tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3749687802138692392.post2165143800856336592..comments2023-05-31T01:45:02.663-07:00Comments on Sick Momma: The Whirlwind Of Doctor AppointmentsAvivahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16411667763810131618noreply@blogger.comBlogger5125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3749687802138692392.post-3714848955353779302008-06-26T20:37:00.000-07:002008-06-26T20:37:00.000-07:00Thanks for the feedback, Laurie & Sherril! I guess...Thanks for the feedback, Laurie & Sherril! I guess I have a little more reading to do about Provigil, but I'm leaning toward trying it on an occasional basis. <BR/><BR/>Can I just say that the idea that monkeys like Provigil more than cocaine sort of scares me ...<BR/><BR/>Thanks for mentioning that site, Sherril. I hadn't heard about it but it looks like an interesting place to check on the multitude of weird drugs my doctors propose.Avivahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16411667763810131618noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3749687802138692392.post-4940846030576101572008-06-26T18:46:00.000-07:002008-06-26T18:46:00.000-07:00I tried Provigil also, the last time I had a full ...I tried Provigil also, the last time I had a full time job. After awhile I had a similar reaction to Laurie's, it was even harder to sleep than usual. So I backed off the dosage and took more when I knew I had to do something that would make me sleepy that I needed not to be sleepy for, like going to court every other week. I was usually fascinated with what was going on in court, but I almost always started to nod off. Not an image I cared to project to the judge, my boss, etc. <BR/><BR/>After I was forced to resign from that job because of health issues, I continued to take Provigil as needed. I didn't have any problems with dependency on this med. But for me sleeping as much as I can works much better. <BR/><BR/>I don't know if I've mentioned this site to you before, but it's my favorite because they really tell it like it is. It's called Crazy Meds, buy you don't have to be taking the meds for crazy reasons to benefit from their honesty and depth of knowledge - The Good, The Bad, and The Funny About Provigil: http://www.crazymeds.us/provigil.html.<BR/><BR/>A brief quote: "...it is being prescribed off-label for just about everything. It is approaching Neurontin (gabapentin) in the snake oil sweepstakes. At least the people at Pfizer know how Neurontin works and what it does. Provigil is a true mystery. Other than binding to a few dopamine sites in the brain, but not releasing any more dopamine like amphetamines do, the good folks at Cephalon haven't published (for the 2002 edition of the PDR) just how the hell Provigil does its magic, because they didn't know! They do know that monkeys like it as much as cocaine."<BR/><BR/>There's also a message board, titled appropriately Crazy Talk. There are a lot of posts about Provigil there.Sherrilhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06898319570225926653noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3749687802138692392.post-57228468355370681512008-06-26T05:38:00.000-07:002008-06-26T05:38:00.000-07:00Hi Aviva. I took Provigil for several months durin...Hi Aviva. I took Provigil for several months during a severe adrenal crisis a few years ago. It was helpful in keeping me alert and cutting down on the fog that such extreme exhaustion caused. I eventually stopped it because after awhile it made me a bit too on edge and I found that even when I wanted to try and take a nap or go to bed, I was too keyed up. But, that took a long time to get to that point, and it did help a lot. And I suppose I could have just taken a lower dose when I reached that point, but I wanted to come off it to see if my baseline adrenal problems had improved.<BR/><BR/>Long story short, it helped and the side effects really weren't an issue for most of the time I was on it. I agree you could give it a shot and then come off it if it doesn't work.Lauriehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10392908564921877962noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3749687802138692392.post-9220288553800212682008-06-25T20:43:00.000-07:002008-06-25T20:43:00.000-07:00Thanks, Marie! That's really encouraging about bot...Thanks, Marie! That's really encouraging about both medications. My mom, who has fatigue issues because of myasthenia gravis, says she finds these kinds of medicines work best when you don't take them on a daily basis. She says when you take them eveyr day, they lose some of their effectiveness because your body gets used to them. <BR/><BR/>I'm happy to hear from you that taking them sporadically works for you too, and I think that's the way I'd like to use them too. <BR/><BR/>Thanks so much for taking the time to share your experience!!Avivahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16411667763810131618noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3749687802138692392.post-62837203433807530902008-06-25T11:06:00.000-07:002008-06-25T11:06:00.000-07:00I have had unexplained fatigue and have tried both...I have had unexplained fatigue and have tried both Adderall (an amphetamine) and Provigil. <BR/><BR/>Adderall came first (insurance reasons). I really didn't like the way it made me feel when taken on a regular basis. However I keep some available and will take it on those days when I have a special event and really want to be able to function. <BR/><BR/>When I tried Provigil the first couple days were amazing. I was back to my usual self and actually able to enjoy life rather than just wanting to sleep. The effects became much less dramatic after that, and it was hard to tell how much it helped because some other health issues were going on at the time.<BR/><BR/>I discontinued taking the Provigil when I started having some odd symptoms and I was worried about side effects. It turns out that the odd symptoms were gall stones, and not associated with the Provigil. I may start it up again soon.<BR/><BR/>So, this is just anecdotal advice. However I have been able to take the adderall on an as needed basis (1-5 a month) without any withdrawel problems.<BR/><BR/>Best wishes figuring out what works best for you.<BR/><BR/>MarieSusan from the Pacific Northwesthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06910439859917160063noreply@blogger.com