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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 5 of 5. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by jiggitykid on February 28, 2004, at 23:29:57
Hi - I have a problem with fatigue/sleepiness, so my doc prescribed 200 mg of Provigil, once daily. I took it and had trouble sleeping, so I snapped it in half and now take just 1/2 dose each day. That seems to be a good level for me as far as alertness goes, and it seems to keep the anxiety side-effects at their lowest. However, the raised heart rate frightens me. I don't notice it during most of the day. I only really notice it at night when I am lying down to sleep. Then it seems as if my heart is going to pound out of my chest. The last thing I need is to damage my heart with medication. Has anyone heard of any heart-related problems associated with Provigil, and is the rapid heart rate something that will settle down over time?
Posted by PsychoSage on March 1, 2004, at 17:19:23
In reply to Provigil and Heart?, posted by jiggitykid on February 28, 2004, at 23:29:57
> Hi - I have a problem with fatigue/sleepiness, so my doc prescribed 200 mg of Provigil, once daily. I took it and had trouble sleeping, so I snapped it in half and now take just 1/2 dose each day. That seems to be a good level for me as far as alertness goes, and it seems to keep the anxiety side-effects at their lowest. However, the raised heart rate frightens me. I don't notice it during most of the day. I only really notice it at night when I am lying down to sleep. Then it seems as if my heart is going to pound out of my chest. The last thing I need is to damage my heart with medication. Has anyone heard of any heart-related problems associated with Provigil, and is the rapid heart rate something that will settle down over time?
I have no idea, and this is a very valid and important question.however, I would think about the fact that on stimulants any worrying thought will have more of a physiological response than without them. That means your heart rate might spike a little more because, well, you are more vigilant on provigil.
Worrying about whether you should worry about your heart and taking your heart rate is not a good way to know how this drug affects you. Insomnia [in the beginning], not so deep sleep, and less sleep needed are understandable and common side effects of provigil. You need to give the drug and your body at least four weeks to figure out if the drug is tolerable in terms of benefits, risks, and disadvantages.
A low dose with Provigil can be entirely appropriate. i think starting out at 50mg for non-narcos is the best idea even if it's 50mg for an entire day. You can cut the 100mg into fours easily as well for 25mg pieces. Everyone should have a pill-cutter. At least everyone who comes to this board should.
Posted by jiggitykid on March 1, 2004, at 18:06:16
In reply to Re: Provigil and Heart?, posted by PsychoSage on March 1, 2004, at 17:19:23
>>>Worrying about whether you should worry about your heart and taking your heart rate is not a good way to know how this drug affects you. Insomnia [in the beginning], not so deep sleep, and less sleep needed are understandable and common side effects of provigil. You need to give the drug and your body at least four weeks to figure out if the drug is tolerable in terms of benefits, risks, and disadvantages.<<
Thanks for your reply PsychoSage. Worrying isn't a problem. I'm not sitting around worrying while taking this :-). I'm just concerned - different than the emotion of worrying - about the heart rate increase.
I've been taking this for approx. 5 weeks now. As I said in my post, 100 mg seems to be a good dose for me. The higher the dose, the more anxiety I experience - but it's different than worry. It's more of a physical feeling of the fight-or-flight response when there's nothing occurring to cause this. 100 mg keeps me alert without feeling wired or "imperative." It also allows me to sleep quite well at night. For the first week, dreams were vivid and my sleep schedule was thrown a bit, but that adjusted fairly quickly on the 100. 200 was too much.
I agree with you on the pill splitter. It's a must have! I appreciate the fact that I have such an amazing doctor who trusts me to know how to read my body and what works for it. I have read the cautions about mitral valve prolapse and other heart conditions being contradictory for taking provigil, which is why I asked the question. Just covering my bases. My heart is nothing to fool with ;-D.
Posted by Althea8869 on March 3, 2004, at 19:09:31
In reply to Re: Provigil and Heart?, posted by jiggitykid on March 1, 2004, at 18:06:16
Couple things - First, depending on your resting heart beat(how athletic you are, how well you eat, what you eat etc), these meds can cause this - in most cases its completely benign and is not causing any damage to the heart. Second, who cares about the first point, its your heart, so call the prescribing doc and discuss. Worst case they take an EKG just to be safe, but thats pretty unlikely.
I've taken meds that have caused this before and gotten used to it after a short time.
Bottom line, call your doc.
Posted by jiggitykid on March 3, 2004, at 20:50:22
In reply to Re: Provigil and Heart?, posted by Althea8869 on March 3, 2004, at 19:09:31
Thanks for the info. It seems to have settled down now - finally! Keeping the dose at 100 mg seems to do the trick. 200 mg made me more alert, but the heartrate increase wasn't worth it. I'll take less alert and a happy heart :-)!
This is the end of the thread.
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