Narcolepsy Support Group

Provigil is a common treatment. Generally, it seems to have fewer and less severe side effects than the other stimulants like Ritalin. Most people don't have the racing pulse, anxiety, and nervousness that the other medications give. Of course, every person is different.

The two problems I had with Provigil are daily migraines (my doctor says she has very few people who get more than a minor headache), and because it can interact with hormonal birth control, there is that risk (and the return of chronic pain that was under control). Now I take only a small dose of the Provigil and supplement it with Ritalin.

I have heard a lot of members comment that the medication seems to lose efficacy quickly and a tolerance is likely at some point.

On the other hand, I like that I can skip it on the weekends when I don't need to be anywhere and can give myself a break from the side effects and the drug haze... sometimes the N haze is better. lol

My son ( 21 ) is on Modafinil. When he first went on it he suffered with acute headaches and nausea. This lasted for a few weeks, but then it went away. He has been on this medication for just under a year now, and it works really well for him at present. He is able to adjust the dosage on a daily basis depending on what he has to do. If in Uni all day, he will take 300mgs spread out throughout the day, but if he is able to take a nap during the day he will take less. Equally if he is going out in an evening, he can take an extra dose. I hope this is of some help to you and that your son gets the help he needs.

Thank you both
.Am worried, as hes only 9 and it's not recommended for under 12.We are starting very low dose [50ml] and building up over a month to 200ml.Doc says this should help prevent side effects being to bad.

what are your alternatives? ask you doctor what was done for children befor they found provigil if it was ritilin or another speed drug then the better is provigil modifinal. a second oppion is always good but i have seen children on adderall or ritilin and it is not good. provigil is not adictive as is the other drugs.
good luck

Yikes! That is really scary. As I'm sure you are aware, most drugs like this aren't tested on children and there can be severe, sometimes permanent issues with introducing drugs to a developing body/mind. Another issue is that Provigil often loses effectiveness after a matter of months or years, which can be really frustrating.
My best advice is to keep the dosage as low as possible while still being effective. For example, if you find that he stabilizes when you go up to 75 mg, mention it to the doctor and don't raise the dosage any more than needed. (Is it just me, or does 200 mg sound awfully high for an 8 year old? That's a full adult dose for some; I'm assuming your son's symptoms are really, really bad.) Also, if possible, try to have your son take 'drug holidays', not taking the meds for one day a week or so (or a few weekends a month, etc.) - some people think this helps to maintain efficacy.
Just to balance out some of the negative reports on Provigil, it was a life saver for me for the 3 1/2 years that it worked. I had virtually no side effects and it let me lead something close to a normal life. (I have had allergies and side effects to everything else I have taken. )

Best of luck! I hope the Provigil helps!

I really don't know what to say concerning the Provigil. I did want to say that I am sure that he will get the best option(s) available to him based solely on the fact that his mother is on here asking questions trying to get educated through "non" traditional sources. As for your little man I feel for him having to deal with N and C both at such a young age. Good luck to both and God bless as well.

You Have A Choice Today,
robere

Thanks everyone, just getting you comments really helps
He is now on 100mg in the morning, as from this morning.He did feel a bit sick before school, but he is fine now.Next week he will start in the afternoon.Don't know about a 75mg dose as chemist have said it only comes in 100mg, which I have been halving till now.Not sure if this a high dose as everyone that I've contacted on here are adults, but have got confidence in our Doc who has been great thus far.
Annie50 300mg doesn't seem a lot for your son if mines on 200mg given the age difference

Hi Agim. Firstly I am glad your son appears to be tolerating the modafinil with little side effects, I do hope it works well for him. Although my son is only on 300mgs, he can adjust this either way depending on what he is doing. As a student he is able to take naps most days, and he chooses to do this rather than take too many meds. When he comes to work a whole day it maybe a different story! He is on a lot of meds for halucinations which cause him the most distress, so I think there are probably never two people with narcolepsy that have exactly the same symptoms. It sounds as though your doctor is very good, and that you have alot of faith in him. This is really important. I totally agree with Aymes, just monitor your son and if he stabilizes on a lower dose stick to it for the moment, as it means there is room for increase later on if necessary. Wishing you and your son all the best x