PPMS and Stimulants

[gracy225]

Greetings! I have been on Modafinil since my MS diagnosis in 2018. Also, I already had been taking Adderall for about 10+ years for adult ADHD. I do find the Modafinil is helpful for the fog. Is anyone else on either one of these meds for MS? If so, how are they working for you? Thank you! Gracy

[CatMom3]

I have been using Modafinil for probably close to 20 years. If I miss my morning pill, I am tired all day! I take 20 mg every morning & sometimes another dose in the afternoon. It's a must have for me.

[DM0329 in reply to CatMom3]

I love modafanil (generic Provigil). I take 200 mg (I try to crack a tablet in half to take one half in am then later half in the afternoon). I find taking it in half-doses keeps me less jittery and manic! LOL

I always wanted to try Adderall, but my PCP isn't falling for it. LOL I'm a pretty manic person regularly (Type A, Control Freak, etc.) and always like that, even before MS dx at age 25! OMG

Has the modafanil's strength lessened at all for you? Some people say they always take a "holiday from it" so they don't get to "used to it." I hope you understand what I'm trying to say. I hear that Nuvigil is great, but very few insur companies approve it.

😆👍🙏

[CatMom3 in reply to DM0329]

I said I take 20mg but I actually take 200 (it's 20mg for baclofen, lol)I have never felt jittery from it. I don't think the effect has lessened even though I've been taking for a long time. If I tried to take a holiday - I'd be in bed or falling asleep on the couch......

A couple years ago, my insurance changed & I had to switch to the Nuvigil to see if it would work as well. It did not. My neurologist had to confirm that I needed the real Provigil and I switched back as soon as I could. Of course, everyone is different & we don't all react the same way to the meds. I should state that the Provigil I started with was the actual brand but once the generic modafinil came out, that's all the insurance will cover. Same for Nuvigil or armodafinil. Maybe the reason it isn't being approved is the cost difference between the brand & the generic. I just checked my policy and Nuvigil is $1085 and armodafinil is $30!!

[gracy225 in reply to DM0329]

Hi DM, thanks for responding! I have had success also from Modafinil. I responded to another post regarding not taking the med for a few days as I was sick in bed. When I did finally take it, wow! It hit me like a freight train. I was anxious and cranky all day. I guess our body gets used to what we give it.

[gracy225 in reply to CatMom3]

Hi CatMom, Thanks for responding! I too find Modafinil very helpful for focusing. I never felt "jittery" nor too wide awake I couldn't sleep. I take 100 mg in the morning. I have found out quite by accident (I was sick in bed a few days, never thought about meds) if you don't take it a few days it DOES become more potent (?) that's not the right word. It made me feel "edgy" and kind of cranky too lol.

[erash]

I take nuvigil (half of the 150mgtab) x 15 yrs. I can’t tell if it helps until I miss a day and then feel like I’m in slow mo both cog and physical. The full dose made me jittery initially

[Sandydemop]

hi Gracy, i just got an rx for adderall for fatigue and so i'll try it and let you know.

[NovaGoose in reply to Sandydemop]

Depending on the dosage, you are fixing to be wide awake for a couple of days straight.

[gracy225 in reply to Sandydemop]

Hi Sandy! Yes, please let me know how it goes for you with Adderall. I still remember the first time I took it. Wow, what a difference!

[hairbrain4]

I've been taking modafinil for about 15 years now & it helps with the brain fog not to mention it takes away the fatigue or the feeling like you are carrying 20lb flour sacks on your legs and arms..

[wolfmom21fl]

I was on Adderall for a good amount of time. I have ADD and the crushing fatigue that often accompanies MS. Adderall helped a lot for awhile, maybe 18-20 months then sorta stopped.. not sure why. Doc switched me to Dexedrine spansules.. which initially helped very quickly but now I am finding not so much any more.. its pretty much the same as it was for the Adderall. started off great and is slowly going downhill. I took my morning dose today and within 2 hours i was actually nodding off at my keyboard to the point I had to lay down and take a nap. this was after sleeping 9 hours last night.. My nap was almost 4 hours long.. I am still tired.. IDK.. I will talk to my doc about this when I see him again the first of the month. It's becoming a nuisance again.. TY for posting

[CalfeeChick CommunityAmbassador]

I have been on generic Modafinil 200mg (Provigil) since 2016. I take a whole pill first thing in the morning with other meds, then 1/2 at noon. I bought an inexpensive pill cutter at Walgreens. I sometimes take 1/4 if exhausted by 2:00pm. Without any of it I am taking "cat naps" most pf the day, My RX is for 2 caps a day but if I take 2, I am jittery the rest of the day.