Modafinil for Chronic Fatigue Syndrome User Reviews (Page 2)

• Lan...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• February 19, 2021

"I've been on this for well over a year (close to 2). I saw minimal improvement for cognitive issues/brain fog, but it doesn't really help with fatigue (high-dose magnesium did a lot more for my fatigue than moda). I'm on 300 mg, and I think there is a tendency for tolerance, so maybe take it, and when it starts to fade, cut back to a pill every other day for a while and then go back to every day, etc. It just needs boosts every so often. Better to be on it than not, but the effect is minimal, sadly, for me."

• fib...
• August 18, 2009

Modafinil "I take this pill only as needed because of the price, so I take it if I have an appointment or have to be somewhere on time or before 4 pm. I am a zombie if I don't. I just can't understand why it costs so much. Do they honestly think people can afford to pay this price?"

• The...
• July 15, 2016

"I was prescribed Provigil 200 mg BID in 2005 for my chronic, severe fatigue due to MS and multiple flare-ups from fibromyalgia. It is the best drug for me. I get a good 4 1/2 hours with the AM dose, and the same with the PM dose. It allowed me to maintain my full-time job until my retirement. The prob is I'm on Medicare and pay $800/month for Highmark PPO Blue, just for the drug coverage. Then my pharmacy will only give me 15 days at a time at a $120.00 co-pay. So now we have a drug that helps me function normally, but the poor house is just around the corner for me. Why make such a successful drug, offer it to middle-class people, give them the hope they were seeking, and then at some point have to stop because really, who can afford it? Not to mention, if you try to refill your next 15 days' worth a day early, huh!"

• TBP...
• July 27, 2015

"I wish I was having the experience most of you are sharing. I've been on modafinil for a month with no change at all. I am so tired all the time, nap every day without fail. I feel useless at work and in life."

• Lad...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• April 15, 2015

"I am 29 years old, female, and have chronic fatigue due to depression and rheumatoid arthritis. This drug seemed like the perfect cure, but it gave me pretty unwanted side effects, including worsening of depression, panic, dizziness, blurred vision, headaches, worsening of fatigue, dazed, would have words on the tip of my tongue sometimes that would take like 30 seconds to remember what I wanted to say, and muscle tension, extreme anger at people and myself, and increased joint pain. So the 2 hours it would actually increase my energy. All these side effects are NOT worth it."

• Mem...
• August 10, 2016

"I have been taking this medication Provigil/modafinil since 2007. It has been my experience with both to increase my way of life and to function as a normal human. No side effects, it has been amazing. The downfall is the insurance companies and FDA. When I started taking the meds, 200 mg, 1 1/2 tabs twice a day. The insurance approved. As the cost of the meds increased, the denials started coming. I had to change insurance companies due to my work. They would only approve two tablets a day, therefore, I had to adjust to only taking two tablets a day. As of 7-1-2016, the FDA and insurance have decided that they will only approve and pay for one tablet per day. I asked the pharmacy how much it would cost me for a 30-day supply, the reply made me cry: $800."

• Sle...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• May 20, 2015

"This medication worked for about a week, but now I just sleep right through it. I'm on 200 mg. I set an alarm to take the medication in the beginning, I'd wake up about 45 minutes after taking it, but now I continue to sleep."

• COJ...
• July 26, 2013

"This med worked for me for about 2 weeks. It was amazing. But it seems I have started already become immune to it. I was so hoping it would work for me like it did everyone else. I am totally crushed that it isn't."

• Sci...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• August 29, 2016

"I started Nuvigil a week ago, and I feel much better. I don't feel so exhausted and run down, and I don't have to take naps. I am sleeping 8 hours at night and am awake an average of 5 hours more each day versus days when I don't take my medication. In other words, life-changing for me."

• Mou...
• April 5, 2015

"I have ME resulting in severe tiredness. I started taking 200 mg modafinil 5 days ago. It is fabulous. It is not funded in the UK. But if you have ME, do some research and see if it is right for you. It really worked for me!"

• Mic...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• December 6, 2015

"I have Chronic Fatigue Syndrome. Pretty much bed ridden. Took 100 mg of Modafinil. Within 5 minutes, had lots of pressure in my head. Very unpleasant. Did absolutely nothing to make me feel better. Instead, felt worse. Extreme pressure in head lasted 90 minutes. Then mild headache the rest of the day. Very disappointing."

• Slo...
• February 1, 2010

Modafinil "Used to be active. Over the last ten years, extreme fatigue has grown to total dominance. Interest, hobbies, and life in general just vanished. After extensive testing and use of CPAP, doc put me on 200 mg/day Provigil, it was like a teaser, not quite doing anything, but 400 mg seemed to at least get me mentally more active, but does very little for the fatigue part. My major complaint is hard to describe, but after a couple of days, I get a sore feeling in my mouth. I don't grind my teeth, but tend to keep a negative pressure in my mouth, causing a ridge to form along the tooth line, and slight but painful sores on the gum here and there, it has to be some form of tension, which also affects sleep."

• Anonymous
• Taken for 10 years or more
• September 19, 2023

"I used it for years due to fibromyalgia. 20 years ago, I was given it when diagnosed in Boston. But since moving to California, my current doctor doesn't want to prescribe it, so I suffer desperately and no longer get much done. I highly recommend this medication - no side effects, only benefits. It will make a huge difference in your life. I would take it 30 minutes prior to getting up. I found it gave me the extra energy to do it."

• leo...
• September 26, 2010

Modafinil "I started out on 100 mg in the morning. I was falling asleep an hour later, so the doctor put me on 200 mg. I still was very sleepy, but then the sleepiness would wear off. I drove about 60 miles into town, and I was driving very fast and taking risks I would never do normally. It also made me want to buy lottery tickets. The increase of compulsive behaviors is very true with this medication. I stopped taking it immediately. It was too expensive anyway!"

• dbu...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• November 26, 2024

"Started taking modafinil 2-3 weeks ago to help my lack of get up and go; it has helped, I’m more active throughout the day. Past week or two when I sit up in bed in the morning I’ve had sort of dizziness or unsteadiness; one reported side effect is “feeling that everything around me is moving,” something like that. It’s mild and soon disappears, but is worrying. I decided to quit it, but the next morning the dizziness was less, quickly disappeared, so I am continuing it."

• Han...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• April 4, 2017

"I have another comment because this drug is so expensive. My insurance required preauthorization, but after a week, they allowed it, and it cost me only $8/month. If it was not allowed by insurance, I couldn't have afforded it because it is about $100 from the local compounding pharmacy that also seeks bargains for their customers. That's too much for me. This drug has been around for a long time, there's no sense in delaying medical care like this. So how about that? Automatic preauthorization should be just as dangerous and just as denounced. For CFS, this drug can be life or death for people. I wish it wasn't an allergy for me, though. :("

• Dal...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• February 14, 2023

"This medicine really helped me with chronic fatigue. I had no side effects that I was aware of, and I was able to clean the house, go for walks, and manage chores that I otherwise couldn’t manage. It helped with depression as well."

• Sop...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• May 20, 2024

"Used for chronic fatigue when coming off long-term prednisone. I found it very effective. I feel alive again, more social. Coming down off prednisone is very hard, 2 steps forward, one step back. Modafinil really helped. 100 mg. More alert, memory still a problem remembering names, but otherwise okay. More difficult to sleep at night."

• Not...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• February 14, 2022

"I was prescribed modafinil for chronic fatigue and brain fog. The first week, my doctor had me take 1/2 a pill for a week, then move to 1 pill a day thereafter. The first week, I noticed a big difference, and when I started taking the whole pill, I was blown away by my energy and desire to get things done. HOWEVER, after being on it for about a month, the energy and desire to do anything were completely gone. My fatigue was worse than before, and I started having suicidal tendencies and horrible thoughts towards people I know and love. I realized it was time to stop and did cold turkey, and I'm worse than I was before I started taking it."

• Lor...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• September 1, 2023

"I have used it in the past. I just started again because I was spending six days out of seven in bed. It’s a game changer for me. It literally changed my life. I’m up and moving. I can only get a half a day out of it, 200 mg, but it’s better than nothing."

• Rog...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• November 30, 2021

"It’s 4 years post contracting chronic fatigue syndrome and fibromyalgia from contracting multiple infections (1 Australian mosquito-borne virus, 3 bacterial infections requiring antibiotic treatment - that wasn’t provided for 2 years). 2 years post infections still not fully resolved - 3 months of multiple antibiotics 2 years ago, last year 2 months of a single antibiotic. No antiviral meds. Many serological tests, no arthritis, no heart issues (stress test, echocardiogram), no organ failures, and brain scans normal, no known COVID (extensive PCR COVID tests). No mental issues. Past bouts of depression. In those 4 years only worked about 3 weeks total. Basic housework wasn’t completed, couldn’t cook most of the time, nor maintain personal hygiene on a daily basis. Life is slowly returning since modafinil, don’t push your body, go slow, see an exercise physiologist, build muscle strength, 2x SARS-CoV vax, smoker, light drinker, occasional joint. Early 40’s."

• She...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• July 22, 2021

"Modafinil has saved me. I have 8 autoimmune diseases, and they cause me debilitating fatigue. This drug has given me my life back, and I am now able to go on walks, play with my grandkids, and live life. The only side effect I had when first starting it 2 years ago was mild headaches. I am very thankful this works for me."

• Kit...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• June 29, 2023

"I've had CFS from Ross River Virus for 13 years now, and I was recently diagnosed with Fibromyalgia. It's destroyed my life. I've been a shadow of my former self and failed to parent, work, and keep my life in order. Modafinil has been helping me regain some semblance of normalcy. I can function again. More energy and focus to tackle life, and no negative side effects. The added bonus of mild alleviation of my pain levels has been welcomed. It's not completely gone, but the severe, rolling pain throughout my body is eased, and I can see a gradual improvement day by day in my overall capacity. I'm so thankful this drug was available."

• Mod...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• August 11, 2021

"Been taking this drug for about 2 years. First year, it helped and I stayed awake, more energy. Now I get sleepy about 3 hours after. My eyes get so tired, usually a headache, also pretty chatty. I was prescribed 200 mg, and I never took that much. I take a little less than half, which may be not enough? Great in the beginning, and now I am not sure what to do."

• dbu...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• November 26, 2024

"Started taking modafinil 2-3 weeks ago to help my lack of get-up-and-go; it has helped. I’m more active throughout the day. The past week or two, when I sit up in bed in the morning, I’ve had sort of dizziness or unsteadiness. One reported side effect is “feeling that everything around me is moving,” something like that. It’s mild and soon disappears but is worrying. I decided to quit it, but the next morning the dizziness was less, quickly disappeared, so I am continuing it."