Modafinil for Narcolepsy User Reviews (Page 4)

• God...
• Taken for 5 to 10 years
• November 28, 2012

Modafinil "Had no life at all except pain and overwhelming fatigue for 10 years. I visited many doctors with no help at all. I am a scientist and began tracking medicines that were in the pipeline - I came across Provigil, and it looked like it was the one for me. When it became available, I was first in line. It changed my life completely; I was normal again; I could produce again and did so to a stunning degree. Three weeks ago, after 8 years, Provigil completely stopped working. I know all the obvious reasons, but it makes no sense; I am again existing with no quality to go forward. I am manically changing to Adderall while I try to figure this out."

• Anonymous
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• August 7, 2012

"Useful for narcolepsy, gives you more awakening and alertness. Recommended low dose with a little caffeine for use over several years. Not useful for long-term depression if you have problems with modafinil. It makes you more alert and awake."

• sig...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• May 22, 2012

Modafinil "Provigil (Modafinil) has been a good addition to my regimen for dealing with the symptoms of narcolepsy. I take different doses depending on the severity of symptoms. I take 50 mg twice a day most of the time, or 100 mg twice a day. I have tried 200 mg once or twice a day, and that's where the side effects kick in (very dry mouth and headaches). It does keep me awake during the day most of the time, but sometimes I feel as if I never took it. But that's where adding coffee or caffeine pills really helps. I feel safe taking this med, and I'm happy to have discovered it."

• 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."

• Anonymous
• May 27, 2009

Modafinil "Great medicine. I just wish it wasn't so expensive."

• Jul...
• April 13, 2009

Modafinil "Provigil works great for me, at 200 mg once in the morning. I usually feel dull-witted and fatigued, but I don't suddenly 'switch off.' After about a week of steady doses, however, I often develop a bad headache and have to quit taking the stuff for a few days. Maybe that's a good thing if it keeps me from getting habituated. Ritalin did nothing except make my hands shake."

• let...
• March 11, 2008

Modafinil "I experienced much greater effects from Provigil on initial exposure than I have during regular, ongoing treatment. Had the initial effects (perfect alertness without excessive excitability) continued, it would merit a rating of 10. However, I still find it indispensable and would be hard-pressed to give up that particular prescription."

• Big...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• January 24, 2022

"Yes, it works, you just need more and more till it causes other problems. I just want to stay awake. Cataplexy, anxiety. The side effects list must be read by the consumer, the docs never told me the side effects or showed me the list. My parent was shocked after research."

• Luc...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• March 11, 2021

"Works pretty well for me. If I forget a dose, I get extremely debilitating migraines the day after. The meds last about 6 hours and then wear off extremely suddenly. I've had instances where I have just suddenly crashed and fallen asleep while eating dinner, taking a bath, etc. Overall, it actually helps me stay functional. Before I was on medication, I would be drinking 2 energy drinks per day just so I could stay awake through the day. Happy to say I don't use those anymore."

• Ema...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• January 27, 2021

"I got diagnosed with narcolepsy in 2017, and I was given modafinil after my Ritalin lost its effectiveness. I started with 100 mg 1x a day, then moved to 200 mg 1x a day. It gives me terrible body aches, and at times I wake up feeling like I got hit by a bus, but I also have a genetic connective tissue disorder, so they put me on baclofen. The baclofen counteracts the pain, and I no longer get the body aches. 200 mg wears off after about 5 hours, though, and I find myself very sleepy by noon, so I'm also supplementing 20 mg of Ritalin with the 200 mg of modafinil. With this combined regimen of medication, I am finding myself with more energy than I've had in years and feel like a fully functioning human being again. Beware of some nausea and body aches and it not lasting very long, but other than that, it's great."

• 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."

• Gas...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• November 6, 2018

"Difficult getting prescription. I would wake up and take a 200 mg dose and fall right back asleep. If awake, it would help me stay awake through the day. I still need my other prescription medications. Not a substitute for sleep. I do not find cognitive enhancement, increased awareness/productivity, or mood improvement. Must take early since it is more difficult to get to sleep. Try not to take it daily, but only when I need to be functional at work. No impairment with driving, jitters, or manic symptoms. Unlike amphetamines. I feel the efficacy of modafinil is hyped. Needed to appeal to health plan: documentation from my doctor, a letter from my employer, and a letter from myself. The letter from my doctor is what got my health plan to accept my appeal. Given the cost and coverage difficulty, this drug is of minor benefit for me."

• 28w...
• September 9, 2014

Modafinil "I am a former college football player who has had narcolepsy for years. I have been on Provigil for over a year now. I started with the lowest dose possible and after 3-6 months am now on the highest dose possible. The medicine has little side effects for me, which is great, except it curbs my appetite a bit. But I find my body has become immune to the medicine as the impact becomes less and less. I take 4 pills a day, and even though I am not falling asleep as much and wasting the day away, I still have no energy. When I am sitting there awake, I'm just useless. I don't want to go on an amphetamine, but this medicine just isn't working too well for me."

• pjs...
• Taken for 5 to 10 years
• December 5, 2012

Modafinil "I was diagnosed with narcolepsy around 7th grade, and pretty much slept through middle school. I took Ritalin up to 10th grade, which moderately helped me stay awake, but I still would always crash multiple times a day due to the fact that it doesn't completely eliminate excessive sleepiness, and trying to perfect your taking schedule really is crucial with any narcolepsy prescribed medication. When my neurologist started me on Provigil, I was pretty shocked by the lack of side effects it had, and it was a somewhat natural awake feeling, as others have mentioned. I went from taking 2 (200 mg) pills a day to taking 2-3 (200 mg) pills a day depending on my schedule, exercise, or exam studying."

• Anonymous
• November 4, 2009

Modafinil "Provigil has worked well at treating my narcolepsy. I had to stop taking it when I was pregnant and resumed taking it after my daughter's birth. If you choose to take Provigil and have children, you need to be driven around for the duration of your pregnancy and up until you are back on the medication."

• Sle...
• July 23, 2009

Modafinil "I took Provigil for 6 months with varying doses (100-300 mg/day). It only took about 20-30 minutes to kick in and lasted roughly 7 hours. It gave me an incredibly high level of alertness. I also have mild cataplexy and sleep paralysis, and it seemed to help keep both of these under control. However, it also gave me very bad nausea and an even worse headache. When the medicine wore off, my body reacted by immediately having a strong 'sleep attack.' If I didn't take my next dose before the first had worn off, the second didn't seem to work. Also, my urine smelled strange, and the smell got even stronger when I drank more water. This stopped as soon as I changed my medication to Adderall."

• Fly...
• November 3, 2008

Modafinil "Compared to Ritalin, which I was taking before this drug, this produced a much more alert and natural awake feeling. Unfortunately for me, it also made me practically psychotic, and in a moment of thoughtfulness, I thought this must be how people feel when they talk about 'snapping'. I could not control my emotions. I went back to my doctor and promptly switched off the medication. Too bad the side effects were over the top, as the alertness was amazing. I took the drug for less than two weeks."

• JMi...
• March 8, 2021

"Increases my energy but leaves me with a headache all day that by the time I'm off work, I am miserable. It also gives off a sluggish feeling, like being under the influence of alcohol to a certain degree... light-headed/dizziness kind of thing. Hard to focus."

• deb...
• Taken for 10 years or more
• December 2, 2017

"I've been taking Modafinil for 10 years, the highest dose they can prescribe. In fairness, I have 2 problems going on: the narcolepsy and a sleep disorder. I do not get adequate REM sleep. The best sleep I've ever had was with IV sedation for surgery. I wake up every day tired. Though taking Modafinil helps, it is not consistently helpful and does not prevent me from nodding off, depending on the situation. My doctor has not wanted to switch drugs. I can say it helps some, but is not as effective as I'd hoped for. For those who do not have insurance coverage, I found a site online that fills this script (income-based) 270 tablets/3 mos $80."

• Wya...
• Taken for 5 to 10 years
• April 10, 2017

Modafinil "I was diagnosed with narcolepsy when I was 12 years old, but it was discovered during a sleep study in 2010 at a hospital in Denver, Colorado. I was told I had probably had the disorder my whole life. I am 18 years old now and struggle with this disorder every day. Provigil has helped quite a bit, but does have some cons. The lack of appetite will happen anytime you go off the medicine for even a period of 4 days, then go back on it. I also have built up a tolerance to the 200 mg, so it has started to wear off about 4 hours after taking it and is a very hard medicine to get the dosage upped on. Insurance companies will fight you the whole way. Also lost a substantial amount of weight when I first started the med."

• 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."

• Sea...
• December 29, 2016

Modafinil "Mine is covered by Medicare Part D through BC/BS RX Prem for $2.00 for 60 pills. Fair results."

• Med...
• Taken for 10 years or more
• July 18, 2016

Modafinil "You get used to this and need to take more, or not take it (therefore not drive) for about a week. But only 'helpful' insights will be printed (after editing). So my saying $3600 a month for 60 pills? Really? Are they worth their weight in gold? They don't seem to have any side effects, for me. Other than tremors. So that's a plus. Should they cost more than most people make in a year? I am disabled and receive $10,000 a year. After researching, I'm not finding any major payouts from the company, due to lawsuits. (I realize awards are confidential, but there haven't been many cases. Who am I kidding? This won't be printed. I just had to say something because the cost is abominable. Ok. I c $$ How did you do the A-spam thing? Impressed!"

• 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."

• 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."