posted
Want all the benefits of a Red Bull without the negative effects?
quote:In September 2003, an FDA advisory committee voted in favor of expanding the use of Provigil to treat sleep disruption or daytime sleepiness caused by a condition called shift work sleep disorder. .... In addition, the panel endorsed the use of Provigil to treat excessive sleepiness caused by obstructive sleep apnea. Sleep apnea is also commonly associated with snoring.
Researchers say the stimulant can help keep people stay awake with fewer side effects than caffeine or amphetamines.
Potential side effects of the drug include headache, infection, nausea, nervousness, feeling anxious, and trouble sleeping.
I personally tried provigil a couple of times and it really does work wonders. Usually, I cannot stay mentally focused the entire day unless I have had 9-10 hours of sleep (I have slight sleep apnea problem due to snoring). But when I take provigil, I am mentally alert all day. The alertness on provigil is different from the alertness one gets from caffeine--you don't feel any jitteriness or anxiety.
While provigil does not replace sleep, it can help you become more productive during the day time so you can get more done. Moreover, unlike caffeine, provigil does not keep you from sleeping at night.
Like most wonder drugs (ambien?), scientists cannot tell us exactly why provigil works. There is probably a price to be paid for using this drug, but the results are just too tempting.
Has anyone tried this drug?
*Warning* Aside from the side effects WEBMD provided, I would like to add that an excessive dose (200mg in my case) may cause irregular heartbeat and OCD type of behavior. Do NOT take this drug without first consulting your physician.
posted
Can't believe I missed this the first time around...
The first time I heard of Provigil was in this article written by a relative of a hatracker.
I'm pretty intrigued, because there have been so few side effects so far. The main concern IMHO with making it over the counter is the ease of abuse by employers.
But I'm awfully curious about it...
Posts: 1892 | Registered: Mar 2002
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posted
Just in case anyone cared: Ambien works by enhancing the effects of gamma-aminobutyric acid in the body.
*Just got prescription filled.*
Yeah, I am the poster child for insomnia too. Without it, I am zombie girl. I will stay up all day and all night.
ProVigil sure is coming into it's own. I'm glad they are researching it more. I know many patients that really benefit from it for excessive daytime somnolence as well as narcolepsy.
Posts: 2064 | Registered: Dec 2003
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posted
I really feel like I have a good case for hypersomnia, but I'm afraid if I take it to a clinic they'll just shrug me off. I don't know how common it is.
Posts: 1892 | Registered: Mar 2002
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posted
More than you think, Sun. I know one of the sleep docs I worked for had quite a few patients with that diagnosis. But imagine: not feeling tired during the day anymore, feeling refreshed in the morning, knowing why you feel this way.
Posts: 2064 | Registered: Dec 2003
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posted
would be lovely. I have a tendency to fall asleep in lectures no matter how interesting or boring, and no matter how many hours of sleep. and no matter how much biting my fingers, or drinking caffeine I do.
but my friends just shrug and tell me everyone's like that.
Posts: 1892 | Registered: Mar 2002
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posted
No, everyone is not like that. My ex thought the same thing. Had a sleep test done and found out he had apnea. He got surgery and is now able to function all day.
I am not saying that this is your problem. I wonder if V shouldn't have a test done though.
posted
wow, I've wondered for a long time about this unless I get 9+ hours of sleep I'm not refreshed. I always look like hell when I get to work in the morning as a result.
posted
Provigil looks like a pretty exciting drug. We will be using it in so many different situations once we get to know it better and do more studies. I've seen people on it to counteract the necessary meds they take that cause sedation, and it sounds great for shift workers and of course for narcolepsy. They are studying it for add and lots of other things too.
I've started only one person on it, and she isn't responding at all, which is interesting. She has hypersomnia from a combination of factors, and passed her sleep study. I am quite disappointed.
It IS a prescription med, not over the counter, btw. I have a whole box of provigil samples in my office. Sure is tempting to try one... *grits teeth*
Suneun, as a med student you'll have a hard time finding a doc to take your symptoms seriously. After all, everyone knows medstudents and residents are hypochondriacs AND sleep deprived too. Posts: 1990 | Registered: Feb 2001
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posted
Yeah... I've had these symptoms since sophomore year of college, which is the reason I take myself more seriously than the average med student.
I was sort of pre-empting the unspoken topic idea that provigil would be really cool if it were OTC. I've been amused by this med since I heard about it.
Does the sleep study involve being able to fall asleep w/in 5 minutes at various times? I'm trying to remember stuff from my sleep lecture (but it wasn't a very detailed lecture).
Posts: 1892 | Registered: Mar 2002
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posted
Yeah, that's a big part of the testing. There is a good article about hypersomnia in UpToDate. If you don't have access to UpToDate I could email you the info if you are really curious about the workup.
Posts: 1990 | Registered: Feb 2001
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quote:Suneun, as a med student you'll have a hard time finding a doc to take your symptoms seriously. After all, everyone knows medstudents and residents are hypochondriacs AND sleep deprived too.
*grin
I understand the skepticism of most personal physicians, but this is exactly why I had trouble getting diagnosed with cardiac failure during my intern year (my own self-triaging was a big part of the problem, too). In one year, my AS progressed from mild-to-moderate to severe, and my ejection fraction dropped from 65% to 42%.
Oh, Theca, that year was a doozy. I had to run to deliveries at another building of the hospital, and I thought I was like to die. Posts: 14017 | Registered: May 2000
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