Modafinil for Narcolepsy User Reviews (Page 3)

• Anonymous
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• September 16, 2012

Modafinil "I have narcolepsy with cataplexy and am currently taking Provigil during the day when I first wake up. I have noticed that my cataplexy attacks are fewer, but it doesn't stop them all. I still have at least 3 big attacks a week. I have found that I am more alert taking Ritalin, but have more cataplectic attacks. I am currently working with my doc to up the dosage because the 200 mg is not enough. I have had some side effects with the medicine: mood swings, becoming fixated on a task or project, confusion, headache, and some depression. I am currently a full-time student, and for me, taking Provigil to prevent attacks vs. being more alert is the best option for me at this point."

• Kev...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• January 12, 2020

"I was prescribed modafinil after my 20 mg of Adderall wasn’t doing its job. I had high expectations going in, and boy was I wrong. It did absolutely NOTHING to help my extreme fatigue. Actually, all it did was give me terrible side effects, such as stomach pains, feeling 'out of it', diarrhea, headaches, smelly urine, and reflux. I’m sure it will work for some, but it most certainly did not work for me."

• Nar...
• April 24, 2019

"Diagnosed with narcolepsy at 14 after Multiple Sleep Latency Test (MSLT) had me asleep in 40 seconds. My type is severe narcoleptic without cataplexy. Provigil gave me my life back so I can complete school! On it for 7+ years. I take a high dosage in the morning (after eating), sleep immediately afterward to get rid of dizziness/mental fog, wake up an hour+ later with massive energy for the day. Did well, but best results when I started doing a sport regularly along with Provigil (not as effective when I was inactive). Tips: Provigil increases alertness/energy level, not a full cure. I take 1-2 hour naps after eating/exercising/awake too long. Learned to plan sleep schedule around activities. Expensive, but getting cheaper. Initially paid $1,200 a month. Insurance covered modafinil after Adderall, Xyrem, Ritalin, Nuvigil failed and 'midday fallout' happened during first few months because my dosage was too low. Doctor increased my dosage and I began keeping a very consistent schedule, and it went away."

• Anonymous
• September 27, 2010

Modafinil "Ever since I was age 13, I would have sleep attacks almost every day; about 5 days out of a week. It really affected my schoolwork because I just couldn't force myself to stay awake. Two years ago, when I was 18, I finally investigated why I was having these sleep attacks. I was eventually diagnosed with narcolepsy by a neurologist. He put me on Provigil, 200 mg in the morning and 100 mg in the afternoon. Within a week, I noticed a huge difference. I've never felt so awake and refreshed in years. Now I'll only have around 10 sleep attacks per year. The only flaw this drug has is its price. MAKE SURE your insurance covers it. They may not at first, but give them documentation of your condition, and they will."

• JDa...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• June 11, 2019

"I am new to this modafinil (just started this week). I am taking 200 mg for narcolepsy. So far, it has been great. I haven’t felt this awake in so long. I am able to function all day without naps. One question I have is, since I started this, I have only been sleeping on average 4-4.5 hours at night. Has anyone else experienced this? Is it because I just started? I don’t want to sleep that little, that can’t be healthy."

• Sle...
• March 12, 2019

"I am on 200 mg of Modafinil, 20 mg of Adderall XR, 30 mg of Adderall IR, and I am still falling asleep. Provigil is way too expensive, even with insurance, it was over $3,000.00. I am already having issues at work with meeting deadlines, which is causing depression and anxiety. I just do not know how I am going to keep my job if I cannot stay awake. I am just wondering what happens when the medication will no longer work at the highest dosage."

• Mis...
• April 25, 2016

"I took modafinil for a week and a half for narcolepsy and couldn't continue. I was wide awake for 2 days but practically manic. By the third, I was a waking zombie. My brain fog was significantly worse, and my fatigue increased to the point of hardly being able to get out of bed. It became progressively worse each day."

• Anonymous
• July 26, 2009

Modafinil "I was given Provigil for my narcolepsy, with a dosage of 200 mg/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 Adderall, 20 mg/3 daily, and it is working much better for me."

• Coa...
• August 17, 2021

Modafinil "Diagnosis with narcolepsy at 23 years old, and now I am currently 41 years 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 200 mg in the morning and another 200 mg at lunch. Will often supplement with caffeine beverage as long as it’s not after 4 pm. 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 the dermatologist can’t figure it out, that’s your problem: you are not drinking enough. Sleep well, y’all."

• cor...
• Taken for 10 years or more
• September 8, 2017

"I have taken Provigil off and on since 2000, for narcolepsy/apnea. I started with the 200 mg per day but discovered that my brain required more. Since increasing my dosage to 400 mg per day, I have fewer daytime sleep concerns. I have not experienced any appetite changes and have certainly not lost any weight. This medication allows me to function just enough to keep my job and have a somewhat normal social life. No matter what dosage I take, my brain/body will shut down at approximately 6:00 pm, and on the days I don’t take the medication, I pretty much sleep all day. I’ve made lifestyle changes, such as eating better, increased cardio, and strength training, just as a supplement to the medication and CPAP therapy."

• Anonymous
• January 6, 2009

Modafinil "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 Provigil as soon as I found out I was pregnant. There is too little known yet, and my kid was not going to be the guinea pig. Surprisingly, something changed because of being pregnant, and I did surprisingly well for those 8 months. I just made sure to take regular naps."

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

Modafinil "I have been prescribed Provigil for excessive daytime sleepiness. Originally 100 mg 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."

• stt...
• July 19, 2009

Modafinil "This is the first prescription I have taken for narcolepsy. It has been 3 years now while taking 200 mg 3 times 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 cannot fire you for it. They need to make considerations for this condition and develop a work schedule that allows you the 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."

• Fur...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• November 30, 2022

Modafinil "Was prescribed it first at 100 mg about 5 years ago, only for when necessary. Worked for the first couple of years, jumping between a dose of 100 mg and 200 mg when necessary, but it really didn't do much. Helped my energy management, but I never really felt awake at all. Honestly, it 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 of rare times."

• Pre...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• January 10, 2021

"I have struggled with mental health issues stemming from insomnia for years. I've been through a revolving door of prescribers and tried at least 12 different sedatives. After a sleep study, I was diagnosed with narcolepsy and prescribed modafinil, while being taken off Ambien CR. (Stay far, far away unless blacking out and sending insane messages to old colleagues is your thing.) I'm up to 200mg modafinil once a day and 100mg Wellbutrin SR twice a day, and it feels as though I've been given my brain back. I'm exhausted when I go to bed and fall asleep quickly. I don't take sedatives to sleep for the first time in at least 6 years. My family and friends all tell me that I've completely changed; become more 'with it.' I honestly don't notice a difference or side effects. I'm simply not tired from a lack of sleep and able to set and achieve goals again. I can't believe how something so subtle has had such a profound impact on my life."

• tan...
• Taken for 5 to 10 years
• May 5, 2024

"I have been taking (Provigil) Modafinil 200 mg for many years. It was determined after multiple sleep studies that I had narcolepsy. Without this medication, I would fall asleep at work during meetings and just talking with coworkers. Taking the Modafinil is literally like day and night for me. It keeps me awake during the day with no side effects. If I forget to take my medication, it will be obvious to my office coworker, and she will say, 'Did you forget your medication today?' Without it, I am tired, sluggish, and feel horrible. I cannot live a productive life without Modafinil!"

• the...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• December 4, 2018

"My experience with modafinil has varied widely based on the manufacturer. Mylan generic is the only one that will work even a little bit for me, but it’s getting harder and harder to find. It cuts through that swimming narcoleptic feeling and allows me to be awake enough to function reasonably well. I felt a bit “driven” when I first started on it, but now I take quite a big dose with no side effects except possibly dry mouth. Other manufacturers’ products, especially Alembic’s, do nothing for me—meaning, I constantly feel like I’m trying to walk through a swimming pool the whole time I’m “awake.” In order to get a more consistent product at the pharmacy, I’m trying to get switched over to name-brand Provigil. I can’t really afford that, but I really can’t afford not to function."

• Ket...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• April 9, 2017

Modafinil "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 am on 400 mg 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."

• cra...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• August 23, 2012

Modafinil "After the first 200 mg dose, I experienced a powerful, irresistible, and complete voiding of my bowel. It left me weak, so I did not take any more for a full day. Then I took half a tablet (100 mg) and experienced the same thing again. At a quarter dose (50 mg), the same thing happened. I think Provigil is an excellent laxative. It gave (at all those doses) a moderate improvement in wakefulness for about two hours; it did not help with my cataplexy. Since then, 40 mg (4 x 10 mg) of methylphenidate allows me to stay awake and alert and also eliminates attacks of cataplexy."

• doz...
• July 28, 2009

Modafinil "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, 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."

• Mal...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• July 10, 2021

"Started taking Modafinil about a week ago at 100 mg and noticed a big difference. I stayed awake the whole day without any naps and was able to drive 1.5 hrs, which is unheard of. Day 3, I got tired midday and took another 100 mg. Day 4, I tried 200 mg at once in the morning, and I was groovy. Day 5, I did the same thing but got tired in the afternoon. Consulted my Dr. again; he told me I may need a higher dose. Today, I did 200 mg in the am and a dose at noon, still feel tired. Currently laying in bed because I don't have the energy to do anything else at this point. The wakefulness only lasts about 5 hours before I'm ready to just knock out. I desperately wanted this to work for me. The side effects are minimal: heavy chest the first 2 days; now just dry mouth. But it does very little for cognitive improvement, focus, and memory function for me. Sometimes it feels like I'm stoned on caffeine. I am envious of the people that it is consistently working for."

• Kay...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• May 10, 2021

"I experienced narcolepsy symptoms my entire life (without cataplexy). I would fall asleep while driving, take naps on the bathroom floor at work, sneak off to sleep in my car during events. The sleep attacks were debilitating. I haven't been on this medication long (only a few weeks), but I've felt incredibly better. It took about four days for it to work fully. I don't feel jittery or unnaturally focused, both of which Adderall causes. I simply feel like 'me,' just more awake. Don't even need my coffee. I take 100 mg in the morning and 100 mg in the afternoon. Some reviews say it has increased mood/reduced depression, but that hasn't been the case for me. Regardless, it is truly a life changer."

• Anonymous
• July 31, 2009

Modafinil "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 every day around 6 pm or 8 pm. 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 8 pm, but I was having problems with my memory and concentration. Just switched to Ritalin."

• SL8...
• September 18, 2011

Modafinil "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, 200 mg 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 150 mg 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 barely 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."

• Anonymous
• June 13, 2012

"Modafinil has changed my life. I am 50. I have probably suffered with narcolepsy for about 35 years. It has worsened with age. I was diagnosed 15 months ago. Initially prescribed dexamphetamine, initially I thought it was marvelous, but I eventually realized it made my life almost unbearable. I have been taking Modafinil for 6 weeks. The first 2 weeks were difficult, mainly due to stopping the dex. Since then, life has slowly improved to the point where I have never felt better. Everything has suddenly become easy. I never realized how easy life can be. I wish I could meet the man who first produced modafinil to say, 'You have changed my life, THANK YOU. XX'"