Any experience with Nuvigil and/or Tramadol HCL?

Serenity2
  • By Serenity2 · November 14, 2009 at 1:11 pm · 14 replies
  • In General health
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I like to know of other's experience with a new drug before trying.

My husband and my doctors have changed our prescriptions. Tramadol HCL instead of motrin for chronic pain (tennis elbow). It seems to be much gentler medication, but makes him sleepy. Actually he's much easier to get along with. (Just kidding)

My Neurologist has changed my Provigil px to Nuvigil. The label says Nuvigil is for sleep disorders. I don't have a sleep disorder, just fatigue as a symptom of MS. Provigil has been wonderful for me, actually changed my life for the last 6 months when I learned about it from the Health Community here.
Serenity

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14 replies   

Mimini

Why did he change you from Provigil to Nuvigil? I take Provigil for MS fatigue also. Does the Nuvigil work better for you? Is it cheaper than Provigil?

Serenity2

Hi Mimini
My "local" Neurologist has been good for absolutely nothing EXCEPT, he will write prescriptions. Last visit, he muttered something like "they will stop making Provigil", and will replace with Nuvigil. He gave me a sample supply and asked me to see how it worked for me.

Sorry to sound negative, but I think many doctors are in cahoots with pharmaceutical industry, and I think that is the reason for the change.
I would love to be wrong about this.
Serenity

Serenity2

Sorry - forgot to answer part of question. I haven't used the Nuvigil. Would like to know how others may have experienced it before trying...both are covered by my insurance, so don't know about cost.
Serenity2

Kristin_F

I have taken both drugs. Tramadol is a very mild RX pain medication and can be taken in conjunction with Tylenol. Tramadol is a generic for a brand name drug, if taken with Tylenol it simply makes a stronger version of the same drug. (I was informed of this by a local ER when I went in in severe pain after a surgery) I am no longer on the Tramadol, but I did not have any major side effects while on it.
Provigil and Nuvigil are drugs designed to treat narcolepsy or severe sleep disorders. I was on Provigil for a while, but my ins. quit paying for it and I couldn't afford it. I was recently put on Nuvigil. The out of pocket cost for the drug isn't much less then Provigil, but the ins. comp. pays better on it. Nuvigil is newer to the drug market and is by the makers of Provigil. Nuvigil is supposed to be longer acting then Provigil so you don't have to take more then one dose of it a day. Both Provigil and Nuvigil made me extremely nervous when I began taking them. My Dr. told me this is common and to give the drug about a month to see if the side effects wear off. The nervousness went away but the Nuvigil has been giving me headaches. On the 150mg once a day the headaches were tollerable, but the dose too low. The dose was increased to 250mg but has been giving me migranes to the point I can't stand lights. I need to call the Dr. on Mon. about backing me back down to the 150mg dose. My experience is that provigil works better with less side effects...if you can afford it. I don't see how either of these 2 drugs would work for pain relief, but if you choose to take them be prepared to feel like you are "wired for sound" and possible nervous....esp. if you don't have a sleep disorder.

Serenity2

Dear Kristin F
Thanks so much for all of the very helpful information. So...I guess I'll give this Nuvigil a try, even though I do not have a sleep disorder. My problem is energy, but I can see how these drugs help with this condition. My dosage is 200 mgs. daily, and it seems to work just fine for me. And the Tramadol continues to be working for my husband with no side effects.
Hope your physician is able to get your dosage correctly squared away.
Serenity2

verac

I've been taking nuvigil for a month. The headaches are almost tolerable and I want to stay on it in hopes it will get better. However, I'm having extreme pain in my hands. It is like pin prick, sharp shooting pains and aches. I'm not sure this is something I'm going to be able to stand for much longer.

Has anyone had this side effect in their hands?

Serenity2

Verac
I took the nuvigil for approx. 2 months at l50mgs/day. I had no side effects. (Maybe very slight headaches sometimes) Doing a little research, I was told that the Nuprigil might have a longer time effect in your system than the Provigil; meaning you might be able to skip a day with no consequence - I guess?! But I prefer the Provigil, which I take at 200/mgs daily.
With the Provigil, Ive noticed, sometimes, I feel it has an anti-depressant effect on me. I feel a little more "upbeat" only sometimes. (I don't take any other px) I asked one pharmacist about this, and she said that some people are affected this way. Another pharmacist said absolutely no way that it could affect you as an anti-depressant. So here we are again with two opposing opinions from the so-called professionals. So, to me, the best thing to do is trust your own instincts in some cases. By the way, have you even considered Provigil? Nuprigil, I believe, is fairly new, and is the generic form of Provigil. I think it's even made by the same drug company too.
As far as the pinpricks - I have had them frequently at night when in bed (hand and arm). Never during the day, and not to the point of being painful, but very uncomfortable. Not associated with Provigil or Nuprigil. My Neurologist (the one I really respect and appreciate) said it was probably carpul tunnel, and that I should wear an arm splint (for support). Well, I tried it, and it worked every time. I keep it handy near my bed at night. I never bought a splint, but creatively made my own. The other thing I have noticed is when I exercise that area, on a regular basis, the pinpricks don't occur. My exercise is extremely moderate - believe me. But little is better than nothing. Talk with your PT about that. You can get a soft rubber ball to exersise your hands.
Hope this helps you a little.

barbaray

Be careful with the Tramadol. It is exceedingly addictive, as you'll see if you look it up on a Web site.

verac

Thank you for the infomation. My insurance company will not approve coverage for the provigil. I suppose it has to do with the cost. My doctor has faught it multiple time but it still will not go through. But, it does sound that it has fewer side effects than the nuvigil. The pains in my hands don't seem like a common side effect of this drug. However, I've never had it in the past and it only started after taking the medicine.

verac

Has anyone's Dr. suggest a different med. besides the provigil or nuvigil for the excessive sleepiness?

Serenity2

Thank you, so much, "barbaray" for the heads up about the addictive side effects of Tramadol. I will alert my husband right away.

Billy123

I found this site http://www.tramadolhome.com all tramadol side effects prices dosage and all other information about tramadol

Dee25
  • By Dee25
  • Reply 894866 · In reply to 776943 by verac
  • May 25, 2010 at 9:54 am
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I was presribed Provigil by ny neuro about 3 months ago. My insurance company covered it for one month...then cut me off. The neuro kept calling them to get it approved. Finally, she told them that I have sleep apnea along with the MS and it was approved. I do have sleep apnea and I had to submit a sleep study test results. After countless phone calls and paperwork, it was approved!

Lately, I found if I have more than one cup of coffee in the am and I take the Provigil, it feels like my mind is racing and I get very anxious. Anyone else have this problem?

Much happiness and good health to all ~
Dee

justjen

Hi Dee25,
I've been taking Provigil for about 6 months, 1 in the morning about 5:00,along with 3 Baclofen and 1 Neuronten. I take the other Provigil around 2:00 in the afternoon, along with 3 Baclofen. Now in the morning when I get up at 3 a.m. I drink a pot of coffee,take my meds at 5, and I feel great! Of course, I do to much and around 8:00-9:00 I have to take a nap. Then in the afternoon after I take my meds at 2:00 I'm so sleepy I have to take another nap around 4:00. But after my nap I feel great again till about 8:00. i wonder if the combination of the 3 meds are counter reacting.
Wnen I asked about Nuvigil, he told me, it was to new and just to stick with Provigil. He also is seeing if he can get my ins. to cover Ampyra/Fampridine. I told him good luck with that. Then while he's at it, he's going to see if they will cover a Baclofen pump! I don't think that's going to fly, but he says it's worth a try.
I forgot to mention, I have Primary Secondary Progressive M.S.

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