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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 14 of 14. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by Zo on April 8, 2002, at 22:14:29
Provigil has a VERY strict dosage window --go beyond it, and you will either feel like it's doing nothing, or you may feel crummy, even worse than before you started.
Either of which would, normally, be clues that this drug is not for you. But with Provigal, more is NOT better!
You have to find your window, within the recommended window of 100 to 200mg. I suspect very few people would see benefits beyond 200mg. My window, I learned by trial and error, is only 100mg.
But it's so EASY to find your window! The blood level shifts in less than two days. And you can skip a dose to bring the blood level down, with no adverse effects.
Experiment. Start with 100mg in the a.m. for a week. Then, if you're not getting anything, slice up some pills. Add 50mg and see how you do in a few days. . . 25mg increments pieces would be even better.
I'm finding an unprecedented clarity, over a month's time. I was doing very well on Lamictal, Effexor and Dexedrine--but this lights up a whole new part of the brain, and I'm just so damn happy most all the time. .. Weird, huh! :o)
Best,
Zo
Posted by IsoM on April 8, 2002, at 23:40:16
In reply to Important info on PROVIGIL, posted by Zo on April 8, 2002, at 22:14:29
Not weird at all, Zo, just so nice.
I love that expression "lights up a whole new part of the brain" - it does, doesn't it? Have you found that it boosted your over-all mood & outlook too? How about short-term memory?Zo, could you do me a favour? You mentioned Dawna Something-or-another in PB earlier. I'm still curious. Maybe I'm just thick but I didn't get the connection. What was the connection?
You know if you don't tell me, this'll hang around my neck (or mind, in my case) like the albatross the Ancient Mariner carried. Dreams of Dawna Something-or-another will haunt my dark hours. Please, I beg you - put me out of my misery. ;-)
Posted by Bekka H. on April 8, 2002, at 23:42:28
In reply to Important info on PROVIGIL, posted by Zo on April 8, 2002, at 22:14:29
Hi Zo,
You're not taking Provigil WITH Dexedrine, are you???
Bekka
Posted by SLS on April 9, 2002, at 9:47:00
In reply to Important info on PROVIGIL, posted by Zo on April 8, 2002, at 22:14:29
Thanks Zo!!!
I am excited to try Provigil again with this in mind. When I tried it two years ago, no one had made mention of a therapeutic window. I pretty much went straight to 200mg, and didn't like the way I felt at all. However, I did feel substantially better briefly after my first 100mg dose.
How would you describe the time-course of your response to Provigil? Did you feel something nice the first day, even though it didn't last? When did you first begin seeing a stable improvement?
Thanks.
- Scott
> Provigil has a VERY strict dosage window --go beyond it, and you will either feel like it's doing nothing, or you may feel crummy, even worse than before you started.
>
> Either of which would, normally, be clues that this drug is not for you. But with Provigal, more is NOT better!
>
> You have to find your window, within the recommended window of 100 to 200mg. I suspect very few people would see benefits beyond 200mg. My window, I learned by trial and error, is only 100mg.
>
> But it's so EASY to find your window! The blood level shifts in less than two days. And you can skip a dose to bring the blood level down, with no adverse effects.
>
> Experiment. Start with 100mg in the a.m. for a week. Then, if you're not getting anything, slice up some pills. Add 50mg and see how you do in a few days. . . 25mg increments pieces would be even better.
>
> I'm finding an unprecedented clarity, over a month's time. I was doing very well on Lamictal, Effexor and Dexedrine--but this lights up a whole new part of the brain, and I'm just so damn happy most all the time. .. Weird, huh! :o)
>
> Best,
> Zo
Posted by Phil on April 9, 2002, at 17:36:00
In reply to Re: Important info on PROVIGIL - Zo, posted by Bekka H. on April 8, 2002, at 23:42:28
It's okay to take the two together. I was taking it with Ritalin.
I can't remember for sure but I think you need to take the dex about 30 minutes after the Provigil because it can interfere w/ absorbtion. May be the other way around..I'll try to find the reference.
Posted by Phil on April 9, 2002, at 17:50:25
In reply to Re: Important info on PROVIGIL - Bekka H., posted by Phil on April 9, 2002, at 17:36:00
Methylphenidate - In a single-dose study in healthy volunteers, coadministration of modafinil (200 mg) with methylphenidate (40 mg) did not cause any significant alterations in the pharmacokinetics of either drug. However, the absorption of PROVIGIL may be delayed by approximately one hour when coadministered with methylphenidate. (Above from RXList.)
~~~~~~~~
Said you can take it with or without food but that food also delays absorption 1 hour.
Posted by Bekka H. on April 9, 2002, at 18:10:06
In reply to Re: Important info on PROVIGIL - Bekka H. / Zo, posted by Phil on April 9, 2002, at 17:50:25
Thank you for the info, Phil.
Bekka
Posted by marshall on April 14, 2002, at 21:21:03
In reply to Re: Important info on PROVIGIL - Phil, posted by Bekka H. on April 9, 2002, at 18:10:06
I believe I read a study on Provigil used for sleep apnea patients who still feel groggy even with CPAP, about 10 percent. Got benefits from 100 and 200 mg. but none with 400 mg. Kinda proves the point.
Posted by Temoigneur on August 21, 2002, at 20:24:38
In reply to Provigil and the Ancient Mariner » Zo, posted by IsoM on April 8, 2002, at 23:40:16
> Not weird at all, Zo, just so nice.
> I love that expression "lights up a whole new part of the brain" - it does, doesn't it? Have you found that it boosted your over-all mood & outlook too? How about short-term memory?
>
> Zo, could you do me a favour? You mentioned Dawna Something-or-another in PB earlier. I'm still curious. Maybe I'm just thick but I didn't get the connection. What was the connection?
>
> You know if you don't tell me, this'll hang around my neck (or mind, in my case) like the albatross the Ancient Mariner carried. Dreams of Dawna Something-or-another will haunt my dark hours. Please, I beg you - put me out of my misery. ;-)
Hi Zo - I'm glad you've been helped so much by the provigil, wish I had the same confidence in it. I only started it yesterday, and yesterday I felt great I was motivated, not 100%, but feeling better, able to think, my OCD wasn't so bad, but today my second day on 200mg is no good, I'm really tired, I have none of the initial energizing effect I felt yesterday - can there be an initial period where it doesn't work - I guess I'm just posting this to hear what I want to hear, because so many drugs do countless different things for different people, but if you have any insights that would be greatBen
Posted by Zo on August 22, 2002, at 2:40:50
In reply to Re: Provigil and the Ancient Mariner, posted by Temoigneur on August 21, 2002, at 20:24:38
Hi Ben,
Someone linked me on your post. I'm not a regular participant here anymore (due to a disagreement in policy) but I'm glad to be able to tell you that yes, there can be an initial euphoria with Provigil. And yes, it does disappear. Understandably, we mistake that euphoria for Improvement, but it is unrelated to the stable, ongoing feeling of well-being Provigil can provide.
Give it a few weeks -- and try not to measure it every day. I get tired, just like a normal person, and you will too. I would expect that in a few weeks--at the same dose or less--you might find something subtle but really positive happening for you. Subtle because, for me anyway, Provigil is absolutely transparent, all the good things just seem natural.
You might want to try a dose of 150mg. Perhaps even for a few days. I was so sick after a few days at 200mg -- and it is counter-intuitive to take *less,* but that's what one has to do, with this med.
You can also divide the dose - 100mg or 150mg in a.m., 50mg more in afternoon. You'll be able to experiment with that pretty soon. I've done that, but have no further benefit from the additional, second 50mg.
The optimum dose is pretty much standard, between 100mg and 200mg per day. And no more than 200mg.
Perhaps in a week or so, play with it at 25mg increments, up or down, to find your best dose.
Zo
Posted by Christina on August 22, 2002, at 8:06:38
In reply to Re: Provigil and the Ancient Mariner, posted by Temoigneur on August 21, 2002, at 20:24:38
Hi.
I was interested in your post that said that Provigil worked the first day, but not the 2nd.
Could it be that you took it at a different time, or after a heavy meal?
I take Adderall, and I found that if I eat breakfast first, adderall does not work. I have to take it on an empty stomach.
In fact, I don't eat breakfast, and only eat a lite lunch. My main meal/snacking is after Adderall wears off.I don't know if this is true for everyone, but I found it works best for me.
Posted by awake at last on August 22, 2002, at 9:13:16
In reply to Re: Provigil and the Ancient Mariner, posted by Temoigneur on August 21, 2002, at 20:24:38
I've been on provigil for 6 months., and I as well felt the way you did on day 1 and 2. Just give it a week or two. It will take at least 4 days for it to become stable in your system. The fact that you did react positively on day one is a good sign. Provigil will only help make you close to equal with others, it's not a super-energizing drug. So if you sleep less than you should or over-exercise etc. you are going to feel the fatigue just as would someone without the disorder.
And I know for me this was hard to do at first. When I found that I wasn't tired all the time and had my motivation back. I wanted to stay up and do the things I hadn't been able to do in years. But if I don't maintain my sleep schedule, I was still tired the next day even with the provigil. I take 200 mgs every morning. Sometimes another 100 mgs helps at noon if I'm getting sluggish, sometimes it doesn't.
I always take it just as I get up on an empty stomach, then I don't eat anything for at least 1 hour. It says that if you take it with food it still works but is delayed for an hour. For me - I found it's not delayed, it doesn't work. So - stick with taking it before eating.
*************************************************> > Not weird at all, Zo, just so nice.
> > I love that expression "lights up a whole new part of the brain" - it does, doesn't it? Have you found that it boosted your over-all mood & outlook too? How about short-term memory?
> >
> > Zo, could you do me a favour? You mentioned Dawna Something-or-another in PB earlier. I'm still curious. Maybe I'm just thick but I didn't get the connection. What was the connection?
> >
> > You know if you don't tell me, this'll hang around my neck (or mind, in my case) like the albatross the Ancient Mariner carried. Dreams of Dawna Something-or-another will haunt my dark hours. Please, I beg you - put me out of my misery. ;-)
>
>
> Hi Zo - I'm glad you've been helped so much by the provigil, wish I had the same confidence in it. I only started it yesterday, and yesterday I felt great I was motivated, not 100%, but feeling better, able to think, my OCD wasn't so bad, but today my second day on 200mg is no good, I'm really tired, I have none of the initial energizing effect I felt yesterday - can there be an initial period where it doesn't work - I guess I'm just posting this to hear what I want to hear, because so many drugs do countless different things for different people, but if you have any insights that would be great
>
> Ben
>
Posted by IsoM on August 22, 2002, at 13:01:05
In reply to Re: Provigil and the Ancient Mariner, posted by Temoigneur on August 21, 2002, at 20:24:38
I must metabolize drugs fast (or something) as I need the full 200 mg Provigil in the morning & then as I run out of steam & start yawning, ready to nod off again, need another 200 mg mid or late afternoon. I don't drink coffee so I've added 100 mg caffeine in the morning to get me going too.
Still, I can sleep 9-10 hours easily at night. I'm just a very sleepy person & have been all my life, even as a kid. My Mom had to literally drag me out of beds many mornings. At least now with Provigil, my sleep at night is solid & restful, unlike the fitful, light sleep I used to experience. And during the day, I no longer have to fight that constant sleepiness. My dosing of Provigil is unusual though, I think.
Posted by Rman on August 11, 2003, at 14:46:15
In reply to Stims and dosing times » Temoigneur, posted by Christina on August 22, 2002, at 8:06:38
I also noticed slightly euphoric feelings on the first and second days after starting 100mg of Provigil. I was already taking .25 Xanax four times per day for anxiety. I was diagnosed with depression and NOTHING worked. I've been on and off so many meds in the last four years it is terrible.
Out of desperation I asked my p-doc if he thought I might have adult ADD and not suffer from depression. I noticed that if I took a diet pill with ephedra, I would feel great... but I could not tolerate them because anxiety would eventually get me.
My doctor gave me a sample of Provigil, and I was skeptical. I was really hoping for something specifically for ADD like Ritalin, but looking back I am glad he didn't because it would have likely just caused severe anxiety.
My doctor was right on with Provigil. It has only been one week at the 100mg dosage of Provigil, and it has been the best week I've had in many years!! Provigil gives me the alertness to be productive at work again without any anxiety!! My marriage has done a complete 180! I actually talk to my wife, and have a sex drive again.
I sleep much better, and wake up almost instantly in the morning. I talk to people at work, and am more interested in conversations. My sex life has come back.
Anyway, I'm getting off subject. The very noticable feel good part of Provigil does go away after a few days. But don't get me wrong, this stuff is a life saver for me.
-Rman
> Hi.
> I was interested in your post that said that Provigil worked the first day, but not the 2nd.
> Could it be that you took it at a different time, or after a heavy meal?
> I take Adderall, and I found that if I eat breakfast first, adderall does not work. I have to take it on an empty stomach.
> In fact, I don't eat breakfast, and only eat a lite lunch. My main meal/snacking is after Adderall wears off.
>
> I don't know if this is true for everyone, but I found it works best for me.
>
This is the end of the thread.
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