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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 11 of 11. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by KB on December 11, 2004, at 21:23:52
I just started Provigil and am having hand tremors, sweating, and various anxiety-like physical symptoms. Is this likely to stop as my body becomes accustomed to the drug?
And has anyone had any experience with cutting the pills in half? I am very sensitive to meds and have done this successfully with other drugs, but don't know if it would work w/ Provigil.
Posted by Racer on December 12, 2004, at 11:14:23
In reply to Provigil questions, posted by KB on December 11, 2004, at 21:23:52
I've been taking Provigil on and off for over a year, and what you're describing doesn't sound at all familiar. It sounds like anxiety to me, not the drug itself.
The only side effects I had with Provigil were the headaches, which were weird -- not painful, just like a lot of pressure -- but went away after a couple of weeks. They only happened a couple of times a week, and only for a couple of hours each time, no aspirin or anything.
And I cut them in half, too. I was taking 50mg for a while, which is half the smallest dose available.
Hope that helps.
Posted by KB on December 12, 2004, at 14:55:26
In reply to Re: Provigil questions, posted by Racer on December 12, 2004, at 11:14:23
These "anxiety" symptoms are the same ones I get
from too much caffeine (and, for me, too much is a cup of coffee or two cups of tea!), which makes me think it's a response to stimulants. I'm not prone to anxiety, just depression.I think I will try just taking 50 for a while.
thanks.
Posted by Racer on December 12, 2004, at 17:07:46
In reply to Re: Provigil questions, posted by KB on December 12, 2004, at 14:55:26
Yeah, coffee -- I can't drink regular coffee at all, and can only manage one cup of decaf. Regular coffee makes me have to be sick, too much caffeine.
If you felt as if you might have gotten any benefits from Provigil, then yeah -- go for the 50 mg. I did that for a while, too. In fact, for a long time the best response I got from anything included a front loaded BID dose of Provigil: 100mg in the morning, 50mg around lunch time.
Good luck with it.
Posted by TheOutsider on December 13, 2004, at 10:29:30
In reply to Re: Provigil questions, posted by KB on December 12, 2004, at 14:55:26
Provigil did deffinetly cause anxiety for me, especialy if I went above 200mgs.
I would suggest going with as low a dose as possible.
Personaly I couldn't get on with provigil, I found Adrafanil and Dexedrine to be much more helpful!
Posted by jujube on December 13, 2004, at 11:17:45
In reply to Re: Provigil questions, posted by Racer on December 12, 2004, at 11:14:23
Racer,
Do you experience any dizziness on Provigil? Also, do you find it helps with apathy and motivation?
Thanks.
Tamara
> I've been taking Provigil on and off for over a year, and what you're describing doesn't sound at all familiar. It sounds like anxiety to me, not the drug itself.
>
> The only side effects I had with Provigil were the headaches, which were weird -- not painful, just like a lot of pressure -- but went away after a couple of weeks. They only happened a couple of times a week, and only for a couple of hours each time, no aspirin or anything.
>
> And I cut them in half, too. I was taking 50mg for a while, which is half the smallest dose available.
>
> Hope that helps.
Posted by Racer on December 13, 2004, at 19:49:30
In reply to Re: Provigil questions » Racer, posted by jujube on December 13, 2004, at 11:17:45
No dizziness at all, and it absolutely helps with motivation!
The Cymbalta has been pretty amotivational for me, and it's led to me feeling pretty crappy for not doing anything much for days on end. Provigil has fixed that, and so I'm getting more of an AD effect again. I haven't had any problems worth mentioning on it, and I tend to be pretty grumpy about all the "other" things meds do to me. For me, it's been a great med.
Posted by jujube on December 13, 2004, at 20:24:26
In reply to Re: Provigil questions » jujube, posted by Racer on December 13, 2004, at 19:49:30
Thanks so much. I am going to be trying some natural things first (DMAE and Enada NADH), but if I don't have success with them, then I will definitely be pressuring my doctor for a trial of Provigil. I am getting frustrated with ADs that leave me apathetic and unmotivated.
Tamara
> No dizziness at all, and it absolutely helps with motivation!
>
> The Cymbalta has been pretty amotivational for me, and it's led to me feeling pretty crappy for not doing anything much for days on end. Provigil has fixed that, and so I'm getting more of an AD effect again. I haven't had any problems worth mentioning on it, and I tend to be pretty grumpy about all the "other" things meds do to me. For me, it's been a great med.
Posted by yxibow on December 13, 2004, at 23:43:34
In reply to Provigil questions, posted by KB on December 11, 2004, at 21:23:52
> I just started Provigil and am having hand tremors, sweating, and various anxiety-like physical symptoms.
I mentioned Provigil at my pdoc session today... he's used it before with patients but pointed out that its a probably less than useful combination with my Klonopin as both would cancel each other out... the anxiety brought on by the provigil and the major dose of Klonopin. Provigil can definately cause anxiety symptoms I guess in those who are susceptible to anxiety. I thought it was an idea to get more daytime wakefulness and fewer naps but sounds like for me it might make things worse.
my 2c
Posted by Racer on December 15, 2004, at 1:18:45
In reply to Re: Provigil questions, posted by yxibow on December 13, 2004, at 23:43:34
My dx includes an anxiety disorder, and I do take a beta blocker for anxiety. Provigil hasn't caused any problems for me in that regard -- unlike Prozac and Zoloft, which have been nightmares with it.
I think it's the usual: Your Mileage Will Vary. But it might still be worth a shot.
Posted by bimini on December 15, 2004, at 12:38:21
In reply to Provigil questions, posted by KB on December 11, 2004, at 21:23:52
I do get tremors from combo of Concerta 54mg and Provigil 200mg. I cut Provigil down to 150mg, 50mg with Concerta in the morning, then 100mg at noon. (If I remember, lol, I'm getting a lot of grief from Doc about forgetting meds.) This still isn't perfect but the best way to cut down tremors.
bimini
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