Modafinil and Anxiety: What Users Say (Page 2)

• Anonymous
• Taken for less than 1 month
• September 19, 2021

For ADHD "I love modafinil. As someone without many options for treating ADHD, it calms me down and I can focus on existing instead of overthinking. I’m not saying it’s a miracle pill as it’s a hit and miss for many, but I feel like it’s better than nothing (with nothing I’m anxious and moody). I tried armodafinil, but I think it’s making me spacey and anxious, so I went back to modafinil, and it’s great. Worth a go!!"

• Coa...
• August 17, 2021

Modafinil for Narcolepsy "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."

• Sle...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• September 16, 2018

For Obstructive Sleep Apnea/Hypopnea Syndrome "If you’re looking at “smart drugs,” this review won’t help. Modafinil gives me relief after decades of exhaustion from complex sleep apnea. I use CPAP, but the struggle is real, and 200 mg modafinil 1x/day makes waking up SO much easier. I have to be strategic about when I take it because it does wear off. Anxiety does not appear to be worse than usual when on this dose, maybe because I feel more in control. For instance, I can easily decide what needs to be done next, and it actually seems doable (poor sleep = reduced cognitive function; often I can't quite pin down the best next step, and when I can, it seems disproportionately difficult). It's not perfect, but it's a big improvement. Relatives who didn't know I was taking it have noted an increase in my energy and focus. The doctor watches my blood pressure while I’m on it, but it’s also easier to make better food and drink choices when I’m not about to fall asleep at any moment, and it’s been fine."

• pil...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• February 22, 2022

For ADHD "I tried this drug for ADHD as an alternative to methylphenidate because it was causing disturbing side effects. While modafinil increased my energy and motivation, it made me anxious. This seems like a drug that would do wonders for lethargic depression because it’s simply impossible to spend the day in bed while on modafinil. But if you have co-morbid anxiety, I would tread with caution. I tried experimenting with lower doses and found that with a low dose I would still derive some benefit without the anxiety. Overall, this medication definitely has therapeutic potential for some people with ADHD, though it doesn’t give you the kind of robotic, almost artificial focus that typical ADHD stimulants do in my experience."

• OSA...
• July 11, 2015

For Obstructive Sleep Apnea/Hypopnea Syndrome "The first time I took this (prescribed for obstructive sleep apnea), I thought, 'Wow, this is the answer!' I was awake and alert but didn't feel drugged.... I felt 'on the ball,' and I hadn't felt like that in forever. The second time I took it, I felt extremely tired. I forced myself out of bed but felt extremely depressed and anxious. I took another tablet, not realizing I was having a negative reaction to this drug. I became so tired I stayed in bed all the next day. I felt disorientated, and it was as if everything was in slow motion. I could not get out of bed and was more tired than I had ever been in my life. My heartbeat was fast, and it felt irregular. I started to have negative thoughts and hallucinations. Not good!!!"

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

For Narcolepsy "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."

• NYC...
• June 28, 2015

For Drowsiness "I have chronic fatigue due to autoimmune, mitochondrial, autonomic... I also have a (genetic) circadian disorder, Delayed Sleep Phase Syndrome & hypersomnia (sleeping up to 12 hrs a day). I can't work. I feel more alert on Modafini (Provigil) and can do more activities. It gives me mild anxiety, but I'll take it over being fatigued. 1st few nights I had trouble falling asleep. After that, I actually started feeling tired at the end of the day and often go to bed earlier. As for my hypersomnia, I can't sleep much longer than 8 hrs. Once I wake up, even if I would like to, I can't fall back to sleep. I am very glad I finally, after 8 years of fatigue, decided to take it. Wish I did sooner."

• tee...
• August 8, 2009

Modafinil for Narcolepsy "For several years, I have been on Provigil, with a small dosage of Ritalin as a supplement. The Provigil was not enough for me, but it was much better than being on Ritalin alone. Ritalin had a tendency to make me anxious and talk constantly. Life is good now as a narcoleptic."

• Lol...
• March 17, 2017

For Narcolepsy "I've been taking it for 2 years for excessive daytime sleepiness and suspected narcolepsy. It's changed my life, I'm a single mom, in full-time uni, working two jobs. My days are long and exhausting, but I'm reaching heights unimaginable before. Just a few weeks from my 2nd degree!! I've experienced few effects, it's hard on my stomach, curbs appetite, and sometimes makes me jittery and babbling. Also having considerably more migraines, but my lifestyle is hectic and I'm sure it doesn't help. Positives far outweigh... thanks to Provigil, I now have a normal life, with steady wakefulness, and I'm alert with insane durations of concentration. I'm so grateful, I'm scoring it 10/10, something I rarely do! Also, I'm lucky to get it for free on the Irish medical card system."

• Jac...
• May 9, 2018

For Narcolepsy "I’ve tried everything in the books, still on a desperate, feels like never-ending search to find something that keeps me awake and functional for a day. I’ve been on Dexedrine for the past 5 years, and it’s by far my favorite, no side effects, prevents my cataplexy from occurring, however, after a certain amount of time (I would say a year), I have to switch off of it for a few months because my body becomes used to it. Ritalin makes my heart go nuts and anxiety. Modafinil, I’ve been on it for four days, and I hate it, I am so exhausted, doesn’t help at all with sleepiness, and it’s giving me insane mood swings. I’m a pretty happy, positive person, however, this medication gives me bad anxiety, including an intense panic attack last night, makes me want to cry at everything, also feeling depressed. It’s like PMS times a million! Pay attention to your moods if you are trying it out. Good luck with all your narcoleptic journeys, one day we will feel awake!"

• Bec...
• June 10, 2017

For Drowsiness "Initially, this medication worked well. It gave me energy and focus, and I felt like I was finally awake. However, after using it for a week, I started to notice weakness in my legs. As I continued taking it, the nervous system issues worsened, to the point where I had Raynaud's syndrome and tingling in my arms, legs, and throat. It also heightened my anxiety. I finally switched to Ritalin, and though it doesn't give me the same level of focus, I no longer have any of the negative side effects."

• Lea...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• May 25, 2016

"I wanted to try modafinil for days I get a foggy head or tired to get me more motivated and only take when needed. Turns out I only took half the pills (100 mg), and about an hour later, I had extreme anxiety, could not concentrate, and felt like I just wanted to sleep it off, but I obviously couldn't sleep. Did the exact opposite it's supposed to do. I could not concentrate on anything and kept forgetting what I was doing."

• maf...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• January 13, 2022

For Idiopathic Hypersomnia "My experience with modafinil has been good. I've always had issues of severe 'sleep attacks' about three times per day. Coffee tends to put me in a fog 9 out of 10 times. So I would take short, power naps (< 30 minutes) to help alleviate the attacks. The naps never truly brought me back to life. The worst of the attacks would be around 6 pm. I would yawn a few times per minute and felt like I would faint. With two kids under three, that can be a big problem as I'd have to leave the family for a moment while I napped. I slowly increased the dosage and found 200 mg worked best. I no longer have those huge crashes nor feel faint. That being said, I've found that I need to take it within two hours of waking up. When starting the medication, I could feel the jitteriness, but after a week, that went away. When you first start out, skip the coffee to see how the pill affects you by itself."

• Pix...
• January 20, 2017

For Shift Work Sleep Disorder "I don't even know where to start.... This med is heaven-sent. I had trouble staying awake during the day. I couldn't sit down for 20 minutes without dozing off and snoring like a chainsaw. Going to the movies was a waste of time and money. I was hesitant about taking this med, as with any other meds, but I finally took the plunge after 1.5 years of online research, and I'm so glad I did. I now stay awake all day without falling asleep everywhere I go. If I could describe how I feel on this, I would compare it to a time I was 13 years old, wanting to go out and play street ball with my friends, where they are all there waiting for me to come out. I was anxious, but not in a negative way-more like a kid waiting for Xmas."

• rep...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• October 9, 2022

For Narcolepsy "Generic Modafinil is a dirty, nasty drug; it made me paranoid and my skin crawl. Had previously taken name-brand stimulants with no side effects. Modafinil made me feel downright insane! I'll never take another generic stimulant ever again!"

• Wak...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• November 24, 2024

For Idiopathic Hypersomnia "I used to get anxious when it started affecting me. I learned to notice signs of anxiety and remind myself that it would pass in a few minutes and nothing was actually wrong. It's a lifesaver because I need to drive 2-4 hours daily at highway speeds, and that kind of driving, in particular, makes me sleepy. I can also sit down at home now and work on something without falling asleep."

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

For Narcolepsy "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."

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

Modafinil 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."