Anyone have experience with Nuvigil (armodafinil) or Provigil (modafinil) for narcolepsy ?

[eppur_se_muova]

I haven't taken a sleep study test yet, and it's required to get a Rx for either. I don't have insurance or Medicare, so I can't really afford it without huge sacrifice ($10000 or more -- unbelievable!). But I'd like to have some idea whether the Rx really helps or not, and if the side effects are worth it or not. If it won't help, that gives me a lot less reason to waste my money on the test.

To think tfg staff were getting the stuff for free out of the candy bowl ... arrrrrggghh ...

[Jirel]

1. Not me, but 2 friends and some clients.

Yes, they do work. Everybody is in agreement on that.

In the case of one friend, it’s not narcolepsy but extreme fatigue from an autoimmune condition that it’s prescribed for. The difference is night and day, between barely moving and functioning quite normally.

With my narcoleptic friend, it brought him from non-functioning to mostly normal function. He still has periods of sleepiness, and copes with those by choosing where and when to take a 5 minute nap. But that’s all it takes - less than a handful of cat naps, and he wakes up ready to go after each.

Re other clients, none of which were as severely narcoleptic as my friend - one or the other of these drugs basically lets them function normally.

[eppur_se_muova]

2. Thanks! I know there are some side effects but it's hard to know if these are over-emphasized.

I'm afraid "barely functional" describes me for much of the day. I can get something done for a period of a few hours, then drowsy again. Maddening, but can't afford the test, at least not yet.