Provigil for shift workers

Nurses General Nursing

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Has anyone ever tried this product Provigil for excessive sleepiness? Like some, I work the night shift (12 hrs) and feel like I sleep excessively and have problems staying awake. Is this product FDA approved?

Specializes in Flight, ER, Transport, ICU/Critical Care.

I have taken it before and had amazing results with night shift work/day sleep cycles.

It started with back to back contract assignments. Would get off work at 7 am to the hotel and sleep till noon, up and driving 2 hours to check into another hotel and start the 3 - 4 day (7p shift) contract there for the week. Yep, thats right 6- 7 shift. Getting rich??? but at what cost....

Anyway, after I was "caught" sleeping in my vehicle between contract by the same state trooper mid day by an abandoned store - he politely suggested I find an "alternative" to my sleepy driving and travel. Could have been tragic and scary. But, I was so sleepy mid day! :eek:

So, I would take it on the "swing" day and then when needed on the other shift days. It was amazing. But, pricey. Not sure if insurance will cover now, but I've had no need since the FDA approval for shift work sleep disorder!

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Specializes in Medical.

I'm a nsg student interested in Provigil because I live with a shift worker who makes my schedule difficult, but my doc wants to send me and my "sleep partner" to a specialist to prescribe it--won't even consider prescribing it. I felt like a deviant for even asking about it. What's the big deal?

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I think the big deal is immediately looking to a pill to fix a basic problem. Doesn't anyone think its a bit much to dope ourselves for every little thing?

These drugs do have side effects ya know. Sometimes it takes years to find out that it stops your heart or retards your unborn children. We wonder why we have a generation of drug addict children. Perhaps they are learning from the "responsible adults" in society that if you have a problem drugs are the answer. If you can dope up for a lack of sleep or a humdrum sex life then certainly you can for a history of abuse and neglect. Furthermore, would you want to know that your surgeon was operating on you after being awake 16 hours because he could take a pill to stay up longer? I doubt it. The body needs sleep for a reason.

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Specializes in My first yr. as a LVN!.

The last doctor I worked for would PX it for many reasons. Yes, shift workers or if someone was going to be going on a business trip or vacation to help w the jet lag , but mostly he Pxd it for those w sleep apnea. I havent tried it myself, but my mom complains shes tired a lot... though I tell her to go for evening walks to boost her adreneline (she doesnt listen) and so I had an idea, she should ask her dr. about it... but she lives in Co. and I am in Ca. and her dr. wouldnt do it just because she was 'tired.' So really, I seen it alot, asked those pts. who used it and they raved about it...

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Specializes in Family.

I use it sometimes and I like it. However, I have noticed that it doesn't work as well for me if I eat first. I do have some stomach upset with it, mild queasiness that passes quickly. The Dr I went to gave me 200mg to be taken before shift, but now my family dr writes it for me and I requested 100mg. I took the 200mg on an empty stomach no-sleep day and I was still wide awake at 1000 the next am, not what I wanted.

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I took modafinil (Provigil) for about 6 months-1year. I have Sleep Apnea as well as excessive daytime sleepiness. Have thought for a long time that my circadian rythym is screwed up. Anyway, it did nothing for me. I could take it and go to sleep :( I am now trying methylphendinate-it's not helping either

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Specializes in Corrections, Cardiac, Hospice.

I have severe sleep apnea. (Stop breathing 88 times an hour when asleep:( I have been using my C-Pap machine since I got it. I didn't realize your were suppose to feel good in the morning. For as long as I can remember mornings for me meant I was weak, shakey and nauseated. Anyway, after using my machine for 4 years my only complaint was this underlying fatigue I felt. I couldn't quite describe it and it wasn't there all the time. My doctor told me about this new pill, Provigil. He said that whatever center in the brain that controls sleep/wake cycles wasn't always wired the right way in people with bad apnea. So no matter how many hours you sleep, say after 3 hours of being awake this part of your brain feels sleepy. Provigil attaches itselt to that part of the brain and keeps it "awake" longer. It has been a WONDERFUL drug for me. I actually feel alert, like a normal person not a zombie. I only take 50mg (half of a 100mg tab) once every 3-4 days when I feel crappy. I love it;)

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Specializes in Corrections, Cardiac, Hospice.
I think the big deal is immediately looking to a pill to fix a basic problem. Doesn't anyone think its a bit much to dope ourselves for every little thing?

These drugs do have side effects ya know. Sometimes it takes years to find out that it stops your heart or retards your unborn children. We wonder why we have a generation of drug addict children. Perhaps they are learning from the "responsible adults" in society that if you have a problem drugs are the answer. If you can dope up for a lack of sleep or a humdrum sex life then certainly you can for a history of abuse and neglect. Furthermore, would you want to know that your surgeon was operating on you after being awake 16 hours because he could take a pill to stay up longer? I doubt it. The body needs sleep for a reason.

:eek: WOW, that is a whole lot of anger over one pill.

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Specializes in Pediatrics.

I used Provigil for a while. Not only did I work nocs, but I also have severe sleep apnea.(now treated thank God) I actually spent most of my sleep time between 72-74%sats-needless to say when I was awake, it wasn't very. Once on c-pap, I didn't use Provigil as much. Even at this point, when I stopped taking it, I had a tendancy to come down pretty hard.(excessive sleepiness). But if you are chemically dependent(yes in recovery now) please make sure you tell your MD, It should be used with great caution. But it does work very well for most. BTW--First used for long range pilots, then for narcolepsy, then for obstructive sleep apnea, and now for "nocturnal shift fatigue". Have a good evening everyone. Kev

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:eek: WOW, that is a whole lot of anger over one pill.

Its not anger over "ONE PILL" its indicative of a trend in our society to medicate every little inconvenience. Its the same mentality that makes a parent with active children take them to the doctor and get a script for ADD. Oh well hes a little too busy for my tastes so can we give him something for ADHD. Everyone is not meant to work nights or 6-7 12 hour shifts per week so if it doesnt agree with you physically I know that drugs are not the answer. Some people genuinely have medical conditions and some people just need sleep at night. You would think nurses would know better. Im not angry just dissappointed.:o

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Specializes in med-surg, cardiac, ICU.

Wow, as a nurse one should not be as judgemental of others healthcare choices. Most nurses are carefull of the medications we put in our bodies. We too often see the bad outcomes of others personal choices, illegal drugs, and narcs used excessivly, ect. I use provigil after carefull consideration of the pros and cons. I worked 1.5 years on nights with no problems staying awake. Then I moved from a 8 hr a night cardiac unit that one never had a chance to sit, to a 12 hr ICU. Love the new unit but one often has time to sit, just watching a monitor between our one hr pt check. I noticed a large decrease in my thought process, never actually felt sleepy, but just couldnt think on the fly. I feel that by keeping my brain awake and in full working condition I am being my patients advicate. I can help keep them alive, literally. So I take provigil 100mg the first two shifts that I work. I dont skip sleep, I dont work more than 48 hrs a week, most of the time I am only working 34 hrs a week. I feel that after weighing the pros and cons, that my best choice is to take a medication that helps me stay sharp.

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Specializes in Medical.
I think the big deal is immediately looking to a pill to fix a basic problem. Doesn't anyone think its a bit much to dope ourselves for every little thing?

These drugs do have side effects ya know. Sometimes it takes years to find out that it stops your heart or retards your unborn children. We wonder why we have a generation of drug addict children. Perhaps they are learning from the "responsible adults" in society that if you have a problem drugs are the answer. If you can dope up for a lack of sleep or a humdrum sex life then certainly you can for a history of abuse and neglect. Furthermore, would you want to know that your surgeon was operating on you after being awake 16 hours because he could take a pill to stay up longer? I doubt it. The body needs sleep for a reason.

I think my doctor knows I don't want to dope up for every little thing and I'm not having any more children, retarded or otherwise. Just wondering why doctors so easily prescribe pills for a humdrum sex life, depression and the like. I think the referral to a sleep specialist has more to do with paying for the new sleep clinic than concerns over potential abuse.

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