Modafinil and Heart Palpitations: What Users Say

• sgc...
• March 9, 2012

For Depression "I read the experiences of people on Provigil before I tried it, and as I was in the midst of a very deep depression and had tried so many other antidepressants. I was suicidal and desperate for help. As most other people found, it is a miracle! I can't believe that I feel this good. I am back to my old positive self. I am taking 200 mg in the morning. The last medicine that worked was Adderall, which worked initially but wore off after a year. I still had the rapid heartbeat, but the depression continued. Thank you to everyone who posted their positive feedback as it gave me hope that the medicine might work. This is an off-label use, but it sure works for me!"

• CKL...
• June 14, 2019

For Chronic Fatigue Syndrome "My experience with Modafinil was tough. I have been struggling with daily fatigue for a while now, and my psychiatrist prescribed me it to help me wake up. It has in fact helped me with that, and I feel like I can mostly go through each day without crashing or feeling like a dead fish. However, I have a severe anxiety disorder, and my psychiatrist had been cautious of prescribing me a stimulant in case it increased said anxiety. Unfortunately, that’s what Modafinil did to me. It increased my heart rate and gave me overall physical anxiety, which seems impossible to get rid of once it attacks me. This in turn causes mental anxiety. The energy Modafinil gave me ultimately was not worth this anxious increase. Also, since the drug is a controlled substance, I couldn’t get a refill anyway, and it just wasn’t worth it. I would say that each person is different, and while anxiety is a common side effect, it doesn’t have to be a sole feature. It did give me energy, and that was a big plus."

• lhm...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• December 5, 2013

For Fatigue "I was diagnosed 7 years ago with Multiple Sclerosis. I have been very tired and kind of aggravated all the time because of it. My doctor prescribed Provigil (Modafinil) for me last year. It's a miracle for me. Really! It used to take all of my energy just to get up to walk to the sink for a drink. Now I power through a day of work alert and ready for more work. I'm a cleaner, so I need energy. The surprise was with this medicine, not only helped me to be more alert, awake, and focused but I've also been in a really great mood as well. Huge plus. Because I always felt angry and cranky. I was given 200 mg, however, I find that it's a bit too much and makes my heart race, so I break it in half and it's perfect."

• Eve...
• November 27, 2020

For Chronic Fatigue Syndrome "I was first given this medication, modafinil, in October when I volunteered to go to an in-patient facility for my depression. They put it on me for my chronic fatigue (that they later told me was from CFS). At first, it gave my body energy but still left my mind in a fog of tiredness. It also increased my heart rate and gave me anxiety like none I had ever seen. That lasted for 2 or 3 days. When I was finally released, my insurance required prior authorization in order to fill the prescription. Of course, it took the collective amount of doctors from both my primary and the in-patient nearly 3 weeks to finally get the prescription filled. When I finally got back on it, I felt a little energized (of course I was on bed rest at the time for a foot injury, go figure). But that quickly wore off. I have been on it almost a month now and am pretty much back to where I was energy level-wise. I was so hopeful too."

• Sad...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• December 21, 2017

For Depression "I started Provigil (Modafinil) to treat the extreme fatigue due to major depressive disorder. I've only been taking 100 mg daily for two days, but the effects are immediate. I can think faster and more clearly (no more brain fog), my depression is non-existent, and I have a tremendous boost of energy! The only side effect has been heart palpitations in the afternoon. I've read this goes away after about a week. Not bothersome enough to stop. My insurance wouldn't cover the cost to use it for depression. With an online coupon, I was able to get it for under $70. All other pharmacies were between $115 and $600 for a month's supply! And those prices are for the generic with a coupon. Cash prices for the brand name were a little over $1,000!"

• Mar...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• November 17, 2021

For Idiopathic Hypersomnia "At first, this worked just okay for me. It worked for about 4-5 hours before I crashed hard, but I took it twice a day (100 mg twice a day, combo with 10 mg Adderall), and that worked better. In the past month, I noticed problems when at practices for my college swim team. When we were in more intense practices, I felt like I reached a cap in regards to energy. I couldn't go any faster, felt out of breath, like my lactic acid was at its max after barely starting a hard set. Even when I didn't take the Adderall, I had these same problems. After going to my dorm, my heart rate was at 162, like it was going to jump out of my chest. After connecting the dots, I remembered I've been short of breath a lot more often than I should be, just thinking my asthma was worse. Turns out, modafinil is a histamine inhibitor, which can cause the bronchials to swell and cause allergies. I'll have to halt Provigil and Nuvigil unfortunately. It worked great for me until it made me a worse breather."

• OSA...
• July 11, 2015

For Obstructive Sleep Apnea/Hypopnea Syndrome "The first time I took this (prescribed for obstructive sleep apnea), I thought, 'Wow, this is the answer!' I was awake and alert but didn't feel drugged.... I felt 'on the ball,' and I hadn't felt like that in forever. The second time I took it, I felt extremely tired. I forced myself out of bed but felt extremely depressed and anxious. I took another tablet, not realizing I was having a negative reaction to this drug. I became so tired I stayed in bed all the next day. I felt disorientated, and it was as if everything was in slow motion. I could not get out of bed and was more tired than I had ever been in my life. My heartbeat was fast, and it felt irregular. I started to have negative thoughts and hallucinations. Not good!!!"

• OSA...
• July 11, 2015

For Obstructive Sleep Apnea/Hypopnea Syndrome "The first time I took this (prescribed for obstructive sleep apnea), I thought, 'Wow, this is the answer!' I was awake and alert but didn't feel drugged.... I felt 'on the ball,' and I hadn't felt like that in forever. The second time I took it, I felt extremely tired. I forced myself out of bed but felt extremely depressed and anxious. I took another tablet, not realizing I was having a negative reaction to this drug. I became so tired I stayed in bed all the next day. I felt disorientated, and it was as if everything was in slow motion. I could not get out of bed and was more tired than I had ever been in my life. My heartbeat was fast, and it felt irregular. I started to have negative thoughts and hallucinations. Not good!!!"

• Deb...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• October 5, 2022

For Idiopathic Hypersomnia "I have been suffering from excessive sleepiness for most of my life. I'm 47 now, and I feel like I am sleeping my life away, as I will sleep an average of 16-18 hours on the weekends and have to call out a few times a month because I can't wake up in the morning. I am on day 2 of 200 mg of Modafinil, and it has zero effect on me aside from increased heart rate. Day 1, I took it an hour before I had to be at work, zero effect. I couldn't wake up, slept in, and was late for work. Day 2, I took it at 4:30 am and still couldn't wake up. Got to work on time, but I can barely keep my eyes open. I don't think this medication works for me, I'm so disappointed."

• Fre...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• October 15, 2014

For Narcolepsy "I was diagnosed with narcolepsy a while ago and have been started on modafinil. This does work, but with some side effects, which I tend to find only if I take the whole 100 mcg at one go, rather than have it in twos. By separating the whole dose, it has helped with the headaches and increased heart rate. I don't take it on a daily basis, but only when I am at work or at uni. Another brownie point for this medicine is that it definitely curbs my appetite for hours."

• tem...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• July 28, 2018

For Shift Work Sleep Disorder "I love this stuff, it keeps me alert and awake when I take it and has one major benefit. I always suffer from heart palpitations constantly all day long. My cardiologist ran every test he could and said my heart is perfectly healthy and that my palpitations are probably genetic since my father has them as well. When I take Modafinil, my palpitations come to a stop, I will get about 6 hours palpitations-free, then they slowly come back as the meds wear off. I haven't checked with the cardiologist to see if he knows why this happens, but it sure is nice to not feel my heart jumping every few minutes."