Nuvigil vs Ritalin

So I've been unable to get out of bed in the mornings (I sleep until around 1pm to 3pm) and I recently lost my job because of it.

My pdoc prescribed Nuvigil--a stimulant--for me to take in the morning and try to break that inertia of staying in bed.

After waiting a month (and getting fired in the interim) the insurance company rejected the prescription.

The pdoc prescribed methylphenidate instead which is Ritalin which is also a stimulant.

I asked him about the difference and he said one works on the brain's serotonin and one works on dopamine. He said the side effects were similar for both.

Any thoughts from anyone taking either or both of these?

I'm on provigil, whice is similar to nuvigil. I'm not really impressed. The only reason insurance companies prefer Ritalin to nuvigil is that Ritalin is an older drug and way cheaper. I would give it a try, it may help you.

I picked up the Ritalin on Tuesday but didn't take it right away... Since I am no longer working I don't have an incentive or reason to get out of bed. So I took it today because I had a T appointment in the morning.

I didn't seem to feel much different.

No bad effects.

I did NOT take my other meds in the morning planning to take them when I got home from my T appt.

But I stopped on my way home to eat breakfast.

Sometimes when I eat before taking my meds my heart starts to pound.

Today my heart started to pound and it did not stop for a long time and I actually threw up my breakfast.

I don't know if the heart pounding was a result of the breakfast or the Ritalin or a combination of both.

Note no problem during the doctor appointment not until I ate breakfast.

So now I guess I need to take it again another day under better conditions to see if the Ritalin is causing me heart pounding. I'm definitely NOT going to take it tomorrow.

I had originally planned to try taking it again in the morning on the weekend and seeing if it helps me go on a day trip but now I won't do that... if it is the Ritalin making my heart pound I don't want to get caught away from home when it happens. I guess I'll pick a day and try again next week some time.

Thank you Shazerac I gave it a try today (see my new post above) with mixed results. I don't know that I feel any different but at least it doesn't seem to have made me anxious.

At least the heart pounding kept me out of bed... Usually I go back to bed after a morning T appt.

I've tried Nuvigil and Ritalin. Ritalin works better for me. I haven't experienced a pounding heart. If you determine it is the Ritalin doing that you may need to lower the dosage or stop taking it.

Thanks Jennifer. I'm going to wait a couple of days then give it another try.

I ended up waiting a week to try it again. I took the Ritalin this morning before my T appointment but this time I took all of my meds in the morning before going to the T. It's difficult because there are a lot of them but I got them all down in time.

I even stopped for the same breakfast as last week on my way home from the T (but last week I ate that breakfast before taking the rest of my pills).

The good news is I ate breakfast with no chest pains during or afterward.

The bad news is I went right back to bed after breakfast and once again was in bed all day.

Now that I know it isn't the Ritalin alone giving me a pounding heart I 'm going to try it again maybe tomorrow or over the weekend.

I'm on a low dose, the doctor said I can take two if one doesn't do anything but I'm going to try one again just to see/make sure.

Provigil 200 works like a charm for me. Nuvigil might get approved if your MD is able to attest that you do shift work (as in shift work sleep disorder). Good luck! I hope you get to feeling better soon.

I don't do shift work and in fact I lost my job recently (due to the depression) and I've just been in bed all day and all night. My pdoc said that some insurance companies only approve Nuvigil is a sleep study determines one has narcolepsy which I do not show symptoms of.

What does Provigil do for you 952p65823? Do you do shift work?

No, but I'm a medical student and we're training to do shift work, so my MD (apparently) stretched the truth a little. I take it (along with Effexor, Zyprexa, and Lamictal) for depression.