I have tried Provigil, though not through my Doctor.  For me, having the wretched combination of ADD and Fibromyalgia, Provigil is a miracle for me.  It makes a day completely productive and positive and focuses, and I am a much better teacher and business owner.  I get things done and feel 1000% better about myself.  I take relatively low doses of everything listed in my signature area.  I can not find any literature to suggest adding an occasional Provigil is dangerous.  Quite the opposite, on Fibro message boards, people often say how helpful Provigil is on their low energy high fatigue days. 

So, why won't my Doctor let me at least try it legitimately???  I do not abuse any of my meds, I don't drink or drug, and my Dr and I have a good friendly relationship.  She has lupus, so I KNOW she understands the extreme fatigue and lack of focus that I have to fight through every single day.  In other words, there isn't some secret side to me that suggests you aren't seeing the whole picture.  My Script would be an off-label use, but so is Cymbalta to reduce the pain of Fibromyalgia.  She is a conservative Doctor from the point of prescriptions, and got me in therapy with a wonderful Buddhist psychologist. 

Maybe I am just venting.  Maybe I need to look for another doctor.  She has been very helpful, she diagnosed my ADD (to my complete surprize), and generally I think she is wonderful and I do trust her with my health.  But my quality of life would be dramatically improved if she would just do this for me.  Any comments or personal experiences with Provigil?  

I think she thinks I am looking for a miracle fix in a pill.  I am not.  I have only been on meds for about a year, and am still coming to psychological terms with how having ADD has affected me.  I am under a tremendous amount of stress with a failing business and in debt way beyond my means.  I also do not have any health insurance, and I believe Provigil will be several hundred dollars.  I think my Doctor looks at all of these factors and chooses not to add any more expensive drugs to my daily regimin.  My health is further hurt by suffering with Fibromyalgia pain and fogginess. 

But, I think you have sparked something, and I need to just point blank ask why she won't put me on it.   Maybe she gave me a reason that I just didn't 'hear', but I don't think so.  She knows I have good things to look forward to after I get my boarding kennel closed and I move to a new city with my absolutely wonderful boyfriend.  She has stated that once I am in happier circumstances I should try to wean off as many meds as possible.  That scares the hell out of me.  I am barely able to cope with my life while on meds - I sure don't think getting off of them before I feel fully in control of my life and emotions and living mindfully is a good idea at all. 

Arghhh, is my frustration just overbearing right now, or what?!

She is a GP specializing in women's health.  She was good to see through my problems when I came to her in an absolute mental breakdown a year ago. 

I first tried Ritalin, plain.  I thought I was going insane during the rebound... I call it a crash.  I was completely alone in dealing with this new diagnosis.  I had no idea what to expect from a stimulant, and at that time, with as depressed as I was at literally everything in my world, my doctor stopped any further stims and I've been on Strattera ever since.  Because of my fatigue issues, I don't think strat is the right choice, but it is hard to talk her into trying a stimulant category med again.  But I do need to be saying all of this to her.  Thanks for helping me sort it out in my loopie head.

Hi,

I am no doctor but I believe there might be some issue with prescribing a stimulant or a sleep medicine and a drug that keeps one awake, to be taken at the same time. I would suppose it needs to be either one or the other.

FWIW

Hi Smile,

I was recently diagnosed with Fibro, ADD, and depression as well.  I have tried a couple of meds for the fibro pain, but nothing has worked yet without some unbearable side affects.  My psychologist wants my depression treated first with the hopes of helping the ADD at the same time.  I haven't started any meds for that yet.  I have high blood pressure as well, so that will limit which meds I can try.  I can truly say that I know what you are going through.  The pain from the Fibro is enough to cause depression all by itself, not to mention the fatigue and memory problems I have.  Since all three "illnesses" can cause many of the same symptoms, how do we know what is causing what?  I am very confused with all of this and feel like a guinea pig already as far as meds go.  Like you, I don't have insurance, and trying to figure out how to pay for all of this is a bit overwhelming.  My GP has been good about giving me samples so far so I can know if I can take something before I spend money for it.  Hopefully I will find the perfect combination.  I wish you luck in getting what you need as well.

Hi,

I am no doctor but I believe there might be some issue with prescribing a stimulant or a sleep medicine and a drug that keeps one awake, to be taken at the same time. I would suppose it needs to be either one or the other.

FWIW

[/QUOTE]

Actually, I take Dexedrine and Provigil now. I stopped momentarily because of anxiety but I am back taking the two. Provigil is in testing with the FDA for treatment of ADD/ADHD. It is not approved for the treatment, but that does not mean that a doctor won't prescribe it. It actually compliments well.

The DEA allows two stimulants when needed. You can read here.  

Advisory - Multiple Prescriptions Allowed for Stimulant Medications

December 10, 2007

Effective December 19, medical professionals prescribing medication will be permitted by the Drug Enforcement Administration to begin issuing multiple prescriptions for Schedule II controlled substances during one office visit. The prescriptions will have to be filled on different dates, and the total amount of medication prescribed under the new regulations must not exceed a 90-day supply. This is a break from the past when multiple visits to medical professionals were required in order to receive multiple prescriptions.

The two stimulants most commonly used to treat AD/HD, methylphenidate (MPH) and amphetamines (AMP), are regulated as Schedule II drugs by the Drug Enforcement Administration because they have a potential for abuse when not used as prescribed by a medical professional. This will streamline the process for people prescribed medications with this classification.

To read the final rule as found in the Federal Register, click here.