Need help with med. card

Specialties Psychiatric

Published

Specializes in ortho/neuro.

i was wondering if you could help me figure out why my pt. at clinicals this weekend was on modafinil (provigil) 200 mg. from all the sources i have found, it is an antinarcolepsy medication.

the reason this confuses me is my pt. is in for severe depression r/t sons suicide and has been regularily waking up at 0400 -0430 and doesn't nap during the day shift (at least not the shifts i have been there).

is there a desired side effect that is beneficial to depression that my drug books don't list or am i missing a connecting piece?

he is also on celexa 40mg and had one dose of xanax for an anxiety attack if that has any relevance to the rationale.

thank you!!;) ;)

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One of the "off label" uses of Provigil is depression. It is also used for shift sleep disorder, and for excessive daytime sleepiness associated with sleep apnea.

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Specializes in ortho/neuro.

Thank you for your reply! I figured there must be some unlisted use R/T depression or anxiety but my drug books only mentioned the shift sleep disorder and fatigue.

Thanks again for your help :)

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Maybe the pt isn't necessarily 'napping' but has absolutely NO energy to accomplish anything when awake? Even though the son died, the person may have to be able to pull it together enough to get through work during the day. Just a thought.

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