Armodafinil and Insomnia: What Users Say

• Anonymous
• May 10, 2010

Armodafinil for Chronic Fatigue Syndrome "Have been on Nuvigil 150 for about a week for MS-related fatigue. It gives me energy to stay awake, but after 7 or 8 in the evening, I am beat. Only problem is I don't sleep well, and my appetite is nonexistent."

• Com...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• May 2, 2021

For Depression "Armodafinil works for me after everything under the sun, including ketamine and TMS. If I miss a dose, I’m hurting, so it’s got to be used consistently to work for me. If I take it too late in the day, it has a tendency to contribute to insomnia. However, it boosts me out of the doldrums as quickly as ketamine is supposed to in effect. Combined with Abilify, it’s not too stimulating like caffeine. Without Abilify, some tension, jitteriness, and perspiration are possible. Abilify helps calm anxiety. So the combination works reasonably well for me."

• Anonymous
• December 11, 2009

Armodafinil for Narcolepsy "I have been taking Provigil 3 x 200 mg tabs in the morning. It works but not great. I would be sitting at my desk and do 'head bobs.' This is not acceptable to me. My doctor suggested I try Nuvigil. I started taking it last week. I took one 250 mg in the morning. It is a sleeping pill to me. This week has been the longest week for me. I am fighting to stay awake at work. I am interested to see if others have this same reaction to Nuvigil."

• sou...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• August 16, 2015

For Chronic Fatigue Syndrome "Pros: turn into a hardworking genius legend in the daytime after taking a pill at 7:30 a.m. Turn sociable and enjoy chatting with people for the sake of it. Cons: some suspicious side effects, diarrhea (it's manageable) and very frequent urination. Hunger massively suppressed (you might consider this a good thing), occasional headaches, can make you aggressive when you aren't at all normally. If you're a person who has trouble sleeping, this will keep you up far later. And also, there is a slight psychedelic element to this drug as it peaks. You sometimes get weird feelings and thoughts you know could never happen normally off the drug. It's still less bad for you than cocaine or something, so that's how I rationalize it."

• Nig...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• August 8, 2016

Armodafinil for Shift Work Sleep Disorder "I work night shift and have little kids, which don't understand I'm tired or care, so Nuvigil is a lifesaver. I used to be extremely tired in the morning and want to just lay on the couch because I was tired, but no more of that since Nuvigil. I have lost 15 lbs in 6 months. Not sure if it's because I'm more active or if it's Nuvigil. My house is the cleanest it's ever been. The first couple of days I took the medication, I couldn't sleep all night, but that is not a problem anymore, so give it a week for the body to adjust."

• Anonymous
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• March 21, 2015

Armodafinil for Narcolepsy "My experience has been very positive: a complete elimination of sleep attacks, at least until the medication wears off (I take it at about 7 AM and usually around 2-3 PM I can tell it's worn off). When I first began the medication, I experienced fairly severe insomnia at night for a few days and suffered from headaches (generally dull, low-grade ones) for a couple of weeks. Those problems have long since ended, and I have no trouble falling asleep at night. My doctor suggested not taking the medication on weekends, when I do not have to work, which seems to have helped prevent it from losing any effectiveness. I am fortunate enough to have had no trouble getting my insurance to pay for Nuvigil. My cost is $27 for a 3-month supply by mail."

• Tec...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• May 25, 2017

For Drowsiness "I've taken 250 mg Nuvigil for years. The product gave me my life back. I can't express how significant it was finding a medication that could wake up my brain and allow me to function. August 2016, Mylan released the first generic version. My insurance company immediately quit covering branded Nuvigil. Week one - I realized it was 50% effective at keeping me awake, followed by increasing anxiety, insomnia, inability to complete complex tasks, memory issues due to mental fog. Dr. compensated - adding medications for the side effects. Three weeks ago, given a trial of branded Nuvigil - the difference is amazing. No anxiety, no insomnia, accomplishing more at work in a week than I have in two months."

• Anonymous
• Taken for 5 to 10 years
• February 20, 2015

Armodafinil for Shift Work Sleep Disorder "Taking Nuvigil about 8 years for hypersomnia and SWD. It has greatly improved my quality of life. I was experiencing the insomnia that could result from this medicine, but once I found out the best time in my schedule to take it, insomnia is rarely an issue. I am grateful my doctor talked me into taking this medication so long ago."

• Boo...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• August 8, 2019

For Fibromyalgia "I have had fibromyalgia for many years. Mental fatigue led to physical inactivity, which was made worse by several orthopedic surgeries. My sister had fibro too, and both of us have RA and sleep disorders. She was given the Nuvigil to stop sitting comatose in her chair all day. She is thrilled that she now has her life back, completing things she put off for five years. So I asked my sleep doc for Nuvigil. He gave me 150 mg. Took it for three days, and my whole body felt very tense, trouble sleeping, and headache. I seemed to have a little more energy. I stopped Nuvigil for two days and tried again with a half pill. That is perfect for me for brain clarity and focus. No side effects at all with a half pill. I'm very happy that I am now taking care of things I needed to do ten years ago. It is wonderful for me. 500 mg turmeric twice a day really cuts the pain."

• Hyp...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• May 8, 2022

For Depression "While initially, with trying a full dose of 150 mg, I got anxious and trouble sleeping, I did notice uplifting psychological effects. I read that some people are hypersensitive to it, so I decided to try a lot smaller doses (1/6th to 1/4th of the dose, depending on the day), and found that it works great for me! I found that I like it to be as less noticeable as possible, just a slight push instead of manic energy, as the latter drains me even more afterward. After some testing, I found what works for me: breaking the pill unevenly and getting a different dosage daily keeps me more similar to 'regular normal'; picking the dose based on how difficult the day will be prevents the mania and over-exhaustion; having a break day every 3-4 days (those days I take a rest day, whole day) and a periodical break of a couple of days (pick ones with less stress and obligations) all help with keeping the dose minimal but still effective. Modafinil, however, induced severe headaches and agitation, no-no for me."

• dan...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• July 29, 2012

Armodafinil for Drowsiness "I have been on Nuvigil for several years for alertness, or lack thereof, and attention issues. I have had little side effects and don't think I could function properly without it. Initially, there was a bit of insomnia for a few days, but that passed, and all is well since. Last week, I ran out and had to wait a week to get the script through the mail. Ugh! I could not get up in the morning after 8-9 hrs of sleep. I walked around all day in a fog and was afraid I would fall asleep at work. This continued throughout the week and did not seem to get any better. Finally, my medicines came in, took it this morning, and it was like the sun had come out and I could function again. Not all medicines work for everyone, but for those it helps, it is a lifesaver!"

• K_H...
• June 27, 2011

Armodafinil for Narcolepsy "As a working mom, I literally do not have time to nap during the day. It finally became enough of an annoyance that I saw a doctor for the first time in 7 years. Moral of the story, I was diagnosed with narcolepsy and prescribed Nuvigil (250 mg). I am not thrilled to be taking a (possibly addictive) medication the rest of my life, but I want to explore my other options (rather than consume 3 energy drinks/day). So far, I have only been on it a week and after the headaches and no sleep wore off, I now get only a short time where I feel like I am all there. To say I gave it a fair shot, I am going to stick it out for a month."

• Jan...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• September 30, 2020

For Drowsiness "If you are prone to anxiety like me, this may not be for you. Took it in the morning, and it kept me up all night, made my heart race, gave me a panic attack so bad I went to the hospital. I will never put myself through that again, I'd rather be tired than feel so awful. I really wish it worked, as I'm tired of being tired."

• Bon...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• October 18, 2014

For Obstructive Sleep Apnea/Hypopnea Syndrome "I suffered with obstructive sleep apnea for 20 years, surviving on 1-2 hours of sleep per night. I would fall asleep everywhere, even fell asleep in two job interviews! (didn't get those jobs) I got my CPAP, and it helped a lot, but I was still sleepy during the day. Then my doctor prescribed Nuvigil 150 mg, and I woke up for the first time in 20 years! I'm 53, and I haven't felt this alive since I was a kid. Week 1, I had a small headache and insomnia, but then my erectile dysfunction went away, my memory greatly improved, I stopped falling asleep in meetings, and even my essential tremor, which runs through every male on my father's side, has all but disappeared. For me, Nuvigil is truly a miracle."

• sle...
• December 30, 2010

Armodafinil for Narcolepsy "My little sister was diagnosed about 2 years ago with narcolepsy, just recently, so was I. My doctor gave me a sample of Nuvigil for 4 weeks and a prescription for Adderall. I took Nuvigil, and I felt great! However, I took the medicine at about 5:30 am and could not turn my brain off or get to sleep until after 1:30 am. I then took half of the pill to maybe reduce the time it keeps me awake, but nothing happened at all. In reading some of the comments here, it sounds like maybe this medicine will wear off quicker in the future."

• sue...
• November 19, 2015

"Before starting Nuvigil months ago, I was always too tired to do anything. I would sleep an average of 12 hours a night and wake up for a half hour, then need a nap. I was on Adderall but was taken off it because I do have anxiety issues, and my doctor thought it best to take me off it. I tried Provigil and Modafinil, but it did nothing. So my neurologist spoke about Nuvigil. It's great to finally be awake during the day. I don't take Nuvigil every day because it does make me not sleep. With MS, I need my rest."

• Lif...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• October 22, 2021

"I find it great for depression, anxiety, and fatigue. Literally within an hour of taking half of a 150 mg tablet (75 mg), my low mood has gone. I’m happy and can get things done. Nothing seems a big deal. More energy and confidence too. The only downside is sleeping can be difficult if not taken first thing in the morning. Also, after a few weeks, I can feel like I’m not getting enough sleep (sleep deprived), so I usually take a few days off it, and this can create a sudden dip in mood. If it weren’t for these sleep issues, then I’d give it 10/10 as there aren’t any other side effects for me. Better than anything else I’ve tried in 20 years (and I tried nearly everything). Such a shame this isn’t readily available for depression in the UK as SSRIs aren’t as good as this."

• cop...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• September 30, 2014

Armodafinil for Narcolepsy "This medicine kept me from sleeping the whole 5 days I was on it. My body just started to shut down, and my eyes would just close, but my mind would not let me go to sleep."

• Anonymous
• November 5, 2009

Armodafinil for Narcolepsy "I have been taking this medicine for two days. I have had trouble falling asleep at night around 11:00 PM each night. I am hoping tonight will be a different scenario."

• Anonymous
• December 1, 2011

"Effective in keeping me awake but causes some anxiety, insomnia if taken too late in the day, and tremendous muscle weakness making running almost impossible!"

• 420...
• February 26, 2023

Armodafinil "Took this medicine for two days. Gave me the worst pressure headache of my life. Also gave me insomnia. I will never take this medicine again. I’d rather be sleepy all the time than take this."