provigil for ms patients

also people with narcolepsy and MS patients with fatigue, amongst others. I read on the MS forum that many members use and recommend it. I'm still waiting on a prior auth and trying to make up my mind about it. Right now...today....I feel really good, so I don't know that it's warranted. First time I've ever heard of it.....

I have been living with MS for ten years and have been lucky. Between taking AVonex and Provigil my relapses are very few and far between. and also not severe.

YES, it definitely will help you! I've known MS patients who are taking Provigil and they say it's a miracle drug--this doesn't mean it'll work fabulously for everyone, but it does do an amazing job of zapping excessive daytime sleepiness. I'm taking Provigil for excessive daytime sleepiness as a result of sleep apnea, and the first few months I was on Provigil I've never felt more awake in my entire life.

He wants to send me for a sleep study as we were discussing my fatigue issues. Is this a common step?

I asked my primary for provigil and she said "NO! We give that to patients who have narcolepsy!" LOL...I'm thinking, "and yeah?" She said I'd have to wait for my appointment with the MS Specialist. @ Julie that is wonderful news!!!! This gives me hope!!! Ahhh to rid of the fatigue!!!!!!!!!

I take Nuvigil and it is extremely expensive. Plus my insurance wouldn't pay for it for MS because "MS doesn't cause fatigue". Apparently they believe only depression causes fatigue in MS patients. So...my doctor had to prescribe an anti-depressant for me and now they pay for it (somewhat, it is still over $100 a month for my cost).

Modafinil is a drug for narcolepsy prescribed for MS fatigue. I am interested in knowing if you have narcolepsy or MS fatigue. Recently I have been experiencing extreme fatigue for which my neuro prescribed amantadine. It is working. The next step would be modafinil but I was told that many of their patients use Ritalin or adderall. Both are addictive so they start with the ones with least side effects first. So far amantadine has been helping get me through my day without crashing.

I have been fighting Blue Cross since January 2011. I have MS and suffer severe fatigue. I've been taking Provigil for about 4 1/2 years and it was covered by Blue Cross. I was notified in Nov 2010 that BC would no longer cover this drug for an MS diagnosis. My Neurologist appealed the Provigil denial 3 times and BC would still not cover it. She then tried to prescribe Nuvigil again BC denied and she appealed that 3 times.

i know some folks in my MS support group that take it for the MS fatigue/fog and really like it. i tried to get the VA neuro to Rx it, but a no go. don't even ask for provigil at the VA. i guess whoever makes provogil has priced it so ridiculous no on touches it. VA gave me amantadine. didn't work for me the way i was hoping. as i mentioned, others at the MS group really like the ritalin and provogil.

ve had low levels of B, so I take B12 also. For quite a while (much prior to being diagnosed with MS), I have been on Paxil for depression. I have epilepsy and take 2 epi meds that can have a side effect of fatigue. So there is a lot going on that might be contributing to fatigue. I just found this information also: http://www.msfocus.org/article-details.aspx?articleID=48 Thanks for all the help!

Are there any other meds for fatigue besides provigil? The reason I ask is because for the drug interactions for provigil says don't take if you're on beta blockers or amitriptline (sp). Which of course I'm on both. Thanks for any suggestions in advance. I see my pcp on Wednesday, and I want to be ahead of the game!

My current neuro prescribed Provigil for me the first day he saw me, but later I realized he had already decided I had MS. Provigil is used in the fatigue of MS, CFS, and Fibro. It is off-label, but has show itself to be quite safe and not have a dependence problem. Another possiblity is amantadine, but most people like Provigil better. If your B12 is on the low side, even without being deficient, I recommend the sublingual 1mg supplement of B12 in the "methycobalmin" form.

So far Provigil has mostly been beneficial for me . . . it usually gives me the energy and focus I need to get some things (but not all) done. But yesterday and today I just can't seem to focus on anything. It is SO frustrating . . . I think I have the energy to do things . . . but I don't know where to start . . . or I begin something only to be sidetracked to another.

Anyone on medicare have any experience or enlightenment on provigil financial help? I've been quoted 33% copay (tier 4) by my drug insurance company which is over $300 for me The online sources I've contacted no longer cover provigil since the generic came out and the generic is about the same price... Looking for financial assistance sources if anyone knows of any thanks!

t cover it for MS fatigue, though my MS neuro (who has seen a lot of patients) says Provigil has been the most helpful in reducing fatigue in MS patients. Debs, as for my heart rate elevation, I'm going to try yoga and meditation to see if it helps reduce it, since my neuro said it was from anxiety and my regular doc said it could be from stress. I've been taking Provigil for over a year, so it seems odd that it could be the cause of my elevated heartrate now.

i was told today the VA no longer will Rx provigil for MS fatigue. have to have a sleep disorder and get it from pulmonary now. they will, for MS patient fatigue Rx amantadine. i have battled MS fatigue for years and recently decided to try something for it, so the VA is Rx amantadine vs provigil. anyone on this list try amantadine for MS fatigue? just checking with the experts here (actual suffers). i thought provigil was what i needed.

I will keep my fingers and toes crossed for you, that they will approve Provigil for you. You would think with all the advertisements for the med that the Dr would have samples to give you until your insurance approves it. Thats how I get my Lidoderm patches, he just saves them out for me and I drop by the office and voila I have a brown paper bag of relief. I would cut off my feet (just kidding) to get something to lift the brain fog.... Good luck with all the insurance stuff....

The neuro that treats my sleep apnea prescribed Provigil for me before I was diagnosed with MS. At that time, I was slapping myself to stay awake while driving and thinking was a slow difficult process that felt like I was wading through chest high mud to find a match to light my fire. Life as me and near me was unpleasant and unsafe. I have taken both Provigil and Nuvigil over the past three years.

s definitely worth it, though, to feel normal again, to be able to be highly productive again, to be able to live our lives again as we used to (even if only for about 7-8 hours) and Provigil allows this - at least for me and for many others. It is the #1 rated drug for energy for MSers (an MS doctor said this at an MS dinner and I have read it in drug surveys, as well). Another benefit of Provigil is that it also has an antidepressant effect.

Hi Paula, there are quite a few people here on Provigil and its sister drug Nuvigil- these drugs are used for narcolepsy, but have also been found to be helpful for MS patients. It used to be an off-label use and I'm honestly not sure that has changed. Many insurance companies denied coverage because it was off-label. I hope yours will approve it - there are many people here who are up and functioning with its help.

After all this time, three years at least, my insurance company is no longer approving me for Provigil. This drug is the one thing that I've taken that has made a huge impact on the quality of my life. Without it, I'm unable to think clearly and I'm too fatigued to get up out of bed or off the couch. I may have to retire on disability because there's no way I will be able to teach. The drug also helps with the ADD (diagnosed after the MS as an adult, LOL).

also, i am in the process of choosing a medication for the fibro. what do you guys suggest? i dont want to be on one that messes with your weight. I def need something to help with my energy or lack there of!

s been an issue with me for more than 10 years, but the last 2 months I was really bad and just being awake for more than 5 hours wore me out. He prescribed Provigil and I've read some of the threads on it and it sounds very promising. My question is, is it something you can take daily indefinitely? Or are you supposed to just take it when you need it (which would be daily for me!) I hope my insurance will cover it because I'm not diagnosed with ms or anything.

Provigil for ms patients

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