modafinil for fatigue

[laylonnie]

I have been fighting for twenty plus years to find out what was wrong - Called a hypochondriac by doctors and family. Told I have bipolar and  - seriously - while I was laughing and joking around told that I was depressed and it was causing my symptoms. At that point I told dr. to give me shock therapy or a lobotomy then. I will do whatever it takes not to be this sick/pain/fatigued. I have/am suffered a cornucopia of symptoms. Fatigue being the worse of them all. Because most of the symptoms come and go but that horrific fatigue! never leaves. To top it off I also have Hashimoto's - so most doctors - look at my thyroid levels and say, "Hmmmm. We don't know what is causing this fatigue." Then nothing. Nothing. Nothing! Finally - We'll call it another relapse - weak legs, pinched nerve feeling, pain pain pain - etc- I rushed to a different dr. She said, "We both know what this is. It is no pinched nerve. But you know that. This is multiple sclerosis. You need a 3T MRI with contrast. Let's do your brain and neck." I was so relieved. SO they found lesions on my brain. Still waiting to see a neurologist (suppose to specialize in MS) in DECEMBER> in the interim I ask - hesitantly - "Since my thyroid levels are fine, can this fatigue be MS related?" "Oh! Yes" I am told. Finally. I ask, "Can we treat it?" Not until you're diagnosed. What?!? I haven't been able to hold a job, go to the store after 1 pm, function, blow dry my hair without taking a break, function, have a social life, function for TWENTY FIVE YEARS! Now that we are on the right track and you say I cannot get help now and maybe even after - from my research - may not ever get my neurologist to prescribe something for my fatigue? I have done everything suggested - exercise - which is funny because I basically trip over my own feet most times I walk or my legs are so weak I am afraid I won't make it around the block, diet, vitamins, breathing techniques - etc So... did my own research... Help myself. My question - after ranting (sorry)- has anyone here tried modafinil? If so - how much of a dose helps you? Any side effects? Or is there anything easier to get dr. to prescribe? Thank you for listening. But I do feel there is help on the horizon - finally after being sick without diagnosis - yes-  It stinks it is MS but I am (crazy) feeling blessed they found something.

[supermum_ms]

Hi and welcome to our little MS community,

Basically from my understanding, fatigue is quite non specific as a symptom, there are just so many conditions associated with fatigue. There are different types of fatigue, different ways of describing it, under and over reporting etc

Fatigue can be either physiological or psychological or a combination of both, and on top of that, there are many medications where fatigue is a known side effect. With any treatment for fatigue, it's important to know exactly the type of fatigue you have and what is actually causing it.

Fatigue is basically the result of 'something', fatigue medication specifically target different issues and it isn't necessarily going to be helpful.......

List of different causes: http://www.medicinenet.com/fatigue/page2.htm    

Modafinil (Provigil) is one of the meds that targets excessive sleepiness, it's basically a stimulant and this class of medication can be addictive, stimulants will generally make you feel more cognitively alert and keep you awake. When prescribed for MS it's often off label though it's a commonly prescribed fatigue med but keep in mind, if your fatigue is mainly because of your leg weakness and pain, this may not be the right type of medication for you.

There is a lot of Information available about Modafinil, these two articles mention side effects, some research, medication reactions and in relation to MS.

http://www.rxlist.com/provigil-side-effects-drug-center.htm
http://www.nationalmssociety.org/Treating-MS/Medications/Provigil#  

Cheers..........JJ

[immisceo]

As someone who had some truly humorous experiences and cracked the occasional joke during my year-long stint as a psychiatric in-patient for depression, don't be so quick to shrug off the suggestion. There's a lot more to it than 'being sad'. And I spent far more of that year in bed exhausted than I ever have due to MS. Just food for thought from someone who's tangling with both.

[ihaveqs2inUSA]

I have had the label of:  "Possible MS" since 1989.

[SarahL2491]

Please can you break your posts up in paragraphs, don't have to be grammar correct either, many of us have difficulty with long paragraphs.

when you put (s) on your extremities, that might rule out MS, it generally but not always, starts with one side.

I was diagnosed in 2011, at age 69 and they figure I've had it since 1981 so sometimes it can take forever.  I went thru 3-4 neuros before I found one that i travel 2 times a year to see (he's 465 miles away) but absolutely adore him.  He LISTENS.

There are over 20 mimic diseases that sound and look like MS and Dr. Google will always throw in MS, CYA for him.

Can you start with a timeline of your symptoms, where they occur and how long they last, sometimes it makes a good road map for the doctors.

As to your original question.  It did nothing for me.  I even went to Adderal and all it did was make me sleepier!  

A very wise person on this forum mentioned that energy was like money in the bank, use it wisely, use it up all at one time, and you have to wait for it to replenish.

Welcome to our corner, sometimes we get busy with our lives and don't get to post here.  Bear with us, we are all patients trying to cope with our unwanted new bff.

Sarah

[Joiedecour]

Sorry it's taken so long for you to be getting close to answers. I am not dx'd but I have been dealing with fatigue. I posted recently about this "Fatigue and Flares." The result for me was a prescription for amantadine. I was told if it doesn't work, they'll try something else. So really you should be able to get something to help with fatigue before a diagnosis. Jury is still out for me on amantadine in terms of its efficacy - I haven't taken enough yet - but I imagine you'd be able to get that. Good luck and keep us up to date.