Provigil problems

[essdipity]

I am on day 3 of Provigil and am having a very hard time of it. My ever-present hand tremors have gotten much much worse, to the point where it's hard to eat with forks and spoons and I keep spilling food. I'm also feeling wired, as in way too much caffeine, which I generally avoid because of how it makes me feel.

My provigil dose is 100 mg in the morning, though I'm allowed up to 200. Yikes, 200 might be unbearable. I don't really feel more energized on 100, just very nervous and shaky. It's so hard to type.

I will try  50 tomorrow, with my fingers crossed. I'm just afraid that even if I get no side efffects from it, I also won't get any benefit either. Amantadine did nothing for me.

Anyone had this experience, and did it eventually go away? I'm in the middle of preparing for a long-planned trip, and I'm a wreck.

ess

[Quixotic1]

Hi, there.  I have found that some of the CNS stimulation wore off after 3 or 4 days.  Since tremors can be exacerbated by any brain stim'ming med, this really could be the Provigil.  However, if the 50mg does okay, try it for a few days then try the 100mg again.  That is what worked for me.  I hope you can use it.

It's onset of action is said to be 3 to 5 hours.  I take mine when I get up for the dawn forays to the BR and to the kitty bowls.  That way it is helping before noon.  It has about a 15 hour duration of action so you never want to take it after noon if you have any trouble sleeping.

Quix

[jensequitur]

How long does it take for the Provigil to set in?  I'm just curious, because I have low energy levels at certain times of the day - if I could take something that would boost me up at those times, that would be great.  

I try to stay away from stuff like that, because I really hate the feeling of being wired.  But there are days when I'd rather be wired than on the couch, asleep.

[Fluffysmom]

Darn, ess, I hope the 50 mg. works better.  I was so much more alert and awake when I first took Provigil I didn't really notice/care that my tremors were worse for a few days.  Since then when I've taken it I've had some days where the tremors were a little worse, and some days where I was a total clutz (spilled a glass of water allll over at social gathering after yoga on Saturday).

Amantadine turned out to be a wash for me, too, and Ritalin made me shaky, grumpy, gave me all sorts of tics, etc.  Nuvigil was like Provigil on steroids for me; not good.

I hope that the lower dose works for you and you get some positive results as your body adjusts, and that you'll get some fatigue relief.

Wishing you the best,
Kathy

[rendean]

Ess,
I don't have any answers for you, sorry :-(. I just wanted to sent wishes for you to get this worked out before your trip.

Take care!!!

Ren

[twopack]

I felt a little shakey with the first dose of Nuvigil but never on Provigil.  Then again, without these drugs I was barely functional and I fall asleep after a nice big cup of coffee.

I hope the 50mg works for you.  It's supposed to make you more awake, not more energized.  Nervousness is listed as a side effect though.  Maybe the existing tremor makes you extra sensitive?

Good luck and be careful.

Mary

[sunnyinthesnow]

ess, i've been totally fine on nuvigil. no side effects at the low dose (250 mg gave me a headache i never want to have again). no shaking, which was a concern of mine, too. 125 mg and i can face the day. that is, if every other symptom will cooperate.

let us know how the 50 mg works out. good luck!!!

[ashleyPT]

I was a little more jumpy the first couple of days, but certainly not as severe as you are feeling.