Provigil (modafinal)

I have tried a range of medications to treat depression, especially the lack of energy that has been impairing my functioning and leading to suicidal thinking. Finally, we decided to try Provigil, which I had been on previously for 6 years with good results. It worked within 2 days so then we had to get approval from insurance since it is not indicated for this use and is outrageously expensive (27$ per pill). We held our breath and the verdict was that it was approved indefinitely. I am so relieved.

I am writing partly to spread the word that this medication can really be effective, but also to see if anyone else has tried it or knows about it. Although I've seen a decreased need to sleep and a brightening of outlook, I haven't yet felt an increase of energy. I'm able to focus and concentrate for longer periods so definitely more alert and more interested in doing things, but not really feeling like being more physically active. Perhaps it takes time for that to happen.

I'm also taking Wellbutrin and wonder now if I should be taking both. I don't want to overdo it. I'm not bipolar but have had a manic episode induced by anti-depressant (over) medication. My shrink doesn't seem to want me off of it, but he is of course on the look out for any signs that might indicate too high elevation of mood.

Hi, I have been on Provigil and Nuvigil and actually prefer Provigil since it's more IR than Nuvigil. One negative side effect is sometimes I get a little aggitated while on them and can have a difficulty sleeping! Best of luck and btw at 400mg of Provigil it suppresses the appetite.

I'm glad you posted this I was going to try provigil since other ADs failed me due to side effects. I am doing TMS now with great results so far but if it ever fails me it's nice to know provigial is a possibility.

Hey, so glad to hear TMS is working for you! ECT didn't work for me, and I was considering TMS, but I heard insurance doesn't typically pay for it and it's not that effective for treatment resistant depression. I'll have to look into it again...glad it helps!

I was on Nuvigil for 6 months, it was wonderful for me because it helped with my focus without causing anxiety. And then insurance refused to cover it any longer. It was absolutely the best medicine for me based on 20+ years of trying every different combo they could come up with.

I want to try this but my psychiatrist says that it's usually only for narcolepsy which I don't have only hypersomnia. I think it would be a good mix with my Concerta (Ritalin XR).

TMS is covered by many insurances now but not all. My insurance is anthem blue cross and they covered me at 100%. Also TMS is only approved for treatment resistant depression and has proven to be effective somewhat in every 1 in 2 people and completely effective meaning remission in every 1 in 3 people. They say the stats are better than medication but not as good as ECT but it has far less side effects than either one. All of them acute. Mainly just a headache. So who knows maybe it will work for you. I am on my first day of week 4 of 6 and feel normal again. It really just hit me yesterday that I might just be in remission after nearly a year. Hopefully the effects are long lasting. We will see.

I would fight the insurance company to no end if a drug that helped me was denied all of the sudden. Although I'm so sensitive I can't take many drugs so finding a good one with little side effects is hard. So yeah I'd have to fight them hard. I would imagine you tried though. Sorry that happened.

It is true that approval for this drug is very difficult, but it is possible. We argued that excessive daytime fatigue and sleepiness was causing impairment and listed all the other medications that we have tried. We also said that it had an almost immediate positive response. I think though it is not approved for depression even though there have been studies on this use that show it should be if you make an argument with valid reasons that meet whatever requirements they have, then you can get it approved. Otherwise, even as a generic now, Provigil is over 800$ for a month's supply. They should finally reduce the price and approve it for treatment resistant depression.

Today I am feeling more active. I also like it because even though technically a stimulant it makes me feel calm and does not produce anxiety.

Great to hear! I will definitely ask for privigil as my next AD should I need one after TMS. What are the side effects?

It is classified as a stimulant but is not an amphetamine so it doesn't produce jittery type feelings though some people sometimes have trouble falling asleep. You can fix that by taking it early in the morning and not using higher doses. Though not technically addictive like amphetamines, it does produce tolerance so sometimes needs to be increased. But in my case in took years to raise the dose. I was on it before a total of 6 years and did not experience any side effects. I have PTSD so am prone to anxiety, but I didn't experience any with Provigil. I suppose as with any anti-depressant/activating type medication it can trigger mania, but I haven't heard of that happening. It's just a warning in the literature. Provigil was given to military pilots who were sleep deprived so fatigued in order that they could be awake, calm, and focused. That is the feeling I get from it, plus a slight euphoria.

I am going to keep this one in mind too. It would be better than an amphetamine for me and I doubt they would give me one.

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That's awesome, I'm so glad it's working for you...I'm going to have to look into it! Keep us posted and hopefully it continues to work!!