Aa
Provigil
I am just finishing week 12 of tx. Hopefully I will get good news from my PCR test this week.
For the first 11 weeks of the tx, I had a very tough time. Barely had the energy to make it out of bed most days, and was extremely foggy all the time. It was very difficult to be able to concentrate on my work or do anything requiring the use of my brain. I was seriously thinking about stopping the tx because of this even though I know the consequences.
My Dr. recently prescribed Provigil for me. Knowing my history, and my usual positive attitude even during the hell of the tx, he thought that would be better for me that an anti-depressant.
The Provigil has made a huge change in my energy level and the way that I feel. I have been able to think much more clearly, have been working all week, and just feel better in general. I was not very optimistic about it before trying it out, but I have been very pleasantly surprised.
I am on 100mg once per day. This dose gives me some energy but does not make me too jittery. It does make me a little jittery for an hour or so after taking the pill. I did try 200mg one day, and I had so much energy that I was running around the house looking for things to do. That was great, but he 200mg did make me climb the walls a little, and I was talking so much that one of my friends asked me if my jaw was sore :) Probably a little too much.
The only bad part is that my insurance company, Blue Shield of CA, would not pay for it. They said that this drug is not meant to treat the side effects of other medications. I won't go into my rant on how crazy it is that a drug that is helping me, and prescribed by my Dr., would be denied just to save them $$. It is pretty expensive, about $310 for a months supply. I did pay for this first month out of pocket to see how it would work since the tx was making my life miserable. I put in an appeal to the insurance, but they way they acted on the phone, I am guessing that they will deny me again.
I would recommend that anyone who is having problems like mine from the tx might want to give this drug a try. Your Dr. should be able to get a week or so in samples from the drug company for you to see if you like it.
For the first 11 weeks of the tx, I had a very tough time. Barely had the energy to make it out of bed most days, and was extremely foggy all the time. It was very difficult to be able to concentrate on my work or do anything requiring the use of my brain. I was seriously thinking about stopping the tx because of this even though I know the consequences.
My Dr. recently prescribed Provigil for me. Knowing my history, and my usual positive attitude even during the hell of the tx, he thought that would be better for me that an anti-depressant.
The Provigil has made a huge change in my energy level and the way that I feel. I have been able to think much more clearly, have been working all week, and just feel better in general. I was not very optimistic about it before trying it out, but I have been very pleasantly surprised.
I am on 100mg once per day. This dose gives me some energy but does not make me too jittery. It does make me a little jittery for an hour or so after taking the pill. I did try 200mg one day, and I had so much energy that I was running around the house looking for things to do. That was great, but he 200mg did make me climb the walls a little, and I was talking so much that one of my friends asked me if my jaw was sore :) Probably a little too much.
The only bad part is that my insurance company, Blue Shield of CA, would not pay for it. They said that this drug is not meant to treat the side effects of other medications. I won't go into my rant on how crazy it is that a drug that is helping me, and prescribed by my Dr., would be denied just to save them $$. It is pretty expensive, about $310 for a months supply. I did pay for this first month out of pocket to see how it would work since the tx was making my life miserable. I put in an appeal to the insurance, but they way they acted on the phone, I am guessing that they will deny me again.
I would recommend that anyone who is having problems like mine from the tx might want to give this drug a try. Your Dr. should be able to get a week or so in samples from the drug company for you to see if you like it.
BCBS covered it in Ga. I couldn't use it as it triggered my pre-existing migraines. jerry
your doctor should step up to the plate and go to bat for you. Not sure what your insurance co is talking about "treating side effects of other meds".....
there are many different "rescue" drugs used to treat the side effects from the HCV treatment drugs. whatever it takes to keep you on the treatent meds. some of these meds are anti-depressants, sleep meds, itching meds, etc,etc.
did you do a 4 week test?
anyway best of luck to you.
there are many different "rescue" drugs used to treat the side effects from the HCV treatment drugs. whatever it takes to keep you on the treatent meds. some of these meds are anti-depressants, sleep meds, itching meds, etc,etc.
did you do a 4 week test?
anyway best of luck to you.
My dr first put me on procrit; I felt better but when I started the provigil as well I became human again. My health plan is an HMO which miraculously made treatment affordable. I also have a wonderful dr. I'm able to respond to posts on this forum now -- previously all I could do is read - felt like a stocker (sp?) In another 5 1/2 months I'll find out if the past year was worth it....
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