lots of energy and no headache the next day just really tired, jittery, and massive headache. My doctor put me on Nuvigil 250 mg, I always start lower than he wants so I started at 150 mg in the morning to ease into it. I planned a couple of low-key days at home to get my body used to it, and my brain could focus on work and not the drug. About the third day, I got off early to stop by Kroger to grab food for dinner that night. Got back to my truck and had to literally sit there for hours, I could not even get the truck into gear. My mind had checked out, I knew what I was doing, but I was not going to do it. The act of driving scared the crap out of me. I called my sister and spoke with her for several hours, drank lots of water, I finally got my courage up to try and make my way back home. I was so jittery, paranoid to the bone."

• DPa...
• April 14, 2013

For Depression "Nuvigil worked the first day and did nothing thereafter. I was using it to alleviate the sleepiness and lethargy from Zoloft."

• Joa...
• Taken for 5 to 10 years
• March 2, 2013

For Depression "Nuvigil makes me feel dizzy, tired, and lazy. Nuvigil does dull my appetite to the point of being forgetful, for me, I will go back to Provigil."

• Joa...
• Taken for 5 to 10 years
• March 2, 2013

For Depression "Nuvigil makes me feel dizzy, tired, and lazy. Nuvigil does dull my appetite to the point of being forgetful, for me, I will go back to Provigil."

• JMi...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• March 8, 2021

For Narcolepsy "Took Nuvigil for possible narcolepsy, and it made the fatigue much worse. Felt like I went from tired to flat exhausted and nearly impossible to focus."