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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 14 of 14. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by Krazy Kat on March 25, 2002, at 20:05:36
I just started Provigil two days ago. Depakote is at 2000 mg a day.
Felt nothing on the Provigil on 100 mg the first day. Yesterday, felt a little "something" at 200, but not much.
Today - really no improvement in energy (I was tired all day, but, I will admit, I couldn't nap), but I am experiencing the same sort of mini panic attacks I had when I first started Prozac (different class, I know). Also, as the day went on, I got more anxious and actually a tad paranoid (thought someone was following me home). OCD is acting up, too.
Has anyone had good results with Provigil for Energy, not Anxiety? Or any other stims?
I have done badly on Wellbutrin and Prozac (irritable and anxious on the former, high/manic on the latter). Celexa and Serzone just didn't really do anything. I think my pdoc is more interested in the stim side now anyhoo.
Can't tolerate Lamictal for some reason. Have not tried Lithium yet b/c am a rapid cycler.
Thanks a lot.
- KK
Posted by IsoM on March 25, 2002, at 20:24:51
In reply to Provigil ( other stims) - anxiety versus energy, posted by Krazy Kat on March 25, 2002, at 20:05:36
Ummm, KK, if you'll excuse a little incoherence (read my post further down on Benzos), I'm going to use the term Provigil even though mine is adrafinil - same main metabolite.
The calming effect on Provigil didn't start till a week or so after the alertness & brightened mood did. The gentle, calm mellow feeling I got with it was the last effect to kick in. It took me about 3-4 weeks to notice that I wasn't tense with rockhard muscles anymore but felt at peace inside & could sit calmly without my legs twitching, kicking & moving all the time (more voluntary than involuntary - just always wound up).
Myabe that part will take longer for you too. The sublime peace is so wonderful. This coming froma person who equates energy & alertness = hyper & heightened reflexes & reactions, with calm & relaxed = almost comatose or drooling in my sleep. To be awake. alert & relaxed I thought impossible. I feel like I've reached heaven on those days.
Posted by Spongemomsquarepants on March 25, 2002, at 23:13:32
In reply to Provigil ( other stims) - anxiety versus energy, posted by Krazy Kat on March 25, 2002, at 20:05:36
Has anyone had good results with Provigil for Energy, not Anxiety? Or any other stims?
Hi,
I hope it works for you! I ended up in the hospital with a very fast heart rate.(166) I think it is an unusual reaction. It increased my anxiety a bit too.
I was "tired" but unable to nap on it too. I think I felt a bit more awake. Mine was prescribed for ADHD, and I am very new at this, and it was the first med prescribed for this. I do take 1.5 mg of klonopin for anxiety, and have for the past 8 years.I hope this helps
Posted by Zo on March 26, 2002, at 3:41:38
In reply to Provigil ( other stims) - anxiety versus energy, posted by Krazy Kat on March 25, 2002, at 20:05:36
Who gave you that protocol? I think it's supposed to be a week at 100. . .which proved to be all I could tolerate anyway, and after three weeks, I think I'm going to need less Dex!
First thing I'd suggest is cutting back to 100 and giving it some time, ramping up too fast is the source of a lot of problems that are not really about the medication itself.
And wow, has this been good for my ADD! It's like it opened up a new channel of clarity, quite different from the pstims.
Good luck!
Zo
Posted by Krazy Kat on March 26, 2002, at 8:51:40
In reply to Re: Provigil ( other stims) - anxiety versus ener, posted by Zo on March 26, 2002, at 3:41:38
yes, i had heart palpitations while trying to fall asleep last night.
thank you all for the kind input. i am dropping down to 100 today. i also added cytomel back in which my pdoc wanted me to do (a thyroid med). i had stopped it because it really upsets my stomach.
so we'll see. it may be zantac city from now on.
it sounds like within a week or so i'll know how my body is adjusting to it.
the depakote is keeping me in one place (as opposed to many different dimensions at once) so i can wait a week for this to have a trial.
thanks.
- kk
Posted by Ritch on March 26, 2002, at 10:06:21
In reply to update - heart palpitations, posted by Krazy Kat on March 26, 2002, at 8:51:40
> yes, i had heart palpitations while trying to fall asleep last night.
>
> thank you all for the kind input. i am dropping down to 100 today. i also added cytomel back in which my pdoc wanted me to do (a thyroid med). i had stopped it because it really upsets my stomach.
>
> so we'll see. it may be zantac city from now on.
>
> it sounds like within a week or so i'll know how my body is adjusting to it.
>
> the depakote is keeping me in one place (as opposed to many different dimensions at once) so i can wait a week for this to have a trial.
>
> thanks.
>
> - kkKK,
If Provigil or other pstims aggravate your OCD and/or make you paranoid, you might consider a low-dose TCA add-on. I know BP's *shouldn't* take TCA's, but I found nortriptyline to be helpful for energy without worsening my anxiety. It will also downregulate 5-HT receptors which might help too. Also, a standard anti-OCD med like Celexa seemed to get a fair "kick" with the low-dose TCA for me.
hope this helps,
Mitch
Posted by wendy b. on March 26, 2002, at 16:49:35
In reply to Provigil ( other stims) - anxiety versus energy, posted by Krazy Kat on March 25, 2002, at 20:05:36
Hi there,
I was wondering lately about Provigil, so thanks for starting a thread on it, Kelly! (How are you? besides ramping up now more slowly on the med?)
Does anyone know how Provigil reacts with Neurontin (for BP II) and Wellbutrin? How does the mood-leveling effect of the Neurontin work along with the stimulant? Is it effective with the Wellbutrin? Looking for answers,
Wendy
> I just started Provigil two days ago. Depakote is at 2000 mg a day.
>
> Felt nothing on the Provigil on 100 mg the first day. Yesterday, felt a little "something" at 200, but not much.
>
> Today - really no improvement in energy (I was tired all day, but, I will admit, I couldn't nap), but I am experiencing the same sort of mini panic attacks I had when I first started Prozac (different class, I know). Also, as the day went on, I got more anxious and actually a tad paranoid (thought someone was following me home). OCD is acting up, too.
>
> Has anyone had good results with Provigil for Energy, not Anxiety? Or any other stims?
>
> I have done badly on Wellbutrin and Prozac (irritable and anxious on the former, high/manic on the latter). Celexa and Serzone just didn't really do anything. I think my pdoc is more interested in the stim side now anyhoo.
>
> Can't tolerate Lamictal for some reason. Have not tried Lithium yet b/c am a rapid cycler.
>
> Thanks a lot.
>
> - KK
Posted by Zo on March 26, 2002, at 17:31:55
In reply to update - heart palpitations, posted by Krazy Kat on March 26, 2002, at 8:51:40
Posted by Krazy Kat on March 26, 2002, at 18:09:42
In reply to Re: Provigil other meds, posted by wendy b. on March 26, 2002, at 16:49:35
wendy:
kristi and i were wonderingn how you are last week. i hope you and your daughter are well.
went down to 100 mg provigil today - was able to nap a little (something that i used to hate), but am having that rapid hear beat again tonight. odd since i take it in the morning.
also, ocd is getting really bad -- i'm back to counting everything four times, over and over and convinced i've done something wrong, just don't know what yet.
others have posted very favorably about it, though. i'm going to try to stick it out for a full week to give it a chance. Depakote has me all fuzzy and spacey. i have real trouble driving on it at this dose. fambly is worried.
i can't concentrate on Anything - not even the comics. :)
- K.
Posted by Zo on March 26, 2002, at 18:10:30
In reply to Re: Provigil other meds, posted by wendy b. on March 26, 2002, at 16:49:35
Hi Wendy, See my posts all over board today and yesterday, lots about my Provigil experience!
Zo
Posted by wendy b. on March 27, 2002, at 17:41:06
In reply to Re: Provigil other meds » wendy b., posted by Zo on March 26, 2002, at 18:10:30
Thank you Zo and Kelly, I have a lot to read...
See you on PSB, too...
W.
> Hi Wendy, See my posts all over board today and yesterday, lots about my Provigil experience!
>
> Zo
Posted by Krazy Kat on March 28, 2002, at 8:12:58
In reply to Re: Provigil other meds- thanks, posted by wendy b. on March 27, 2002, at 17:41:06
mouse's keppra journal was so helpful, i'm going to try to give updates on this.
i did not take any provigil yesterday - i slept most of the day.
just took only 50 mg this morning, b/c it was causing heart palpitations even at 100 mg.
reminder - i'm on 2000 mg of depakote, a fairly strong dose.
also, caffeine does not give me a boost anymore, even cigs have been failing me.
need to get A LOT accomplished today, so it will be a good test.
- kk
Posted by An Maitris on December 26, 2004, at 14:07:42
In reply to provigil update, posted by Krazy Kat on March 28, 2002, at 8:12:58
Wanted to say thanks for the information...and give you my own experiances with Provigil.
I am taking Provigil for Narcolepsey. Sadly it does not help. I am perscribed to take two 200mg pills a day and it doesn't even effect me. I was wondering if anyone has experinced something with provigil. Since I've taken it I've gained a considerable amount of weight in a short time. Has this happened to anyone???
Posted by zeugma on December 30, 2004, at 13:37:13
In reply to Re: provigil update, posted by An Maitris on December 26, 2004, at 14:07:42
i gained a lot weight on provigil. in my case this good, as i am terribly underweight. unfortunately the other side effects forced me off it.
This is the end of the thread.
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