Nuvigil

[boss123]

Hello. My doctor has perscribed Nuvigil for me because I need help starting my day. I feel "dazed" in the mornings. It  has gotten so bad that I don't dare try to drive in the morning, I've been in a few small accidents, just fender benders, no one injured thank God. I know I have sleep apnea, I've had it for some time now. I haven't taken the sleep test but I have the other symptoms, breathing stops, gasping for air while sleeping, this my wife tells me. My question is has anyone out there ever taken this drug before? What can I expect? Does it work? My pill is 250 mg. I don't think it's a narcotic so I don't think it could become habit forming. Oh, and I do take 10mg of Ambeim before bed. I don't need it to fall asleep, that I can do, but I need it for a solid sleep. Before the Ambeim, I'd wake after just a few hours and then can't fall back to sleep. So, has anyone else use this drug?
Thank you.

[michael4321]

I take provigil (similar to nuvigil) for excessive daytime sleepiness.  I also have severe obstructive sleep apnea, and use a CPAP at night.  The provigil does keep me from napping during the day, and I take it when driving longer distances.  I would caution you that taking a stimulant does not make up for lost sleep, it may work for a couple of weeks, months or so, but the lack of sleep will come back and manifest itself and make things worse.  You should get treatment your sleep apnea.  

[Jerry_NJ]

I don't know the drug, but I do suffer from mild obstructive sleep apnea.  I have undergone a sleep study, a rather expensive test if you are not covered by insurance.  But on the inexpensive side, my primary care doctor prescribed an overnight recording oximeter test - this led to the sleep study.

My concern from what you've told us is I believe there is a danger of suffocation due to apnea, and I'd think taking Ambein would increase the risk.. I'm just guessing.

Lack of oxygen can, I think, reduce the value of sleep, may prevent REM sleep which is essential to getting rest.