Provigil and Headaches: What Users Say

• Anonymous
• February 8, 2009

For Shift Work Sleep Disorder "I was feeling extremely tired and unmotivated after a short time since beginning night shift (emergency worker) duty. My doctor prescribed Provigil. I had never even heard of it before. This is what I need. I am wide awake when I need to be, either day or night, and I can still catch a cat nap on duty, and I don't have trouble sleeping in the daytime anymore. I know many people on Provigil in emergency services. Almost all of us work nights or rotating shifts. I can't say I have heard of any ill side effects other than dehydration and headache. Drank more water and it all went away."

• lol...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• May 5, 2015

For Narcolepsy "I'm in the Navy, and it was very hard fighting my sleep for the first 5 years of being in. I finally got a sleep study, and they diagnosed me with narcolepsy. I don't really like taking medication for anything, but my doctor introduced me to Provigil. I finally feel like a normal person, although the first month I had very bad headaches. It slowly went away, and I went from taking 1 100 mg pill a day to 2 100 mg pills. My body got used to it within the first 2 months. Overall, I love this medicine. Works pretty good for me."

• too...
• July 24, 2009

For Obstructive Sleep Apnea/Hypopnea Syndrome "My first 30 days on Provigil (200 mg x 2 daily) were literally a life-changing event. I have never felt so energetic, awake, and constantly in a good mood in my life. However, after 30 days, the effects started to wane and, after 90 days, I feel little benefit. I tried taking an additional third supplemental dose of 100 mg a couple of hours after my second daily dose of 200 mg to see if the good results might return, but all I gained from the additional 100 mg was a headache. There is a definite and very unfortunate tolerance problem with Provigil in my experience."

• Anonymous
• September 3, 2010

For Drowsiness "I have been on this medicine for 7 years and cannot imagine life without it. It doesn't seem to work for everyone, but is a lifesaver for me. I had a headache for 3 days when I started it and lost my appetite for a week. After that, it was fine. I can get by on 200 mg if I need to, but feel tired still most of the day (but won't fall asleep unless I want to). My usual dose is 300 mg, which keeps me alert, and I can't even take a nap if I want to."

• sle...
• May 1, 2009

For Narcolepsy "The first one I tried, and it was not good for me. The constant headaches, dry mouth (very bad at nighttime), made me have very real-like/scary nightmares, and after 2 days did not even change my energy level/random sleep attacks. Still had to have a nap to make it through the day."

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

For Narcolepsy "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."

• Ama...
• May 26, 2016

"I seriously do not know how this medicine is approved as a stimulant. I suffer from obstructive sleep apnea, narcolepsy, and shift work sleep disorder. This medicine in no way kept me awake, alert, or focused. If anything, I had a complete opposite effect. I felt some sort of brain fog, my performance at work lagged, and I couldn't keep my eyes open. I had no motivation to accomplish any tasks or get out of bed for that matter. Along with these negative effects, I had headaches and nausea. I would not recommend this as a stimulant or something for sharp cognitive effects. But maybe more like a sleeping pill. I felt like it was a sleeping pill but struggling to stay awake after taking it. Tried for one week."

• Anonymous
• May 2, 2010

For Narcolepsy "I was put on Provigil a year and a half ago and can no longer take it. I was one of the ones that had a horrible reaction to it. At first, it was just a headache, then I would crash around 5... then the headaches got worse, and no medicines helped with the headache. Then I started itching. At first, I didn't connect it to the Provigil, then I broke out EVERYWHERE with a rash that was like poison ivy, just worse. So I am no longer on any medicines, and let's just say that most days are very hard, and I am so very tired."

• Anonymous
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• September 12, 2012

For Narcolepsy "I have only been on Provigil for a month, but it has caused extreme nausea and headaches. I have a history of cluster headaches and migraines, which had diminished, but are now back in full force. I've also had stomach cancer twice, and Provigil makes me very nauseous and losing weight due to an inability to eat. I'm glad that it is effective for some, I just wish that I was in that group because I am TIRED."

• Anonymous
• March 1, 2009

For Multiple Sclerosis "I take Provigil about 5 times a week. I have been on it since 12/06. I have to take 'vacations' from it in order for it to work like it should. When I start it again, I get massive headaches, but it's worth it for the energy. My MS fatigue is so bad most of the time that I really need this medication. I do get headaches, nervousness, anxiety, and stomach issues while taking this pill. But all I do without taking it is sleep."

• Anonymous
• March 1, 2009

For Multiple Sclerosis "I take Provigil about 5 times a week. I have been on it since 12/06. I have to take 'vacations' from it in order for it to work like it should. When I start it again, I get massive headaches, but it's worth it for the energy. My MS fatigue is so bad most of the time that I really need this medication. I do get headaches, nervousness, anxiety, and stomach issues while taking this pill. But all I do without taking it is sleep."

• Sle...
• July 23, 2009

For Narcolepsy "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."

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

For Narcolepsy "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."

• hea...
• May 18, 2011

For Multiple Sclerosis "Provigil gets 9 out of 10 ONLY because of the extreme headache I get when I don't take it A--with lots of water (and a little food in my stomach) and B--before 10 a.m. I've had Multiple Sclerosis for 7 years now and have been on Provigil for the last few years to fight the fatigue and lack of focus associated with MS. And it even has the 'bonus' side effect of making me HAPPY again. Most people who have MS know that depression is also a silent struggle that never gets acknowledged. Provigil makes me physically less 'worn out,' makes me mentally alert, and makes me emotionally just in a better mood. I guess I can't say enough good things about it. If you can tolerate the headache you might get, this medicine is WORTH IT."

• Anonymous
• July 31, 2009

For Narcolepsy "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

For Narcolepsy "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."

• Jul...
• April 13, 2009

For Narcolepsy "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."

• Wil...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• December 10, 2019

For Narcolepsy "Does not work for me at all. It gave me bad headaches, and I still slept all the time."

• Anonymous
• October 30, 2008

For Narcolepsy "Only side effect for Provigil was a headache for the first week. Much more effective medication, better results and fewer side effects."

• laz...
• May 1, 2009

For Narcolepsy "I have been taking Provigil for 1 year now. I take 200 mg 3 x daily. It has helped me more than any other drug I have been prescribed, however, I do get headaches and find myself dehydrated."

• Anonymous
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• November 29, 2017

For Obstructive Sleep Apnea/Hypopnea Syndrome "Jittery, dry mouth, shortness of breath, tightness in chest, exacerbated hand tremors, diarrhea, nausea, headache, hot flash every day. Excessive daytime sleepiness (EDS) marginally improved at best."