Modafinil

[reedallenbrown44]

I started to take Modafinil "Provigil" 100mg every morning because I could not stay awake and had little energy most days. To my surprise, my RLS was gone without using any other medicine. Not a recommendation just a pleasant surprise.

[Hidden]

That’s awesome news!!! It’s a great feeling to get those pleasant surprises.

I took Provigil for a short while. It is awesome at waking you up, isn’t it?

[reedallenbrown44 in reply to Hidden]

Hi Jess3648, Yes it is wonderful and has really changed my life in many ways.

[involuntarydancer]

I have heard of one or two people taking the drug to enable them to live with the effects of rls (have considered asking my Gp for it myself) but never heard of it resolving symptoms.

How long have you been taking it?

[reedallenbrown44 in reply to involuntarydancer]

I was taking RLS meds for many years but also had trouble staying awake during the day. So I tried Modafinil about a month ago each morning. I forgot to take my RLS meds for a few days due to traveling and noticed I did not have any RLS symptoms at all. When I got back home I stopped taking my RLS med altogether and have not had any RLS since then. It's been about two weeks.

[involuntarydancer in reply to reedallenbrown44]

Wow! Long may it last.

Symptoms are definitely exacerbated by being overtired so maybe the removal of tiredness is causing the beneficial effect.

[reedallenbrown44 in reply to involuntarydancer]

I only had RLS in my ankles with no pain involved so I may be one of the lucky ones.

[involuntarydancer]

No one who has Rls is one of the lucky ones

[Madlegs1]

This drug is for short term use only- eg - fighter pilots , special ops etc.

While it is not hugely addictive in itself, the effects- as witnessed by the reactions above😂 , it does affect people hugely.

Just to be careful.

Good luck.

[reedallenbrown44 in reply to Madlegs1]

Thank you but I know many people that have been on it for years.

[Stablest in reply to Madlegs1]

I am happy to say you are incorrect. I am not permitted to drive unless I take this medication. It is used long term for people like me who have narcolepsy. Before my diagnosis I was falling asleep at the wheel within 1 hour of getting up in the morning after sleeping for 12 hours straight.

I am a nurse in intensive care and i used to joke to my colleagues that I must be at work because I was awake. I could work for 12 hours and then sleep until the next shift with no time for ANYTHING else. I worked 3 days a week and slept for 4 days a week. This went on for 18 months. I even needed cat naps at work. So I now take 300mg of modafinil in the morning at 5 and leave for work between 630 and 7 when I am wide awake.

I know I am in for a bad evening if my legs start in the car in the way home as I am just over an hour from my work. I take 0.5mg sifrol which help as long as I take them soon enough before the legs start.

If the pills work take them. It costs me $150 Australian for one month supply but they are my lifeline!! I have no ill effects from hem at all.

[involuntarydancer in reply to Stablest]

Stablest, I know it’s not what you want to hear because you’ve clearly struggled and now found a system that works for you but 0.5mg sifrol is quite a high dose unless you are using it for Parkinson’s. I think the current highest dose recommendation for rls is 0.25mg. Just be careful as it is a drug that can lead to considerable misery. I would not go any higher than 0.5mg and maybe look for an alternative treatment to cover any additional symptoms if 0.5mg ceases to be effective. Also watch out for impulse control issues which are a surprisingly common side effect with this drug - internet shopping and/or gambling being the most common.

Hopefully none of these will be a problem for you and you continue to enjoy your new-found energy for some time but just in case ....

[KellyKellySP]

What does modafinil do? I'm So TIRed During the day?

[reedallenbrown44 in reply to KellyKellySP]

Gives you energy for around 10 hours. My overall mood is also much better.

[Ikeeptrying in reply to reedallenbrown44]

Does it give you any insomnia? That's what I'm afraid of.

[reedallenbrown44 in reply to Ikeeptrying]

It does not give me insomnia. I take 100 mg first thing in the morning and by the time I go to bed, it is out of my system.

[Ikeeptrying]

Thank you reed allen, I'm so tired I can hardly stand. My neuro prescribed this for me months ago but I was afraid of insomnia and that it would exacerbate my rls. I plan to begin taking this tomorrow morning. 100 mg is what I've been prescribed also. I so hope this works. I'm encouraged by your posts.

[reedallenbrown44 in reply to Ikeeptrying]

Let me know how it works out for you. My fingers are crossed.

[involuntarydancer in reply to reedallenbrown44]

Is it still working for you reedallen?

[reedallenbrown44 in reply to involuntarydancer]

Yes very much

[Vipers]

I was prescribed modafinil for my narcolepsy and after 15 years of on and off pretty chronic RLS, it miraculously disappeared. Literally haven’t had RLS since starting the meds 2 years ago. Not sure why it works..... something to do with what modafinil does to the sensory parts of the brain. I ain’t no doctor 😂

[Doctorplacebo]

I am interested in your experiences with modafinil. I have used it on and off but have been afraid to use it every day. Is there any problem taking it every day? Since I don't sleep well it kinda seems like flogging a dead horse....Sure makes me feel good for a while tho.