[Scooter9]

I have been depressed now for almost 11 months and have been updating the bipolar check-in thread.

My doctor prescribed Modafinil a few days ago to try to combat the depression - this is my third day on it.

Modafinil is kind of a stimulant that's actually prescribed for people with narcolepsy (a disorder where you unexpectedly fall asleep several times during the day even though you are well rested) and people with shift work sleep disorder. But there's some research that shows Modafinil can be helpful for people with bipolar depression.

From what I've read online most people say they feel the effects of Modafinil after up to 2 hours after taking it. It's my third day on Modafinil and I frankly I don't feel any difference at all.

Some people say they get more focus the day they take it, others say they get more work done, and still others say they get a 'wired' feeling after a couple of hours.

I tried 50mg day one...nothing...150mg day two...nothing...and now back to 100mg day three...still nothing! My pdoc wants me to go with 100mg for 7 days and then go to 200mg for a month to find out how it works for me.

I was hoping for some sort of short-term effect at least. All I've got so far is an intermittent headache!

My pharmacist says that it can take a few weeks for any effect on depression. Back to the waiting game.

I hope to update this thread with my experiences.

[Wild Coyote]

Originally Posted by Scooter9

I have been depressed now for almost 11 months and have been updating the bipolar check-in thread.

My doctor prescribed Modafinil a few days ago to try to combat the depression - this is my third day on it.

Modafinil is kind of a stimulant that's actually prescribed for people with narcolepsy (a disorder where you unexpectedly fall asleep several times during the day even though you are well rested) and people with shift work sleep disorder. But there's some research that shows Modafinil can be helpful for people with bipolar depression.

From what I've read online most people say they feel the effects of Modafinil after up to 2 hours after taking it. It's my third day on Modafinil and I frankly I don't feel any difference at all.

Some people say they get more focus the day they take it, others say they get more work done, and still others say they get a 'wired' feeling after a couple of hours.

I tried 50mg day one...nothing...150mg day two...nothing...and now back to 100mg day three...still nothing! My pdoc wants me to go with 100mg for 7 days and then go to 200mg for a month to find out how it works for me.

I was hoping for some sort of short-term effect at least. All I've got so far is an intermittent headache!

My pharmacist says that it can take a few weeks for any effect on depression. Back to the waiting game.

I hope to update this thread with my experiences.

This med also created headaches for me.

WC

I did not feel a difference on 150 mg for a few days after starting that med (I took it on two occasions years ago). I never took less than 150 mg. Consider giving it some time.

I must warn that both times I took that med I eventually became manic. My psychiatrist will never prescribe it for me again. I don't think that reaction is everyone's reaction. In fact, I once read that it is far less likely to cause mania than other stimulants.

I actually started to abuse the modafinil (Provigil) at one point. That was a very bad sign for me. Chasing mania.

Though I can't speak for others who have become manic on this med, it was unique in that my Provigil triggered manias would quickly end when I'd stop taking that med. That's unusual for me.

[Scooter9]

On day four and back at 150mg.

I'm feeling a little motivation but I don't know if that's the placebo effect. I slept really, really late today - over 12 hours so I could just be feeling better because of that.

Overall I don't sense any more focus than normal - I had something to do today and I just worked on it normally...no hyper-focus or working for hours straight.

Articles I have read online say that focus is greatly improved on Modafinil but I'm not experiencing that.

I'm not feeling as low as a few days ago, but that again could be a placebo effect - I don't know.

I'm going to the full 200mg tomorrow - four days ahead of what my pdoc wanted me to do. I'm impatient to find out if this is going to do anything for me.

[Scooter9]

I had a little trouble falling asleep, probably because I took the 150mg dose at 11am and tried to go to sleep at 11pm (Modafinil is said to work for between 12 and 14 hours). I saw some flashing lights in my field of vision in the dark but they subsided after about 20 minutes and I probably went to sleep within a half an hour after that. I usually sleep within 10 minutes.

Day 5 and I took 200mg after getting up several hours early (I slept 9 hours instead of 12, trying to get back to a more reasonable schedule). I took it with a cup of water and my usual coffee.

Two hours after I took it I did not notice a big difference, except that I felt like doing something. I had something to do anyway, so I did it. While I was doing my thing, I didn't feel particularly focused, although my thoughts were a little faster.

Later when I got back (I was out), I thought of trying to read. I have not been motivated to read in many months, so I thought I would try it out to find out how it would go. I ended up reading 50 pages of a book! I didn't even like the book but I just kept on going. That's a big change!

I stopped at 50 pages because I became distracted by some small tasks and things. I'll try again tomorrow.

Hopefully, all I needed to do was go to 200mg - maybe that's my dose. I'll see how things go tonight and tomorrow.

[downandlonely]

A psychiatrist prescribed Modafinil for me in grad school to help with energy, since I tend to be tired all the time. I don't remember what dose I was on, but it didn't do anything for me. I have also tried ADHD meds, and they didn't help either. I'm glad the Modafinil seems to be helping you.

[Wild Coyote]

I hope this is more than a placebo effect and things start looking up very soon!


WC

[Scooter9]

I didn't have any problems getting to sleep last night. If it is working, I think it wears off by about 5pm since I started yawning around then.

Took 200mg again this morning after sleeping 11 hours.

So far 2 hours after taking it I don't feel any different but I'll see how the day goes.

I hope it does eventually help you, Scooter.

I'm curious, have you tried setting an alarm and trying to get up after fewer hours sleep? If not, it might be worth trying and seeing how you feel once you get up, after doing that for a few days. Nine hours might be a good starting goal. That's a good amount of sleep, but not too much.

The hours of light and recent gloominess outside have made me tired earlier and yearn for more sleep. I think it does that for many people. I think "habits" kind of affect sleep patterns to a degree, too. If you're in an established habit of getting up after 8 hours sleep, many people won't sleep much beyond that even on weekends. If people are used to sleeping more hours, they will.

I know that if I deliberately over sleep on weekends, I actually have a harder time finally getting going for the day than if I get up at a reasonable time like 7:30 or 8 am on weekends. Sometimes that oversleeping "hangover" negatively affects my mood. Waking up at a reasonable time and then trying to fall asleep again is a no no for me. I always regret it.

I have read that people in depression who suddenly become severely deprived of sleep after hypersomnia sometimes switch to mania (or mixed mania). That's hugely bad news and is sometimes regretable if done deliberately, but I think that if reasonable sleep reduction is done (from 12+ hours to 9) perhaps that could be helpful. This is something to ask your psychiatrist about, if you're interested in the idea. I wouldn't fiddle around with such idea before checking with him/her.

[Scooter9]

Originally Posted by BirdDancer

I'm curious, have you tried setting an alarm and trying to get up after fewer hours sleep? If not, it might be worth trying and seeing how you feel once you get up, after doing that for a few days. Nine hours might be a good starting goal. That's a good amount of sleep, but not too much.

Yes, I have been wanting to reduce the amount I sleep...12 hours is way too much.

I think it's part of the depression I'm going through right now but it's something I can control with an alarm. I'll try 9 hours for a while and see how it goes.

The strange thing is that I can get up early (say around the 9h mark of sleep), have coffee, and even drive my wife to the train station, and I am still able to go back to sleep to get to 12 hours of sleep! I'm hoping the Modafinil will help me avoid that if I take it as soon as I get up.

[Wild Coyote]

Originally Posted by Scooter9

Yes, I have been wanting to reduce the amount I sleep...12 hours is way too much.

I think it's part of the depression I'm going through right now but it's something I can control with an alarm. I'll try 9 hours for a while and see how it goes.

The strange thing is that I can get up early (say around the 9h mark of sleep), have coffee, and even drive my wife to the train station, and I am still able to go back to sleep to get to 12 hours of sleep! I'm hoping the Modafinil will help me avoid that if I take it as soon as I get up.

When I was taking a stimulant, I would set my alarm earlier than I had wanted to get up, just to take the medication so it would get into my bloodstream, and then go back to sleep for awhile. When I had awakened awhile later, the med had already taken effect, which I had found very helpful. Just a thought.


WC

[Scooter9]

Originally Posted by Wild Coyote

When I was taking a stimulant, I would set my alarm earlier than I had wanted to get up, just to take the medication so it would get into my bloodstream, and then go back to sleep for awhile. When I had awakened awhile later, the med had already taken effect, which I had found very helpful. Just a thought.

Yeah, I was thinking of doing that too - just to be able to get up on time. Kind of a way to force yourself out of bed.

I'll give it a shot.

[BeyondtheRainbow]

Originally Posted by Wild Coyote

When I was taking a stimulant, I would set my alarm earlier than I had wanted to get up, just to take the medication so it would get into my bloodstream, and then go back to sleep for awhile. When I had awakened awhile later, the med had already taken effect, which I had found very helpful. Just a thought.


WC

this is how I always took Provigil/Nuvigil and it worked well for me

[Scooter9]

I had no trouble getting to sleep last night and ended up sleeping 10 hours - a small improvement over the 12 I have been getting.

Yesterday I was not particularly awake or focused. I did read another 50 pages of my friend's book and finished it. I don't know if that's a placebo effect or the Modafinil.

I'm not feeling any different, or alert, or focused, or less lethargic. Maybe a little less depressed but it's still bad.

I took it this morning as soon as I got up and was still feeling tired 2 hours after taking it along with coffee.

I contacted my pdoc and asked her whether I can increase the dose. I really want to see some sort of effect - I'm so tired of this depression.

I'm planning to take the Modafinil around 6:30am tomorrow morning and try to go back to sleep - I think that will show whether it's doing anything.

[Wild Coyote]

Originally Posted by Scooter9

I had no trouble getting to sleep last night and ended up sleeping 10 hours - a small improvement over the 12 I have been getting.

Yesterday I was not particularly awake or focused. I did read another 50 pages of my friend's book and finished it. I don't know if that's a placebo effect or the Modafinil.

I'm not feeling any different, or alert, or focused, or less lethargic. Maybe a little less depressed but it's still bad.

I took it this morning as soon as I got up and was still feeling tired 2 hours after taking it along with coffee.

I contacted my pdoc and asked her whether I can increase the dose. I really want to see some sort of effect - I'm so tired of this depression.

I'm planning to take the Modafinil around 6:30am tomorrow morning and try to go back to sleep - I think that will show whether it's doing anything.

I am very sorry it's still so challenging.
I hope it ends up working for you. Chronic depressions are so tiring!

Please keep us posted?

WC

[Scooter9]

I am so fortunate to be able to contact my pdoc by email. I contacted her and asked why I'm not feeling any effects and whether I can increase the dose.

She responded saying that not everyone responds within hours and that specifically for bipolar depression, it can take 2-4 weeks to know whether it works.

So it's a no-go on the increase and a big downward adjustment in my expectations for this med.

Back to the waiting game

[Scooter9]

I have been on 200mg for 9 days now. I still don't feel a difference.

The wait continues. I'll contact my pdoc next week to find out how much longer she wants to wait.

[Scooter9]

My pdoc increased my dose to 300mg several days ago.

I'm still not feeling a difference. I'm still having really bad days mixed in with bad days...no good days at all

She says studies have shown that Modafinil can take 8 weeks to start working - I'm at 6 weeks now.