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Avatar universal

extreme fatigue drugs Provigil or Adderall

How do I suggest to my PCP that I would like Provigil or Adderall for my EXTREME fatigue, to the poing of falling asleep while driving, without seeming to be drug seeking.? I have got to have something, I drive for a living! I am so afraid of having a wreck, but I can't tell my job I have this problem. I have to have this job for the insurance, since if I went on disability I couldn't get medicare for 2 years, and how do you pay for insurance on the pittance you get for disability? Catch 22. I see my PCP tomorrow. Anyone have any experience with either of these drugs? Adderall is allowed under my insurance, Provigil has to be pre-authorised. I was supposed to see doc today, but they called this am, he's sick! Rescheduled for tomorrow. Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated. BTW, the neuro I recently saw is going to suggest to my PCP a pain Clinic. Do they take over perscribing pain meds? No experience of one. Anyone seeing one? I know it's last minute, but would really appreciate some input. I work swing shift, so will check back after work tonight. Thanks so much.

Maggie
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Avatar universal
I talked to my main dr about, that sleepy all the time. I have fibro, myositis and arthritis. He listed it as work shift disorder. He didn't want to raise any flags for driver lisc.. I've been on Nuvigil 150mg for a month, I have notice a dramatic dif, with no side effect..I seems to help me sleep better at night and also with my pain level. I considering asking to try to generic for providing next because of the cost. The nuvigil was 700.00 hundred. Makes my co pay 180.00. If provigil does work, I would sacrifice to have nuvigal, I feel that has saved my life..♡
Helpful - 0
551683 tn?1220656108
I have been taking Provigil for about 3 yrs. I also take meds before bed to help w/ sleep. I take 200mg of Provigil every morning. I feel that w/o it, I would sleep 24/7. When I have run out of it, I have slept very extended periods of time. I don't think I could do w/o it. My dr. got provigil preauthorized w/ my insurance by stating that I had FMS and sleep apnea. With the two conditions combined, they approved it. I started with 100mg and had to be approved again when the dosage was increased. I don't think these insurance people suffer from anything. If they did, they may be more sympathetic. Good luck. I hope the new med works for you. I have had no side effects from provigil. Maybe you will be lucky with the new med.
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Avatar universal
My problem is that I work swing shift, get home at 11:00pm, relax for a couple of hrs, and then get 7-8 hrs of sleep a night. On weekends I take naps, sometimes up to 6 hrs, and still sleep at night. I think my body is just overloaded with all of the things I have wrong with me. I am a widow, my sole-support, and have to work to have healath insurance. The only time I have take any sick days are for various surgeries I have had. Almost 1 a year for the past 7-8 years. And looking at another one in August for Chronic sinusitis, and a severly deviated septum.  I saw my PCP today, and he told me Provigil was VERY expensive, $500.00 a month and insurance co would fight it, and even then my co-pay would be out of sight. He started me on a perscription of Bontril. I took one about 11:30 today, and had no problems today at work. I'm excited about this, I sure hope it works. I do have to see him every month to get a refill, as it does have some serious side-effects. But I really need the feeling of wakefullness and energy it gave me today. I just hope it lasts. Thanks for all of your replies, I really do appreciated it so much. My other post was just out of frustration, and not knowing where to turn, other than my forum friends. My daughter lives clear across the country, literally, I'm Oregon, she's Florida, and my son lives with his dad, and boys don't understand as much, especially an 18yr old. Thank you again for your help.

Maggie
Helpful - 0
307897 tn?1242419260
Thanks for that.  I seem to have a problem second-guessing myself.  It always helps when someone else help the guessing along.
Soft hugs
Judi
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
There're several sites that offers information on interactions between medications, side effects of medications......both Klonopin and Trazadone will make you feel drugged up all day .  I tend to agree with your husband that it may not be a good idea to add another med to your system if you don't have to.

Hugs,
Kit
Helpful - 0
307897 tn?1242419260
Some days I feel that I have really been drugged up and others I (like today) I don't.  It is totally on my husband's suggestion that I don't take the Provigil because as you probably
know, a lot of Dr's don't have time to explain what a medication will do to you along with the other meds that I'm on such as heart bills,hi-blood pressure pills,depression, etc. I take 14 different meds a days and double and triple on some of them.  I really don't want to add another pill to the mix. Thanks for your insight though......GTaz
Helpful - 0
172715 tn?1285494490
I tried Provigli and it made my body spasm even more and kept me up some nights.  I took it for a week then stopped. It is also very expensive and most insurance will fight the covering any of the cost.  Do you know why you are so sleepy?  Is it the meds and Fibro bad sleep?  Have you had a sleep study done yet?  I suggest you do that before you add "awake pills" to you daily intake. I was also to anxious to drive on provigil and I was taking the minimum dose.  Others I have talked to took 4 times what I took and it didn't bother her nerves or regular sleep time.  Everyone is different and all other things should be tried like good sleep hygiene (prep for bedtime). I feel for you and anyone in your path on the road.  Do you have a disibilty option at your work until this sleepy problem gets cured?  I would look into that before someone gets killed. Really!
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
This is a toughy.......I don't know what the answer lies to get restful sleep.  

I do take 1/2 of 0.5mg Klonozepam which is the only med. that helps me...and I don't take more than 0.5mg since this drug has addictive potential.   It always depends on how wired up my brain is.....sometimes, 0.5mg won't keep me asleep if my brain won't listen.  

Are you sure that with trazadone together with klonopin is not too much for your system jlc?  it

I sometimes do yoga stretching to relax myself before going to bed, I don't watch/read anything that stimulate my emotions too much after 6pm.  

Well, that's about all I am able to share on this topic.  Hope you both will find the answers that help.   Best wishes,

Kit
Helpful - 0
307897 tn?1242419260
I wish I knew what to tell you.  I too have part of your problem.  The thing that scares me is that I have such a hard time going to sleep, take 4 pills a night (one Clonazepam, and 3-50mg of Trazadone) that I'm afraid to take the Provigil for fear that it will counteract with my night time pills and keep me awake at night.  I have the Provigil that my rheumy gave me (SAMPLES) two weeks worth but I'm scared to death to take them.  
Anyone out there that can help LLWB and me???
Helpful - 0
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