Nuvigil For Treatment Resistant Depression

Nuvigil (armodafinil) saved my life. I've had treatment resistant major depression for over 20 years. Tried so many anti-depressants - most don't help, or only work temporarily. Side effects of others are intolerable. Numerous rounds of ECT haven't fixed the problem. I even tried TMS, which is not covered by insurance - didn't work. A year ago my doctor prescribed Nuvigil and it's given me my life back. Not enough hours in the day to do all the things I actually enjoy. Also able to feel contentment and peace of mind. Unfortunately, I've had to continuously increase the amount to keep it working and now I'm at a very high dose and my doctor won't let me go any higher. I can't find anyone else in the medical field aware of what Nuvigil can do for my type of depression so I'm at the end of the road. I've begun having weak spells and feel dopey - not sure if it's from the high dosage or something else. I can't go back to the way things were before I started taking Nuvigil - I'll die. Please help me.

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What dose are you currently taking? I'm sorry, but I really can't provide you with an accurate answer without this information.

The FDA lists its typical side effects as possibly including nausea, dizziness, headache, irritability, anorexia, and insomnia.

Are you on any other medications?

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I am on Nuvigil as well. I have had depression my entire life and nothing worked. I used drugs for a long time trying to combat It. I eventually got clean and my doc prescribed me Nuvigil. It helped me tremendously. More than any other treatment by far. Unfortunately, you can only go to a certain dosage. That is for a good reason. Too much Nuvigil is not a good thing. My psychiatrist was the head national sales rep for Nuvigil and he told me that, while a higher dose may feel great at first, it will end up making you kind of a zombie. Plus, it curbs appetite so you won't eat as well. Also, dizziness becomes a real problem in that high of a dose. It is not safe. I recommend you remain on a stable dose and find another drug that compliments the Nuvigil. For me it was Gabapentin. I know that seems odd because it is for nerve pain, but it is being prescribed for mood balancing more and more. I also got my blood evaluated again and found out I needed a pretty large increase on my thyroid medicine - This is far more important than I ever could have imagined. So my advice is that you: A) Maintain a stable (not too high) dose of Nuvigil. B) Find a complementary drug for your mood that you can take in combination with Nuvigil. And C) Get your blood evaluated for anything and everything. It might not be your thyroid like it was for me, but there are quite a few things in your body that, if not working properly, can cause lethargy, depression, etc.... Good luck! Post your progress soon or feel free to write me back.

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I tried nuvigil myself and suffered awful crashes once it started to ware off.. even more so than from amphetamines like Adderall and Vyvanse. I know you feel better when your dose is peaking in your blood but like you said you need to keep upping the dose with nuvigil fast! I noticed that if I dropped my dose to a very low dose split through the day it worked better .

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My daughter is disabled blind because of retina deattachment.She is 22years old and cannot speak. Her cognitive level is about two years old child. She has severe behaviour issues like self injuries behavior and aggression and sleeplessness. She has given diagnosis name muscular dystrophy with muscle eye brain disease. And lots of other labels by psychiatric like autism, ADD, ADHD, Severe behavior disorders, obsessive compulsive disorder etc. We tried lots of. Medications since she is two years old till continue. But no benefits. She is getting more of behaviors and side effects. We tried to help her by lots of behaviors therapies by experts also. Nothing is helping her. We are feeling helpless for her. If anyone knows any medicine work for this condition please help us. She never slept throughout the night since last 15 years even with sleeping medications. We also tried CBD and THC treatment for her. Everything made her health and behaviors more worse.

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My daughter is disabled by birth. and blind when she was 12years of age because of retina deattachment.She is 22years old and cannot speak. Her cognitive level is about two years old child. She has severe behaviour issues like self injuries behavior and aggression and sleeplessness. She has given diagnosis name muscular dystrophy with muscle eye brain disease. And lots of other labels by psychiatric like autism, ADD, ADHD, Severe behavior disorders, obsessive compulsive disorder etc. We tried lots of. Medications since she is two years old till continue. But no benefits. She is getting more of behaviors and side effects. We tried to help her by lots of behaviors therapies by experts also. Nothing is helping her. We are feeling helpless for her. If anyone knows any medicine work for this condition please help us. She never slept throughout the night since last 15 years even with sleeping medications. We also tried CBD and THC treatment for her. Everything made her health and behaviors more worse. I will ask her doctor about Nuvigil can help her. Please let me know if anyone knows any medicine that can work for my daughter. Seems like she cries sometimes with pain somewhere in her body. Pain management clinic is treating her also with high doses of pain meds everyday but it didn't change her condition at all.

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Re: Bobby (# 3)

You have built a tolerance. Thank God is was just Armodaifinil & not Adderall. Every stimulant uses up the reg supply of Dopamine & other neurotransmitters. Once this "feel good" sensation is gone you crash, get angry & etc. The worst part is tolerance builds rapidly to these. So what worked last week, just isn't enough. Eventually you'll need these types of medications just to "feel normal" what ever that is. Good luck, but be wary..

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So, I can't guarantee this will work for everyone. Some depressions begin VERY early in life. Therefore they must be addressed from that angle. The Early Trauma Protocol (by Sandra Paulson) is very helpful for any issues related to depression or anxiety that began in a chaotic or frightening environment.
Since the meds are near their usefulness, this might be your next step. Find a counselor who thoroughly knows how to do the Early Trauma Protocol and has been using it for awhile. Good luck to you! EMDR therapist vary in knowledge.

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Re: B kaur (# 4)

your child need to sleep first, at least for some 8 hours a day at night. For ADHD, impulsiveness combined with hyperactivity, in india, psychiatrists / neurologists suggest arkamin to begin with. This is basically a anti hypertensive drug, but induces deep sleep . Other drugs (stimulants like the ones you described ) such as adderol were also given to my grandkid (a US subject ) but when a kid is impulsive , further stimulants do not show the way. Drugs like respiridone, aripraprazole etc. appear to help but they do not cure.
ADHD as well as autism (a spectrum disorder, where affected persons' requirements vary. what suits one particular kid may not suit another. You may as well discuss the problem with a qualified child psychiatrist apart from a neurologist.
What cannot be cured must be endured and I am sure Grace of Almighty will help you retain peace when you care your child.
Good Luck.
from a grandpa equally suffering.

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Re: Verwon (# 1)

I have none of those side effects from Nuvigil taking 2 1/2 of the 250mg Armodafinil. In addition I am on 80mg of prozac, 150mg lamictal, klonopin, requip (restless legs probably caused by antidepressants) along with BP med, synthroid, premarin. Nothing was working until my doctor added Nuvigil. It turned my life around. Unfortunately, no one is working on this as a treatment for my type of depression, nor are they interested. I even contacted Mylan and Teva - no help at all. I guess everyone's too busy helping opioid addicts who bring on their own problems instead

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Re: methadionian (# 6)

Comparing Nuvigil and Aderall is not fair or very accurate. While Nuvigil acts as a stimulant it is NOT amphetamine. Their is little to no crash from it and the risks of the drug are far less than Adderal/ Vyvanse/ Ritalin ect.. Do not tell someone to be wary of taking a drug that you don't know much about. Also you do not build a tolerance to Nuvigil in the way you do to the other stimulants I named. Yes you will get used to the drug and it won't work like it did for the first week ( As any other drug ) but it is not something like Xanax or pain pills. You shouldn't have to increase Nuvigil multiple times throughout your life. If it is not working well enough then the problem is usually not in the dosage but rather in the combination of other drugs you are on or lack their of. Please do not tell people to be wary of this drug. It has saved my life as well as 2 friends of mine. None of us have had issues with abuse and none of us have needed an increase after we found the right dosage. Please get your facts straight before you start warning people not to take something. Especially when you yourself are on something as horrible as methadone.

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Giving someone a stimulant to treat depression is like putting a band aid on a gun shot wound. Yea you'll feel better for a while but when you crash (and you will crash) it will make the depression so much worse. Maybe at very tiny doses it can be used effectively but high doses seem counter productive. Personally, I tried all the anti depressants, stimulants and I'm even on subutex which is an opioid and that does help, but I've found that exercise and eating healthy helps my depression more than any medication.

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Re: Bobby (# 11)

Once again, Nuvigil is far from just a stimulant. It was actually originally created as an antidepressant. Non SSRI. It does have stimulant properties , but it is NOT the same as taking an amphetamine. BOBBY- I believe that maybe you crashed on it and had an odd reaction. But the high majority of people experience little to no crash. Comparing it to Adderall is absurd and ignorant. Just because your body reacted differently than 99% of people doesn't give you the right to say it is the same as other stimulants. The difference is apples and oranges. Plus, it is not like putting a bandaid on a gunshot or whatever stupid analogy you made. This is becoming prescribed more and more for mood disorders and it is making a TON more of an impact than any of the SSRI type anti depressants that people like me or OP have had to endur3 for years. Please do some research before you discourage someone from being in a drug that obviously is working and they just haven't figured out the right dosage and other missing pieces.

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Re: Patrick (# 12)

Thank you for clearing things up about Nuvigil in your reply to Bobby. I was 38 years old when my depression hit - I am now 61. In all those years I have lost everything to depression: my first marriage, family, friends, jobs, and the respect of everyone I know, not to mention my self esteem and confidence. I understand that Nuvigil is a stimulant, but obviously there is a particular type of depression that responds to it. I have never abused drugs or alcohol or used marijuana to self medicate. I've done everything my doctors have told me to. Before Nuvigil I was just killing time waiting to die. As I mentioned earlier, Nuvigil has given me a quality of life that I had given up on. I can feel contentment, peace of mind and pleasure. I look forward to getting up each morning and thank God for the time that Nuvigil gives me each day. I don't understand why someone doesn't look into this treatment for depression - possibly increasing the recommended dose or develop it in a new medication that wouldn't have to be increased. I've contacted the drug manufacturers regarding this and got nowhere. I guess we can hope that some day that will happen - hope it's not too late.

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Re: Diane (# 13)

Don't listen to BOBBY or anyone else who doesn't know the facts. Nuvigil was actually created in Germany as an antidepressant. It did not get the funding needed so an American chemist bought the patent and created it here.
Unfortunately our FDA is assbackwards so they would not let him market the drug as an antidepressant. America is still stuck in the idea that SSRI's are actually helpful for depression which is nonsense. Other parts of the world are looking into alternative ideas to treat depression and having success. I highly recommend you stay on Nuvigil. If you're feeling dizzy or faint you should eat something or maybe adjust your dose. Talk to your doc about that. Also, I don't regularly smoke marijuana, but I will tell you that it doesn't hurt to try. Especially if you're in a state where it is legal. Just think about it in terms of medicine. You have taken probably countless amounts of drugs (as I have) that your doctor prescribed that are far more harmful to your brain and body. All of those pills can't be much worse or better than trying a little marijuana. I'm not saying it will work, but I am saying that it is worth a shot. It might be that missing piece you're looking for. The one thing I can say is that marijuana is an antagonist for most drugs. Meaning when you use it in unison with other drugs it will make them work stronger & last longer. Who knows? Anyways, good luck to you. Keep trying. Nuvigil turned my life around and then I found the right compliment to it and I'm stable for the first time in 10 yrs. You CAN feel better!

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Re: Patrick (# 14)

I can't thank you enough for the info about Nuvigil. I knew the first day I took it that it was the answer. Recently I contacted the drug manufacturers who make Nuvigil and it's generic, Armodafinil, hoping someone would be interested in knowing how great it works for depression. They were not interested. I don't understand it. As I mentioned, I've tried all the meds. And after my last round of ECT which didn't help at all, my memory has been severely affected - lost most of the last 10 years. I don't think marijuana is legal where I live, but I'm so happy that it works for you. People don't understand the hell we have been through unless they have experienced it themselves. My mother suffered from depression and anxiety and committed suicide. At the time I didn't understand, but now that I have it I understand all too well. I will continue taking Nuvigil, but I need a small increase. Why would my doctor or the insurance companies decide that I can't take anymore when it obviously works? Health issues? I think suicide is a pretty big health issue. Hang in there.

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Re: Patrick (# 12)

Hey, before you start throwing facts around, PATRICK, check your own facts about taking Gabapentin... The ONLY FDA approved use of it is an anti-convulsion med...It is not a Psyc med.

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Re: Baitman (# 16)

I'm well aware that it is not a psych med. Thanks for the obvious info. If you actually read my post instead of trying to be a smart*** you would have realized that is what this conversation was about- realizing that a lot of meds are not SPECIFICALLY effective for a single use. Some have multiple usages and our medical community needs to get up to date with that. How about you ask around. Call some psychologist or go to your own and ask if it is becoming more and more common for doctors to prescribe Gabapentin as a mood stabilizer. So we were also saying that Gabapentin seems to have a fantastic effect on a ton of people for depression. People who don't take it think it is a similar stimulant to the others like Adderall, Vyvanse, ext.. But you if you have actually taken it you would realize it is nothing like that. So WHY would we NOT give it to people when all else fails??? If it works who gives a **** what it is SPECIFICALLY for. The important thing is it is making someone on the brink of suicide feel better than they have in 20 yrs. Stop trying to be slick when you're not even grasping the concept of this convo.

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(Bobby #11) --

I have had depression my entire life and nothing worked. I used drugs for a long time trying to combat It. I eventually got clean and my doc prescribed me Nuvigil. Don't listen to BOBBY or anyone else who doesn't know the facts. Comparing it to Adderall is absurd and ignorant. Plus, it is not like putting a band-aid on a gunshot or whatever stupid analogy you made. Please get your facts straight before you start warning people not to take something. Especially when you yourself are on something as horrible as methadone. I don't regularly smoke marijuana, but I will tell you that it doesn't hurt to try. Do not tell someone to be wary of taking a drug that you don't know much about." Do not tell people to be wary of this drug. It has saved my life as well as 2 friends of mine". Yes. I pay them to pretend that they're my friends... "Stop trying to be slick when you're not even grasping the concept..." My psychiatrist was the head national sales rep for Nuvigil and he told me that!!

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Re: Patrick (# 12)

nuvigil is a wakeful medication, prescribed for sleep disorders and shift work it is the new version of Provigil it is also prescribed off lable for depression, ADHD, and Bipolar disorder fibromialgia many of the patients have enjoyed great relief from these disorders works great as an add on medication low addiction available in generic form

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Re: Diane (# 9)

Maybe if opiates were legalized and regulated, no one would have "problems". Meanwhile, alcohol causes males to rape, females to beat their children, and drivers of both genders to kill others in car accidents. Lack of opiates leads those with cancer or chronic pain or treatment-resistant depression to unemployment and despair.

Every psychoactive drug causes dependency and withdrawal symptoms, including drugs like SSRIs which, unlike opiates, are so ineffective that they have been shown to be no different in efficacy to placebo. Yet they still caused "discontinuation" (i.e. withdrawal) syndrome. Lock those Paxilzaklexa junkies up, they caused the problem themselves, right?

Didn't think so, huh, you hypocritical bird?

I suppose you're one of those intellectually challenged marijuana shills who think "it helps everythiiiiing". Fifty years ago, the shoe was on the other foot and the brain damaged lazy marijuana smokers were going to jail while responsible opiate users were able to work and be productive. The lesson: society always needs a scapegoat, and most people are too stupid to see the ever-shifting goal posts as just more of the same "blame the victim" crap.

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Re: nimshie29 (# 30)

No I'm not addicted, I just don't want to spend even 1 more day in the black hole of depression. It's a medical condition and I just want to be treated for it. After 25 years, is that asking too much?

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Are you addicted? Others have become addicted to Nuvigil/Provigil.

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Re: Diane (# 15)

Diane,
I'm on disability and I'm on modafinil for chronic fatigue. My insurance doesn't cover NuVigil and it took a little while to get it approved since it's listed in the top tier of drugs. I do have to pay some for this generic but it's reasonable. Doctors don't like to mess with it because it's one of those they have to do triplicate forms.
As I said, my rheumatologist said there isn't anything else to help me stay awake during the day. I also have a number of autoimmune issue and fatigue goes with those as well. So fatigue on top of fatigue.

I can't take amphetimines or Lyrica for the fibromyalgia, so I'm very grateful I can take the modafinil/ProVigil to stay awake long enough to write and edit my books, or do a little bit of sewing or art crafts.

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Re: Nikki (# 24)

You are 100% right. I never thought I'd ever have to take any prescription medications, but sadly, I do. I've never abused alcohol or drugs or smoked cigarettes. I don't know why this horrible disease attacked me, but I wouldn't wish it on my worst enemy. After 25 years of treatment-resistant depression and all the hell I've been through with it, I think I deserve a chance to live out my remaining years in a way that doesn't make me want to die. Nuvigil has given that to me. I don't care how much I need to take, I should be able to. It doesn't make me high or the feeling of amphetamines (Adderall, etc). It just helps me to be content and have peace of mind in addition to WANTING to do things instead of dreading them. It also let's me feel the passion for my husband that I had forgotten about. BTW - today is our 14th wedding anniversary. To sum it up, I'd rather live a year taking Nuvigil than 20 years without. Please, someone listen to me and do what is necessary to help me and others like me.

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Re: Shea (# 25)

Thanks, Shea for clarifying your reply. I appreciate it very much.

All the best,
Nikki

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As a health care practitioner, albeit focus is on operating technology and procedures, I just wanted to chime in about a few things I read. They are misleading and uninformed.

I too take Nuvigil, but not for depression. However, it would be beneficial for those poor patients, who've guinea pigged a gamut of Rx medicines, and either killed, tried to, or as is MORE COMMON...nothing helped to give them a qOL (quality of life), which all humans should have access to.

In America, that qOL, is the goal. There are off label uses for Nuvigil. Like most drugs developed by industry professionals, the clinical trials before FDA approval are focused on a typically single use or class of treatment that usually involves a host of uses...because of the previous nature in therapeutic indices.

Nuvigil, Provigil and the misinformation that is negligible to say the least.

Nuvigil and Provigil are NOT amphetamines, nor even close in chemical engineering. However, the hyperness one mostly feels in the beginning, with tolerance of a plateau effect to follow. However, Nuvigil tolerance isn't asymptomatic, it still works. While not an adrenaline or noradrenaline agonist, they believe the two drugs' chief mode of action is actually more along the way of being, an ANRI. Adren Noradren reuptake inhibitor.

According to the FDA literature, on the drug monograph, it says approximately this: IN CLINICAL TRIALS, WITH DOSES RANGING FROM 50- 400MGS, 400MGS WERE WELL TOLERATED. HOWEVER, WE SAW NOTED THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN 250MG AND SUBSEQUENTLY HIGHER DOSES, SHOWED ANY REMARKABLE SIGNIFICANCE.

Honestly, I would agree. Unless like Provigil, a Dr allows you to have 2 tablets of 250 max. However, the insurance companies will NEVER pay for 2 tabs of that high a dose. And I'm SURE, as Nuvigil consumers, you're aware of the LUDICROUS price, out of pocket. I was previously taking Provigil 200mg, two times a day. The retail price at Walgreens, almost $2000 dollars.

Ok, the other discrepancies. I understand the comment on opiods vs alcohol legally. I think, as a non drinker, I can see the prohibiting of methyl alcohol will never fly. Yet, the data is justifiably insane, regarding the death and devastation to drinkers and anything, anybody who are within FEET of someone who's had WAY too much.

Even a little, my word...I watch my friends change within minutes sometime. It's not all fun.

Opiates legal, no. Historical record shows the nature of this realization, and today bringing pharmaceutical variety, high purity and governments too boot. Sounds like we should be able to. It's just a bad idea, and I believe that opiods are the most effective antidepressants on earth.

What needs to happen is the incorporation of an opiod into an SSRI, SNRI, HT3 (MIRTAZEPINE) drugs,etc. Again, slow goes the ship. Even amphetamine analog type amine class. Small doses of that idea incorporate into your typical regime of newer anti- Ds.

The stigma, the fear, and FDA need to get their well intentioned a-holes, cleared of their sticks. Without plasticity, the rigidness will see a world where, we as people with all our tools to utilize...will have faltered in progress, humanity and the ailments involving pain and suffering....will continue forth in a stagnant miasma of smoke.

Walking blind, choosing the wrong pathways toward humanitarian assistance,, instead as the fog lifts...its humanitarian crisis in 360° Technicolor.

Enjoy the pharmaceutical goods to say the least, IF it works. Someone said something that sort of ticked me off. Something about, "being on Rxs forevermore". Well, Rxs and people are both quite complicated. However, even broken things can be fixed. If something is fixed...what are we taught?

LEAVE IT THE F*** ALONE!

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Re: Nikki (# 24)

Please note that there was no "belittling" aspect in my message. In fact, I mentioned "pls try...." and "follow doctor's advise when weaning....". Sometimes when the meds are not helping anymore and doctors don't/can't increase dosage of meds we can try other non-med options. That was what I suggested when I said please try... Nothing belittling about that.

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Re: Shea (# 22)

Not everyone will be able to take the path that you did. There are many of us who need prescriptions to function. If there's a way for me to get off them, I would love to but I have much to live for and happen to need the blood pressure meds and the modafinil (the generic of NuVigil) to stay awake due to chronic fatigue.

I'm happy you've found something that works for you, but please don't belittle another's journey if it is different than yours. Thank you for understanding that some of us have several medical conditions and if you mess up one thing, it sets off a domino effect with the others.

Blessings to you!
Nikki

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Re: Sickofpainpatientssuffering (# 20)

Wow! One of the best post's that I have read in a long time!

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Re: Diane (# 21)

Pls try spiritual path. Find a bible believing Christian church and join their fellowship gatherings/bible studies/church worship services to lift up your mind and spirit. Your body will eventually follow and will eventually not need the meds. Follow doctor directions when starting to wean away from the meds.
I did it in 2010 and now am very much ok.

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