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Armodafinil for Chronic Fatigue Syndrome User Reviews

Brand names: Nuvigil

Rating: 7.4

Armodafinil has an average rating of 7.4 out of 10 from a total of 41 reviews for the off-label treatment of chronic fatigue syndrome. 66% of reviewers reported a positive experience, while 12% reported a negative experience.

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Reviews for Armodafinil

Commonly mentioned side effects
  • Wat...
  • August 5, 2013

Armodafinil "I have been on Nuvigil for about one year. I have fibromyalgia and Chronic Fatigue Syndrome. Before Nuvigil, I couldn't stay awake. When I would have my morning coffee, I would be fighting sleep. Although I am still very tired and weak, I can stay awake for the entire day now. I feel this is the most important medicine I take. It works for both CFS and fibromyalgia."

9 / 10
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177 Report
  • Anonymous
  • February 27, 2010

Armodafinil "I began suffering from Chronic Fatigue Syndrome about a year ago. Didn't know I had it, just knew I was sleeping more than I was awake. Just diagnosed in January and have been taking Nuvigil since then. Started at 150 mg a day, but it wore off by mid-afternoon. I have since increased the dosage to two pills a day. I take the second pill in the afternoon and it keeps me going for another 6 hours or so. I haven't had to take a nap since I started taking the medication, and I am able to concentrate more. I feel more alert and can get much more accomplished during the day. I don't have trouble sleeping or staying asleep. This medication has been a miracle that has given me back my life."

8 / 10
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194 Report
  • Big...
  • Taken for 1 to 6 months
  • March 8, 2013

Armodafinil "I have had 4 back surgeries (pins, screws, plates, etc.) and both of my hips replaced, all before turning 43. Before this, I earned a Ph.D., became a Prof. in Accounting, and was rewarded multitudes of student-awarded, colleague-awarded, and superiors-rewarded accolades. Then, with all the narcotics, opioids, hospitalizations, etc., tenure was literally jerked from my grasp, and I have been forced out of three other universities since. The depression of repeated recoveries from surgery and then med withdrawals and job losses drove me into extreme depression. Got the pain under control, but it got to where I was in bed 6 out of 7 days full-time. I was taking Cymbalta, but when my Dr. tried Nuvigil, it brought me back to the happiness I had known before."

10 / 10
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135 Report
  • vr_...
  • July 6, 2009

Armodafinil "Got a trial prescription for Nuvigil 150mg tablets, first day was incredible, but after a few days the effectiveness was greatly diminished. Still worked but did not have the same effect as day one. Worried about using it regularly since it is not covered by insurance and without that the cost is outrageous ($330/30 tablets). Does not leave you nervous like Ritalin, and lasts longer than Provigil. Worth trying if your health care plan covers it."

9 / 10
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114 Report
  • Cat...
  • Taken for 6 months to 1 year
  • August 17, 2019

"I have had CFS (chronic fatigue syndrome) for many years, undiagnosed until recently. I was almost bedridden, had to miss lots of days at work, and thought that I would have to file for disability. My Dr. prescribed Nuvigil 50 mg. I have not missed any work due to illness. It has given me my life back. Praise God for it."

9 / 10
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49 Report

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  • fib...
  • October 23, 2009

Armodafinil "So far I love Nuvigil. I can actually go all day without needing to lay down in the afternoon. I suffer from Fibromyalgia and Chronic Fatigue. I may need to bump it up as 150 mg does not seem to make me as awake as it did the first week. I like the way it makes me feel awake but not nervous and jittery like Ritalin did. I can now work a shift and actually come home and do chores around the house instead of lay down. I have had no side effects so far and have been on it for a month."

8 / 10
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94 Report
  • Anonymous
  • July 17, 2011

Armodafinil "I have struggled significantly with fibromyalgia and chronic fatigue syndrome since 2007. I am mid-30s. The CFS is much more debilitating than the fibromyalgia. Nuvigil has been the only treatment making a significant difference. I can now function much more than 3 hours a day. Nuvigil is changing my life."

10 / 10
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76 Report
  • Jen...
  • February 27, 2012

Armodafinil "I had to fight with insurance to cover my Nuvigil but finally got them too. I have battled to get my hypothyroidism optimized for years, and even when I had it at a pretty good level, I was always tired. The doctor labeled it chronic fatigue, and the Nuvigil has made a huge difference. I feel like I can finally keep up with everybody else and don't have to stand up at the back of meetings at work to stay awake. Nuvigil did have some strong side effects at first (headache, nauseous, lack of appetite), but they were pretty much gone after a week or so."

8 / 10
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  • Anonymous
  • November 19, 2010

Armodafinil "I have Chronic Fatigue Syndrome and was prescribed Provigil, insurance denied coverage. Doctor then gave me samples of Nuvigil 150mg. WOW! What a difference, first couple of days a few heart racing minutes but then after that, it was great. Ran out so asked doctor to order at pharmacy, insurance denied again. When I take Nuvigil I can work all day and sleep just fine at night, instead of taking a 3-hour nap after school and then back to bed at 8 PM. I have so much energy, I take it at lunchtime, this way it won't wear off too soon. I have skipped days to make samples last and there is definitely a difference in my quality of life. Actually I HAVE A LIFE when I take Nuvigil."

9 / 10
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73 Report
  • ish...
  • November 17, 2009

Armodafinil "I am on Nuvigil now and have been for several months. I take the 250 mg tablets. Before Nuvigil, I took Provigil for over a year, and my doctor told me that Nuvigil was a new refined version of Provigil. They work great for a while; then your body gets used to it. I will go a day or two without it, and it seems to work better that way. My insurance did not want to pay for Provigil, so my doctor wrote a letter that it was imperative for my quality of life, so they started paying. When I switched to Nuvigil, nothing was ever said about it. It does make me more alert, but I can still lay down and take a nap while taking it. It is sure better than nothing, or I would be in bed 24/7 as before."

6 / 10
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65 Report
  • Anonymous
  • May 10, 2010

Armodafinil "Have been on Nuvigil 150 for about a week for MS-related fatigue. It gives me energy to stay awake, but after 7 or 8 in the evening, I am beat. Only problem is I don't sleep well, and my appetite is nonexistent."

7 / 10
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57 Report
  • Ano...
  • Taken for 1 to 6 months
  • April 17, 2019

"Chronic chronic fatigue sufferer here. Have been taking Adderall for years with mixed results. Was very hopeful for this medication, but it did absolutely nothing for my mental or physical state. If anything, I would say it had the opposite effect and put me to sleep. Extremely frustrated and disappointed."

1 / 10
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28 Report
  • Anonymous
  • October 29, 2011

Armodafinil "Nuvigil works so well that I am now able to function in most aspects of my day. Before Nuvigil, I was hardly able to perform activities of daily living. Now, I am able to do grocery shopping, run errands, etc. I am much, much more alert. I had tried Ritalin before Nuvigil, and Ritalin made me a nervous wreck, whereas Nuvigil is easy and without the shaking. The cost of Nuvigil is outrageous."

9 / 10
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49 Report
  • cor...
  • December 23, 2011

Armodafinil "Started taking this for extreme tiredness a week ago after my exhaustion level rose to unacceptable levels. In previous multiple sclerosis episodes, I had been on Provigil but stopped taking it due to severe headaches and found I didn't need them anymore anyway. So far, I haven't had any headaches, and my mental alertness is significantly higher. My physical energy is still low but has improved some. I can make it through a quick shopping trip without having to sit down and rest. I'm hoping that continued use of the medicine will build up my endurance level over time."

7 / 10
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47 Report
  • Roc...
  • February 26, 2014

"Lupus: I've been on Nuvigil for about a year now. I have a mild form of lupus, and the medicine I take for that does more harm than good. So we just decided to treat my painfully low energy level with Nuvigil. It has changed my life. When I first started it, I had mild headaches and was sensitive to light. But once I was used to it, I regained my quality of life. I was able to enjoy mornings and not count the hours before I could return to sleep. The best part is I can take it as needed now. Highly recommend."

10 / 10
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42 Report
  • Col...
  • May 6, 2010

Armodafinil "I suffer from SAD, and dealing with people and students (yes, I understand the irony of the career choice) on a daily basis leaves me burned out most days from the stress of teaching to 300 students and dealing with people in general, but a simple combination of Xanax (0.25 mg) before a class and daily Nuvigil (75 mg) completely erased the problem. I work all day, I'm calm and focused in classes, and with a Xanax (0.5 mg) before bed, I sleep a full night without problems."

9 / 10
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49 Report
  • Anonymous
  • May 15, 2011

Armodafinil "I have had chronic fatigue syndrome for over 20 years, and it controlled and stole my life. Nuvigil has given it back to me. Prior to Nuvigil, I would collapse at around 1 PM and have to sleep around 2-3 hours, then I would have to go to bed by 9 every night. Now I am living an almost normal life. I don't need naps and go to bed at 9-10 PM and find that my mental alertness is greatly increased (i.e., it seems to counteract 'fibrofog'). Drawbacks are increased blood pressure, and insurance won't cover it."

9 / 10
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47 Report
  • Anonymous
  • June 7, 2011

Armodafinil "Since starting on Nuvigil, I have yet to take my afternoon nap. I take Nuvigil each afternoon around 12:30, which will last until 9 PM, right when I'm about to hit the bed. Works like magic. But I still need something to give me an extra boost. However, I feel 90% recovery. It also helps with concentration but not much. Does make you feel good."

9 / 10
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45 Report
  • Anonymous
  • November 7, 2011

Armodafinil "In my opinion, there are a lot of pros and cons for this medication. I took it for a while with no ill effect, but something must have changed, and it made me feel extremely ill (dizziness, heart palpitations, nausea, headache). I stopped taking it because of this and definitely noticed a difference. I think that taking a half a pill every few hours has eliminated my problems with the medication and works to keep me awake and focused for longer."

8 / 10
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43 Report
  • sou...
  • Taken for 6 months to 1 year
  • August 16, 2015

"Pros: turn into a hardworking genius legend in the daytime after taking a pill at 7:30 a.m. Turn sociable and enjoy chatting with people for the sake of it. Cons: some suspicious side effects, diarrhea (it's manageable) and very frequent urination. Hunger massively suppressed (you might consider this a good thing), occasional headaches, can make you aggressive when you aren't at all normally. If you're a person who has trouble sleeping, this will keep you up far later. And also, there is a slight psychedelic element to this drug as it peaks. You sometimes get weird feelings and thoughts you know could never happen normally off the drug. It's still less bad for you than cocaine or something, so that's how I rationalize it."

8 / 10
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36 Report
  • Ano...
  • October 10, 2011

Armodafinil "I have a very rare autoimmune neuromuscular disorder that causes many symptoms, including weakness. I find that taking Nuvigil 150 mg daily helps me with having a little bit more energy and also improves my mood. My cravings for carbs have decreased, which is good as I now eat foods that are better for me. Luckily, my insurance has paid for it."

8 / 10
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39 Report
  • Nuv...
  • January 17, 2010

Armodafinil "I have been on Nuvigil for about a year, and although my body is used to it, it still works and is crucial for my quality of life. I have had numerous surgeries on my spine, plus a lot of my tendons have torn (both rotator cuffs), plus both my Achilles have tiny ruptures, leaving knots on the back of my heels. My body is falling apart, but at least the Nuvigil keeps me at a pace I can handle. Two weeks ago, my insurance failed to pay, and my doctor gave me a sample of 150 mg (I had been on 250 mg before). Now I am out of it all, and I have crashed. My nurse called and said that it had been approved for 6 more months, so I actually get to pick it up tomorrow. Maybe I will be able to get out of bed now and get things done."

9 / 10
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42 Report
  • lau...
  • September 10, 2010

Armodafinil "I have chronic fatigue with my MS. I tried Provigil several months ago, but it gave me a severe headache, and I felt spaced out. Tried Nuvigil just today and felt jittery in the early part of the day and a bit light-headed, but I think I'll stick with it and see if I get the benefits others describe. I didn't take a nap as usual today, and I hope to feel more focused and energetic with my job soon."

5 / 10
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36 Report
  • Anonymous
  • July 2, 2011

Armodafinil "I have been on Temodar 315 mg for 5 days, a maximum dose of Avastin every other week for 8 months, and will continue for 4 more months before going on just Avastin. I had a cancerous brain tumor removed, then radiation. All of these treatments cause 'profound fatigue,' yet no relief for this is covered by insurance. Physically, I can function fine except for the fatigue. My condition is not really curable at this point in time, but I want to at least be able to do something with the time I have left, even if it's nothing more than taking a walk with my wife. 150 mg daily of Nuvigil has allowed me to do this. Medicare nor my supplement cover it. Ritalin shot my blood pressure up to 200/100 and a trip to the ER."

9 / 10
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32 Report
  • Anonymous
  • January 16, 2010

Armodafinil "I never have side effects from medicines, so I foolishly took Nuvigil without reading the literature. Couldn't figure out where the headaches, fever, and general feeling of 'being sick' came from. Palpitations, the tingling in extremities, feeling as though my mind was always two steps ahead of my reactions... just too much. I feel fortunate nothing worse happened."

2 / 10
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36 Report

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Reviews may be edited to correct grammar/spelling or remove inappropriate content. Reviews appearing to come from parties with a vested interest are not published. This information is not intended to endorse any medication and should not replace the expertise and judgment of healthcare professionals.

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