Comments on: Should you switch from Provigil to Nuvigil?

By: Kristen

Kristen — Tue, 28 Sep 2010 16:25:27 +0000

I have been taking NuVigil for a little over a month now. It has changed my life. After twelve years of seeing my children suffer as a result of my exhaustion and chronic pain, I can’t say enough about a medication that has given them back their mother and me back my life. I am also able to work for the first time in as many years. Cephalon may be a crooked company… but God is good!

Yes, I had a headache for the first few days. I think it might be interfering with my sleep a little. However, I have had severe sleep issues for as long as I can remember. My major complaint is that I cannot afford the $11-$12 dollars, per pill, that I am being charged.

Regardless of my complaints, I feel like I not only have my life back, I have hope that my future will get better and better. For that I am eternally grateful!

By: Lynn Lamb

Lynn Lamb — Thu, 23 Sep 2010 18:19:51 +0000

I have taken both Provigil & Nuvigil for narcolepcy and prefer Provigil. With Nuvigil I was tired most of the morning and awake when it was time for bed, plus I had trouble sleeping. With provigil 200mg I’m awake and alert with an hour and alert most of the day soemthimes I’m tired by 5pm but I can sleep better at night . I take ritalin in the afternoon to help. .. in otherword. provigil for faster shorter effectiveness. nuvigil for slower but longer help.maybe too long. Unfornutatley my insurance will not cover provigil anymore, even the nuvigil maybe unaffordable. so I might be stuck with just ritalin. Provigil’s price has jumped $100 with the last year

By: Susie

Susie — Mon, 13 Sep 2010 14:32:30 +0000

I had been taken provogil for at least five years with excellent results. Then my insurance company refused to pay for anything but Nuvigil. The results are daily headaches, shakes, and depression increase. I am not doing well on Nuvigil I am tired even after I take my first pill and it doesn’t improve when I take a half a pill at noon.
This just is not working for me and meanwhile my depression is inceasing with my lack of energy.

By: Alexis Wilson

Alexis Wilson — Fri, 10 Sep 2010 15:58:09 +0000

I have a problem staying awake at my job. I work at a computer all day, and staring at the monitor for 8 hrs. straight (with a mere 30 min. lunch break in-between) just puts me right to sleep.

My doctor prescribed Nuvigil for me. I do not take one unless I feel particularly sleepy and prone to nodding out on any specific day. There are some days that I feel alert enough to get by without medication. However, on the days I feel sleepy I usually wait till about 10 a.m. or so and take one. Within 30-45 minutes I am absolutely wide awake and raring to go. In fact, I work at a much faster speed. On the days I take Nuvigil, I get a lot more work done.

I also have to say that I get absolutely NO side effects from this drug. None. I might have a little dry mouth occasionally, which I can deal with.

Maybe because I do not take it every day that it works so well for me. On the average, I probably take 1-2 a week. I have taken both the 150 mg. and the 250 mg. and they are so similar that I cannot tell the difference.

By: Shaun

Shaun — Fri, 27 Aug 2010 04:32:41 +0000

I have severe sleep apnea and use a CPAP machine. However, I still experience a fair amount of daytime sleepiness. My symptoms are less acute, but I’m not where I should be as far as waking up refreshed and going through the day with adequate energy.

Today I took my first 150mg dose of Nuvigil. I did feel pretty good, however, I have not been able to sleep since I got up at 8:30 this morning on my day off. It’s now almost 12:30 am, and I have to work in the morning. As I will be getting less than four hours sleep, I hope my morning dose will carry me through the end of my shift at 2:30pm and the drive home. At least, there have been no other side effects, and this may be just an adjustment issue. We’ll see.

I have insurance, and I paid $100 for a thirty day supply.

By: XN

XN — Wed, 18 Aug 2010 20:35:06 +0000

I have taken Provigil for many years and my insurance just recently dropped it from its formulary “forcing” me to switch the Nuvigil. It would have cost me $1300 out of pocket to continue my dose of Provigil.

I actually participated in the clinical study for Nuvigil prior to its release, so I had taken it before. I did find that I could get through the day on a lower dose of the Nuvigil vs. the Provigil and I did not have to take a second dose mid-day as I typically did with the Provigil so their claims of being more “long-acting” may have some credibility.

Side effects are essentially the same for both (relatively few except for a little headache occasionally). It is not that I have anything against the Nuvigil, as it works fine – I just did not like being FORCED to switch medications by my insurance company.

I still have to get “prior authorization” to even get the Nuvigil. My insurance company would rather pay for amphetamines versus a medication that has a lot fewer side effects and less risk of abuse/addiction …. (I do have narcolepsy and because of a mild arrhythmia I have never been able to take the medications like Ritalin and Concerta.)

I KNOW that a lot of the ploys have to do with patents and for drug companies to make more money.

By: Dale Magee

Dale Magee — Mon, 16 Aug 2010 07:12:45 +0000

I work 12 hour shifts 6pm to 6am, 60hrs per pay period @ age 71 and work because I enjoy my job, have taken Provigil 250mg for over 6 years never had a problem, always wide awake and active each 12hr shift and insurance aways paid for 45 with a $30.00 co-pay.
I have also used the 225mg of Nuvigil with the SAME GOOD results and the SAME CO-PAY, so I disagree with all or any of the negative statements above as well as the cost, maybe the complainer about cost should find a better insurance company. Both are the best prescriptions I have ever used on a daily basis with having sleep apnea

By: Diane Soffar

Diane Soffar — Sat, 07 Aug 2010 22:53:31 +0000

I too have had to switch from Provigil 200 mg 1 1/2 times daily to Provigil 200 mg. because Medco won’t pay for the Provigil anymore. (Ironically, my doctor 1st prescribed Nuvigil, but Medco wouldn’t pay for that. Then upon my 90 day refill, they suddenly wouldn’t pay for the Provigil, only the Nuvigil.) I have only taken it for about a week, but I get extremely sleepy about 3 hours after I take it and feel super-drugged. One comment above said to try it for 2 weeks and hopefully it will then work. I certainly hope so because it is too darn expensive to pay for without insurance but the need is very great. I have narcolepsy and cannot stay awake to read or work at the computer at work during the day. Provigil taken once early in the morning and then 1/2 at lunch was working very well for me.

By: diane

diane — Fri, 06 Aug 2010 15:22:10 +0000

I have samples the doc gave me to try, but I’m afraid to use it. I read the brochure that came with it and the side effects made me leary. Maybe I’m overly cautious, but I do tend to have side effects from some drugs.

I also hate the idea of taking what I see as ‘uppers’; just hate taking drugs. I do take several due to MS and other diseases, but feel enough is enough!

Has anyone had any side effects beside headache?

Wondering.

Diane

By: Tina

Tina — Thu, 22 Jul 2010 18:30:59 +0000

Today I learned that United Healthcare will no longer cover my Provigil. So I’m forced to switch to Nuvigil. I’ll still have to pay the $60 copay so it’s not saving ME any money. I get my new Rx on Saturday, I have mixed feelings about it after reading the comments above. But I”m going to cross my fingers… I only took 100mg of provigil as needed on some mornings to get my out of my sleep funk due to depression. Provigil gave me my life back, I so hope I won’t loose it again.