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Posted: Mon Oct 06, 2008 5:05 pm Post subject: Provigil
Hi everyone. I'd like to get some feedback about Provigil. Has anyone taken it for fatigue? My girlfriend is having what we think is a relapse. She was very fatigued for a few days, then felt better, but is very fatigued again today. I know she's really sick of it. The doctor gave her a sample of Provigil but she has yet to try it. She has relapsing/remitting and is on Copaxone, if that matters.
Thanks in advance for your input!
Joined: Jul 28, 2005 Posts: 1279 Location: Sydney, Australia
Posted: Tue Oct 07, 2008 3:01 am Post subject:
I have used Provigil. I use it on days when I know i will need a little more stamina. I notice it mainly takes away the need for a nap, but also helps with physical fatigue.
The thing to note with it, is that it appears to be a relatively safe medication to use. Single doses up over 20x what they prescribe for ms have been tested on humans, and lower (but still extremely high) extended doses also.
I would personally recommend that she try the drug (provided by her neuro) to see if it helps with the issue she is experiencing.
It is also said to be neuro-protective to boot. I take one 100mg in the morning, and the other before 3pm so it does not affect my normal sleep.
I have used Provigil off and on for several years. I was given it to see if it would help me with physical fatigue, that is, fatigue that is felt in my body. It has never helped me with that kind of fatigue.
Through trial and error, I have learned to use it for mental fatigue, or mental cloudiness, or cog-fog (I think that's the common lingo). Also, it helps me with mental stamina. On days that I know this might be a problem, or on days when the mental fog is dense, I take 50 mgs Provigil twice a day (am and early afternoon), and it really helps. More than this amount makes me feel too "amped", and makes it difficult for me to get to sleep at night.
In my case, the only things I have found that help with physical fatigue are: (1) low dose naltrexone - I've been on it for a month now, so far it has helped tremendously with this kind of fatigue, (2) acetyl-l-carnitine, I take 1000mg, up to 3 times per day, about 1hr before eating, and finally (3) aspirin, 4-325mg tablets, if all else fails. Incidentally, since starting LDN (4.5mg nightly), I haven't had to use aspirin to treat fatigue.
I'm using LDN in combination with copaxone. I've been using copaxone for about 10 years now. I wanted to try LDN to find if I am one of the lucky ones who experience a benefit. Anecdotal data suggest it can slow/stop disease progression, as well as provide some symptomatic relief to a large percentage of people who use it. I've been secondary progressive now for about 8 years. From what I remember, copaxone is the only CRAB drug that can be used in combination with LDN.
I've experienced some benefit in the last month. I plan to stick with it.
--Tracy
Last edited by tuckertd on Tue Oct 07, 2008 5:23 pm; edited 2 times in total
Joined: Sep 30, 2007 Posts: 120 Location: Charlotte, North Carolina
Posted: Tue Oct 07, 2008 4:40 pm Post subject:
peanutchelle,
Clever name.
I tried Provigil for a while but did not like it. I started takeing half a 100 mg tablet in the mornings, which had no effect. I moved on to a full 100 mg pill in the morning and ended up having difficulty sleeping and when I did sleep I had vivid dreams. I quit taking it when I started having auditory halucinations.
It didn't work for me but I know several people that take it with positive outcomes.
Hope all these responses help your girlfriiend decided what to do. Let us know how it turns out.
Hi Tracy, I have been taking provigil for sometime now and have had good luck w/ it. I take it mostly when I know i'm gonna have a really busy day (fishing mostly) and it gets me through. Goodluck arti
Joined: Aug 22, 2008 Posts: 20 Location: London,UK
Posted: Wed Oct 08, 2008 6:55 am Post subject:
Peanutchelle,
My girlfriend had an improvement in her energy levels after supplementing her diet with Acetyl L-Carnitine. ALCAR has been shown to improve fatigue in chronic fatigue syndrome if i remember well,and there is a lot of anecdotal evidence for MS in this site similar to our experience
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