Provigil and Drowsiness: What Users Say

• jag...
• May 20, 2009

For Depression "This is a WONDER DRUG in the use of depression. I have suffered for years with depression and never with any relief from the mainstream anti-depressants. Either the side effects were intolerable, or the medicine just didn't work. Within 3 days of taking Provigil, I was the happiest, most productive I had been in a year. The first 2 days I was still really sleepy, and the 3rd day, a little hyper, but after that day I have felt EXCELLENT. I don't have anxiety attacks anymore and I get a full night of 'good' sleep and wake up feeling extremely refreshed and I am happy again. I was on my couch for a straight 6 months sleeping and crying until I started this medicine. It literally saved my life."

• Che...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• September 6, 2013

For Narcolepsy "I took Provigil along with Adderall and felt the best ever. I was alert, not on too much Adderall, so I didn't feel bad from that. Then my insurance company wouldn't cover Provigil anymore, they pushed Nuvigil, and it made me sleepier."

• Anonymous
• December 27, 2010

For Shift Work Sleep Disorder "Started night shift work again after being on days for 14 years. A friend told me about Provigil. Asked my doctor and got the prescription. Unbelievable! No drowsiness during the night, no spike and drop like caffeine or energy drinks, and fall right to sleep when I get ready to. I'm in the trucking industry and it's great."

• Jac...
• September 3, 2013

For Narcolepsy "Provigil worked for my narcolepsy for about 6 months. After that, I began to have bouts of insomnia at night and became ultra sleepy during the daytime. I was prescribed sleep medications to help combat the new side effects. Things did not seem to improve. I also gained 40 pounds during the time I took Provigil (which was a total of 9 months). As a woman, gaining weight was my least desirable side effect of all. Finally, I switched off of Provigil and returned to what was working for me originally, Adderall XR 30 mg one to two times per day (depending on what my schedule was like that day). I only switched off of Adderall XR originally because my doctor was concerned about the potential long-term cardiovascular effects on my body."

• Anonymous
• September 3, 2011

For Shift Work Sleep Disorder "I have sleep apnea. Sometimes I wake up feeling like I haven't had any sleep. In a fog, so to speak. I have gone to sleep sitting at stoplights on the way to work in the morning. This medication does wonders. I still drink my coffee, and it helps to boost the effects. I still get sleepy in the afternoon sometimes, but I am able to fight it off much better. Before, I couldn't and would go to sleep. It is just too expensive."

• leo...
• September 26, 2010

For Chronic Fatigue Syndrome "I started out on 100 mg in the morning. I was falling asleep an hour later, so the doctor put me on 200 mg. I still was very sleepy, but then the sleepiness would wear off. I drove about 60 miles into town, and I was driving very fast and taking risks I would never do normally. It also made me want to buy lottery tickets. The increase of compulsive behaviors is very true with this medication. I stopped taking it immediately. It was too expensive anyway!"

• way...
• October 12, 2011

For Drowsiness "I have multiple rheumatic conditions, fibromyalgia, etc. Because of sleepiness being one of the common side effects of many of my medications and the fact that with fibro sleep is messed up, I first took it in 2006, and the only time I've been off of it in that time was the 11 months in 2009 while I was hospitalized. It would have been pointless to take at that time due to what was going on. But since restarting it, my alertness has been much better. I have no side effects that I notice. When I first took it, I did not think of the warning given by the NP at my pain doctor's office. She said to take a quarter or half of the dose. That's the only time I've had bad side effects. Now I have none. I've been at 100 mg/day for a year or so."