Modafinil and Drowsiness: What Users Say

• jag...
• May 20, 2009

Modafinil for Depression "This is a WONDER DRUG in the use of depression. I have suffered for years with depression and never with any relief from the mainstream anti-depressants. Either the side effects were intolerable, or the medicine just didn't work. Within 3 days of taking Provigil, I was the happiest, most productive I had been in a year. The first 2 days I was still really sleepy, and the 3rd day, a little hyper, but after that day I have felt EXCELLENT. I don't have anxiety attacks anymore and I get a full night of 'good' sleep and wake up feeling extremely refreshed and I am happy again. I was on my couch for a straight 6 months sleeping and crying until I started this medicine. It literally saved my life."

• fun...
• September 29, 2020

For Fatigue "I was prescribed Modafinil by my psychiatrist to help my chronic fatigue and depression (off-label). I am an addict in recovery (going on 9 months sober) and although this is not officially a stimulant, it toes the line *just enough* that it almost spun me into relapse. There's plenty of testimonials testifying how amazing this drug is and that it isn't addictive. I was more wakeful but the anxiety it gave me was not worth it the boost, plus I fantasized about upping my dose immediately. I ended up giving my medication to my boyfriend to throw away and having to tell my sobriety sponsor about it. I was on 100 mg, prescribed to take it every morning. I was on Modafinil for 2 months and quit cold turkey, and couldn't stay awake more than a couple hours for several days. I felt the need to post a review to warn anyone thinking their sobriety will stay intact with this drug because it almost threw me completely off the wagon."

• wde...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• November 22, 2016

For ADHD "I'm a 28-year-old male, with a former drug addiction (mainly GHB), ADHD, and anxiety/depression-related symptoms, and I am treated with Zoloft 100 mg, baclofen 70 mg, modafinil 400 mg daily, and clonazepam 2-4 mg when needed. Modafinil helps me to concentrate and focus without the side effects I've experienced with dexamphetamine, dexmethylphenidate, and Ritalin® (methylphenidate). It also helps me with drowsiness and fatigue caused by baclofen. Although I am a former drug addict, I don't experience any addiction or dependence problems with modafinil. I'm from the Netherlands, where my insurance covers the above medications fully."

• Che...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• September 6, 2013

Modafinil for Narcolepsy "I took Provigil along with Adderall and felt the best ever. I was alert, not on too much Adderall, so I didn't feel bad from that. Then my insurance company wouldn't cover Provigil anymore, they pushed Nuvigil, and it made me sleepier."

• Anonymous
• December 27, 2010

Modafinil for Shift Work Sleep Disorder "Started night shift work again after being on days for 14 years. A friend told me about Provigil. Asked my doctor and got the prescription. Unbelievable! No drowsiness during the night, no spike and drop like caffeine or energy drinks, and fall right to sleep when I get ready to. I'm in the trucking industry and it's great."

• kkh...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• February 15, 2020

For Depression "After 3 months, I quit taking Zoloft for depression after taking modafinil. It gives me energy from chronic fatigue also. I'm a teacher, and I also notice I'm much more alert and focused while taking it. I have mild bipolar 1 also, and take Seroquel and Lamictal also. I can't detect any side effects unless I have to take it with my asthma inhaler, as then it can cause shakiness, nervousness, sleeplessness, etc. Otherwise, it's a great product! I found Zoloft to 'numb' me to a degree-I didn't feel sad, but I didn't feel happy either. Kind of desensitized."

• Anonymous
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• February 8, 2023

For Depression "Been on modafinil for years. I originally took it for sleep apnea, but the benefits for my depression are huge. I no longer have sleep apnea (had my tonsils removed), but still suffer from daytime sleepiness. My doctor agreed to keep me on modafinil as it helps so much. I recently stopped taking it for a while, I just kind of forgot, and I couldn't make out why I was feeling so depressed. Then I remembered I'd not been taking it. After 2 days of being back on it, I feel like a different person. No antidepressant ever really worked for me, but this does. I hope my doctor never takes me off it."

• Ccr...
• September 17, 2018

For ADHD "Diagnosed PTSD, depression, and anxiety over 25 years ago. I've been on antidepressants and anti-anxiety meds but never felt even 75% better. Tried modafinil - great. Out of bed, no anxiety or very little. Now, the doctor thinks I have ADD, so I was prescribed Adderall. I hate it. I can't tell how well it's working because of having to cope with the anxiety and crashes it causes. Stopped Adderall and tried modafinil again and feel so much better. I don't know exactly what my condition is beyond PTSD. But modafinil has been a lifesaver. The cost, which insurance won't cover, is too high, and you do build up a tolerance to it. You have to stop sometimes to clear your system. If I take a high dose, it doesn't work, or I feel terrible. I take only 50 mg at a time - lasts about 4 hours right now. Cuts the cost down. Never had withdrawals, just some sleepiness. Better compared to other drugs and the horrible side effects and addiction potential."

• leo...
• September 26, 2010

Modafinil for Chronic Fatigue Syndrome "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!"

• Bod...
• Taken for 10 years or more
• December 19, 2024

For Obstructive Sleep Apnea/Hypopnea Syndrome "Modafinil has been a lifesaver for me. I was diagnosed with severe obstructive sleep apnea over 10 years ago. I was walking around in a fog all the time, no matter how much sleep I got, even on my CPAP machine. I was always groggy, not myself, falling asleep anywhere or anytime, including behind the wheel of a car. This medication has saved my life. With it, I get up, I am awake, alert, not feeling like I need to go back to bed. It took some convincing to get my doctor to prescribe it. It was still new on the market, but once I started taking it, my life got better."

• Anonymous
• November 2, 2019

For Narcolepsy "I have been recently diagnosed with narcolepsy with cataplexy and mild sleep apnea. Prescribed 100 mg modafinil twice a day. I have been on it a week and have not noticed any difference, except lights seem brighter. I have been misdiagnosed my whole life. I am 42 and am so tired of being exhausted. I am scared to drive since falling asleep and totaling my car on the interstate. I just want to be able to work and be a mom. Hate this disease. I had a hard time even getting modafinil because they wanted to treat the very mild sleep apnea first."

• way...
• October 12, 2011

Modafinil for Drowsiness "I have multiple rheumatic conditions, fibromyalgia, etc. Because of sleepiness being one of the common side effects of many of my medications and the fact that with fibro sleep is messed up, I first took it in 2006, and the only time I've been off of it in that time was the 11 months in 2009 while I was hospitalized. It would have been pointless to take at that time due to what was going on. But since restarting it, my alertness has been much better. I have no side effects that I notice. When I first took it, I did not think of the warning given by the NP at my pain doctor's office. She said to take a quarter or half of the dose. That's the only time I've had bad side effects. Now I have none. I've been at 100 mg/day for a year or so."

• Tyr...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• December 2, 2016

For Drowsiness "I'm 25, diagnosed with ADHD, anxiety disorder, and idiopathic hypersomnia. I've taken Concerta for several years for ADHD and was only recently diagnosed with idiopathic hypersomnia. For a while, I took both Concerta and Ritalin. While it helped to some degree with daytime sleepiness, I still found it impossible to wake up and would frequently crash before I could even make it to bed. Recently, I was taken off of Concerta and Ritalin entirely and switched to modafinil. While wake-promoting effects aren't quite as strong, they're much more consistent. I'm still tired, but it's much more manageable and easier to wake up. As a plus, since making the switch, my anxiety is also much better."

• Nic...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• May 21, 2017

For Drowsiness "I have EDS, also epilepsy. Actually thought for years the EDS symptoms were caused by my antiseizure meds since they can make you tired. It was something that I just accepted, so I really didn't have much of a life. Anyways, I started on Modafinil about 2 weeks ago, 100 mg when I wake up at 7:45 am to go to work. I was finding that it helped, but at about 11-11:30 am, I was back to how I normally am. I just saw my doctor, and I am now to take 100 mg three times a day. Today was my first day on my new dose. First dose was at 8 am, second at noon. Had 2 cups of coffee. By 4 pm, I was feeling drowsy, yawning, eyes heavy. Feeling like I needed to nap. *Long story short: it works, but short-acting. 3-4 hours. I wish they made an extended-release version.*"

• Ano...
• Taken for 5 to 10 years
• May 17, 2025

For Chronic Fatigue Syndrome "I take low dose modafinil for a number of years, and it has improved my life. I take 25 mg from a 200 mg tablet cut into 8 pieces and currently 50 mg a day at 8 am every day. Before this, I was in bed most days, no control of my condition, brain fog, daytime extreme fatigue, sleepiness, and heaviness. Prescribers were my GP and now rheumatologist (ruling out lupus & everything first). Insurance will not pay for it. It is very sad the CDC has failed to provide CFS sufferers with any real treatment for this condition, which affects millions and millions more with long COVID. Everyone is different, and I believe my condition (of twelve years) was triggered by three failed root canal treatments, amalgam fillings, and an allergy to nickel in the titanium surgical clips in my liver (it took two years for symptoms). Also, I do not recommend gadolinium contrast injections during MRI, very debilitating for sensitive bodies."

• 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."

• gfv...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• September 14, 2021

For Narcolepsy "Started at 200 mg, now up to 400 mg. Still falling asleep many times during the day."