Nuvigil For Treatment Resistant Depression (Page 2) (Top voted first)

Nuvigil (armodafinil) saved my life. I've had treatment resistant major depression for over 20 years. Tried so many anti-depressants - most don't help, or only work temporarily. Side effects of others are intolerable. Numerous rounds of ECT haven't fixed the problem. I even tried TMS, which is not covered by insurance - didn't work. A year ago my doctor prescribed Nuvigil and it's given me my life back. Not enough hours in the day to do all the things I actually enjoy. Also able to feel contentment and peace of mind. Unfortunately, I've had to continuously increase the amount to keep it working and now I'm at a very high dose and my doctor won't let me go any higher. I can't find anyone else in the medical field aware of what Nuvigil can do for my type of depression so I'm at the end of the road. I've begun having weak spells and feel dopey - not sure if it's from the high dosage or something else. I can't go back to the way things were before I started taking Nuvigil - I'll die. Please help me.

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As a health care practitioner, albeit focus is on operating technology and procedures, I just wanted to chime in about a few things I read. They are misleading and uninformed.

I too take Nuvigil, but not for depression. However, it would be beneficial for those poor patients, who've guinea pigged a gamut of Rx medicines, and either killed, tried to, or as is MORE COMMON...nothing helped to give them a qOL (quality of life), which all humans should have access to.

In America, that qOL, is the goal. There are off label uses for Nuvigil. Like most drugs developed by industry professionals, the clinical trials before FDA approval are focused on a typically single use or class of treatment that usually involves a host of uses...because of the previous nature in therapeutic indices.

Nuvigil, Provigil and the misinformation that is negligible to say the least.

Nuvigil and Provigil are NOT amphetamines, nor even close in chemical engineering. However, the hyperness one mostly feels in the beginning, with tolerance of a plateau effect to follow. However, Nuvigil tolerance isn't asymptomatic, it still works. While not an adrenaline or noradrenaline agonist, they believe the two drugs' chief mode of action is actually more along the way of being, an ANRI. Adren Noradren reuptake inhibitor.

According to the FDA literature, on the drug monograph, it says approximately this: IN CLINICAL TRIALS, WITH DOSES RANGING FROM 50- 400MGS, 400MGS WERE WELL TOLERATED. HOWEVER, WE SAW NOTED THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN 250MG AND SUBSEQUENTLY HIGHER DOSES, SHOWED ANY REMARKABLE SIGNIFICANCE.

Honestly, I would agree. Unless like Provigil, a Dr allows you to have 2 tablets of 250 max. However, the insurance companies will NEVER pay for 2 tabs of that high a dose. And I'm SURE, as Nuvigil consumers, you're aware of the LUDICROUS price, out of pocket. I was previously taking Provigil 200mg, two times a day. The retail price at Walgreens, almost $2000 dollars.

Ok, the other discrepancies. I understand the comment on opiods vs alcohol legally. I think, as a non drinker, I can see the prohibiting of methyl alcohol will never fly. Yet, the data is justifiably insane, regarding the death and devastation to drinkers and anything, anybody who are within FEET of someone who's had WAY too much.

Even a little, my word...I watch my friends change within minutes sometime. It's not all fun.

Opiates legal, no. Historical record shows the nature of this realization, and today bringing pharmaceutical variety, high purity and governments too boot. Sounds like we should be able to. It's just a bad idea, and I believe that opiods are the most effective antidepressants on earth.

What needs to happen is the incorporation of an opiod into an SSRI, SNRI, HT3 (MIRTAZEPINE) drugs,etc. Again, slow goes the ship. Even amphetamine analog type amine class. Small doses of that idea incorporate into your typical regime of newer anti- Ds.

The stigma, the fear, and FDA need to get their well intentioned a-holes, cleared of their sticks. Without plasticity, the rigidness will see a world where, we as people with all our tools to utilize...will have faltered in progress, humanity and the ailments involving pain and suffering....will continue forth in a stagnant miasma of smoke.

Walking blind, choosing the wrong pathways toward humanitarian assistance,, instead as the fog lifts...its humanitarian crisis in 360° Technicolor.

Enjoy the pharmaceutical goods to say the least, IF it works. Someone said something that sort of ticked me off. Something about, "being on Rxs forevermore". Well, Rxs and people are both quite complicated. However, even broken things can be fixed. If something is fixed...what are we taught?

LEAVE IT THE F*** ALONE!

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Re: Shea (# 25)

Thanks, Shea for clarifying your reply. I appreciate it very much.

All the best,
Nikki

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Re: Nikki (# 24)

You are 100% right. I never thought I'd ever have to take any prescription medications, but sadly, I do. I've never abused alcohol or drugs or smoked cigarettes. I don't know why this horrible disease attacked me, but I wouldn't wish it on my worst enemy. After 25 years of treatment-resistant depression and all the hell I've been through with it, I think I deserve a chance to live out my remaining years in a way that doesn't make me want to die. Nuvigil has given that to me. I don't care how much I need to take, I should be able to. It doesn't make me high or the feeling of amphetamines (Adderall, etc). It just helps me to be content and have peace of mind in addition to WANTING to do things instead of dreading them. It also let's me feel the passion for my husband that I had forgotten about. BTW - today is our 14th wedding anniversary. To sum it up, I'd rather live a year taking Nuvigil than 20 years without. Please, someone listen to me and do what is necessary to help me and others like me.

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Re: nimshie29 (# 30)

No I'm not addicted, I just don't want to spend even 1 more day in the black hole of depression. It's a medical condition and I just want to be treated for it. After 25 years, is that asking too much?

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My daughter is disabled blind because of retina deattachment.She is 22years old and cannot speak. Her cognitive level is about two years old child. She has severe behaviour issues like self injuries behavior and aggression and sleeplessness. She has given diagnosis name muscular dystrophy with muscle eye brain disease. And lots of other labels by psychiatric like autism, ADD, ADHD, Severe behavior disorders, obsessive compulsive disorder etc. We tried lots of. Medications since she is two years old till continue. But no benefits. She is getting more of behaviors and side effects. We tried to help her by lots of behaviors therapies by experts also. Nothing is helping her. We are feeling helpless for her. If anyone knows any medicine work for this condition please help us. She never slept throughout the night since last 15 years even with sleeping medications. We also tried CBD and THC treatment for her. Everything made her health and behaviors more worse.

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So, I can't guarantee this will work for everyone. Some depressions begin VERY early in life. Therefore they must be addressed from that angle. The Early Trauma Protocol (by Sandra Paulson) is very helpful for any issues related to depression or anxiety that began in a chaotic or frightening environment.
Since the meds are near their usefulness, this might be your next step. Find a counselor who thoroughly knows how to do the Early Trauma Protocol and has been using it for awhile. Good luck to you! EMDR therapist vary in knowledge.

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Re: Verwon (# 1)

I have none of those side effects from Nuvigil taking 2 1/2 of the 250mg Armodafinil. In addition I am on 80mg of prozac, 150mg lamictal, klonopin, requip (restless legs probably caused by antidepressants) along with BP med, synthroid, premarin. Nothing was working until my doctor added Nuvigil. It turned my life around. Unfortunately, no one is working on this as a treatment for my type of depression, nor are they interested. I even contacted Mylan and Teva - no help at all. I guess everyone's too busy helping opioid addicts who bring on their own problems instead

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Re: Baitman (# 16)

I'm well aware that it is not a psych med. Thanks for the obvious info. If you actually read my post instead of trying to be a smart*** you would have realized that is what this conversation was about- realizing that a lot of meds are not SPECIFICALLY effective for a single use. Some have multiple usages and our medical community needs to get up to date with that. How about you ask around. Call some psychologist or go to your own and ask if it is becoming more and more common for doctors to prescribe Gabapentin as a mood stabilizer. So we were also saying that Gabapentin seems to have a fantastic effect on a ton of people for depression. People who don't take it think it is a similar stimulant to the others like Adderall, Vyvanse, ext.. But you if you have actually taken it you would realize it is nothing like that. So WHY would we NOT give it to people when all else fails??? If it works who gives a **** what it is SPECIFICALLY for. The important thing is it is making someone on the brink of suicide feel better than they have in 20 yrs. Stop trying to be slick when you're not even grasping the concept of this convo.

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Re: Diane (# 15)

Diane,
I'm on disability and I'm on modafinil for chronic fatigue. My insurance doesn't cover NuVigil and it took a little while to get it approved since it's listed in the top tier of drugs. I do have to pay some for this generic but it's reasonable. Doctors don't like to mess with it because it's one of those they have to do triplicate forms.
As I said, my rheumatologist said there isn't anything else to help me stay awake during the day. I also have a number of autoimmune issue and fatigue goes with those as well. So fatigue on top of fatigue.

I can't take amphetimines or Lyrica for the fibromyalgia, so I'm very grateful I can take the modafinil/ProVigil to stay awake long enough to write and edit my books, or do a little bit of sewing or art crafts.

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Are you addicted? Others have become addicted to Nuvigil/Provigil.

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Re: methadionian (# 6)

Comparing Nuvigil and Aderall is not fair or very accurate. While Nuvigil acts as a stimulant it is NOT amphetamine. Their is little to no crash from it and the risks of the drug are far less than Adderal/ Vyvanse/ Ritalin ect.. Do not tell someone to be wary of taking a drug that you don't know much about. Also you do not build a tolerance to Nuvigil in the way you do to the other stimulants I named. Yes you will get used to the drug and it won't work like it did for the first week ( As any other drug ) but it is not something like Xanax or pain pills. You shouldn't have to increase Nuvigil multiple times throughout your life. If it is not working well enough then the problem is usually not in the dosage but rather in the combination of other drugs you are on or lack their of. Please do not tell people to be wary of this drug. It has saved my life as well as 2 friends of mine. None of us have had issues with abuse and none of us have needed an increase after we found the right dosage. Please get your facts straight before you start warning people not to take something. Especially when you yourself are on something as horrible as methadone.

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