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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 8 of 8. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by texasnaut on December 5, 2009, at 10:29:49
Hi,
My doctor recently suggested that I switch from provigil to nuvigil. As others in this forum have noted, Cephalon has lowered the price of nuvigil to make it cheaper than provigil. Also, as others have noted, a generic version of provigil should emerge during the next few years.
After one day with nuvigil, I've decided to switch back to provigil. Under the influence of nuvigil, I was alert and focused but felt as if my sense of humor and joy had been completely switched off. My wife independently noticed the change in mood.
The strange thing is that I (a) felt incredibly uptight and ill-tempered and (b) my self-observing ego was aware of these things yet unable to change my mood.
I was also intensely hyperfocused in a way that became unproductive.
I realize that everyone has different reactions to medication, but was wondering what other people are experiencing. What types of reactions have other long-term provigil users had when switiching to nuvigil?
Thanks!
Posted by Phillipa on December 5, 2009, at 11:02:25
In reply to Nuvigil vs. provigil. Your experiences?, posted by texasnaut on December 5, 2009, at 10:29:49
Welcome to babble. I thought mistakenly it seems that nuvidgil was the generic of providgil. What are the differences? Phillipa
Posted by zana on December 5, 2009, at 11:07:15
In reply to Re: Nuvigil vs. provigil. Your experiences? » texasnaut, posted by Phillipa on December 5, 2009, at 11:02:25
Hi,
I also use provigil and tried nuvigil. Like you I found that it definitely made me alert but did not have the mood improving impact that provigil has. I went back to provigil.
Zana
Posted by OBeelee on February 4, 2010, at 13:04:15
In reply to Nuvigil vs. provigil. Your experiences?, posted by texasnaut on December 5, 2009, at 10:29:49
I have been on Provigil for 2+years and it has significantly improved my life. Relieved me of tiredness headaches and need to sleep 14 hours a day. It did bring out a workaholic side that my entire family suffers from thatI had somehow avoided (much to my own shame). I was able to focus and enjoy mental and physical tasks. I loved how I felt, then my insurance (AETNA) denied my prescription and left me without. Finally, I had my sleep specialist confirm idiopathic hypersomnia (extra sleepiness for unknown reasons) and Aetna insisted I try Nuvigil. Well, I've been on it for 18 days and I am so SLEEPY!. I did have headaches but I thought they were due to my decision to reduce sugar and some calories from my diet. The headaches seem better now but I am still sleepy and intend on going back to Provigal despite the greater co-pay ($35 vs $10). Good Luck everyone, going through life sleepy is a terrible burden. I always thought I was just being lazy and unwillling to push myself. If Provigil makes me feel like some people feel all the time, then no wonder they have been so successful. It turns out I am very smart, easily motivated and a hard worker. Who would have thought?
Posted by Deneb on February 7, 2010, at 16:12:32
In reply to Re: Nuvigil vs. provigil. Your experiences?, posted by OBeelee on February 4, 2010, at 13:04:15
Hello OBeelee!
Welcome to Psycho-Babble!
OMGosh, it sounds like something like Provigil can help me too. I sleep too much and I'm sleepy a lot. My days are usually less than 12 hours long and I don't have time to do anything.
I can sleep 15 hours.
The other day I stayed up all night, went to bed at 9 AM, slept until 7:30 PM then got sleepy again at around 10 PM. I then went to bed again at 11:30 PM and slept until 8:30 AM. That's 19 hours of sleeping altogether!
Right now I have a huge problem with getting up and motivated to do things during the day. I wonder if there is a med approach to my problem? That would be simple enough.
My pdoc thinks it's psychological though.
Posted by sleepyinthemidwest on March 22, 2010, at 13:02:20
In reply to Re: Nuvigil vs. provigil. Your experiences? » OBeelee, posted by Deneb on February 7, 2010, at 16:12:32
> Hello OBeelee!
>
> Welcome to Psycho-Babble!
>
> OMGosh, it sounds like something like Provigil can help me too. I sleep too much and I'm sleepy a lot. My days are usually less than 12 hours long and I don't have time to do anything.
>
> I can sleep 15 hours.
>
> The other day I stayed up all night, went to bed at 9 AM, slept until 7:30 PM then got sleepy again at around 10 PM. I then went to bed again at 11:30 PM and slept until 8:30 AM. That's 19 hours of sleeping altogether!
>
> Right now I have a huge problem with getting up and motivated to do things during the day. I wonder if there is a med approach to my problem? That would be simple enough.
>
> My pdoc thinks it's psychological though.
>
>pdoc? Primary care doc? My own recent experience with Nuvigil is because I'm trying to adust to a substantial change in my wakeup time. However, my solution might be of some help.
I was advised to set my alarm at least 45 mins earlier than my new wakeup time, keeping my meds and a glass of water by my bed. Because I have pets who like to get into my glass, I use a travel coffee mug.
Anyway, it helps me get up but I still find myself sort of slumping about 4 hours later. Hopefully, as my inner clock ajusts in a few weeks more this will fade. I'd doing a lot of coffee during that period, and might ask the doc if I can take a half pill at that time to "refresh" it because I think Nuvigil's peak activity is within a few hours after taking it.
Posted by Deneb on April 2, 2010, at 1:48:32
In reply to Re: Nuvigil vs. provigil. Your experiences? » Deneb, posted by sleepyinthemidwest on March 22, 2010, at 13:02:20
Hi sleepyinthemidwest,
Welcome to Psycho-Babble!
Pdoc is short for psychiatrist.
I was doing well waking up in the morning for a while. I was doing a lot of exercise then and going to bed before midnight, but now I am right back to where I started. I'm staying up all night, going to bed at 5 AM and sleeping until 7 PM!
I think I need to start the exercise again. I don't know if it was the exercise itself or waking up in the morning to exercise that helped.
I don't think my pdoc is going to give me a med to stay up. I think my best bet is to have an energy drink by the bed and chug some down after I turn off my alarm.
My pdoc doesn't like me using caffeine though.
Posted by michael73 on November 25, 2012, at 20:09:47
In reply to Re: Nuvigil vs. provigil. Your experiences? » sleepyinthemidwest, posted by Deneb on April 2, 2010, at 1:48:32
I had luck with Provigil for wakefulness and depression for like six months - it seemed to provide some depression resistense during my depression cycles. I tried Nuvigil recently and I thought the Provigil had been working better. I tried Provigil again and I think it did work better.
This is the end of the thread.
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