Nuvigil Side Effects (Page 6)
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I'm having severe side effects from nuvigil. Muscle and joint pain with numbness and tingling down my arms.

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I started taking Nuvigil several months ago as amphetamine replacement. I found that, while it does keep me awake with less of the mania symptoms, there have been some strange side effects. At first extreme muscle soreness, which subsided. Then I was feeling very disoriented and strange for awhile, which subsided. Then I felt like my arms would go so weak at time I could not lift a coffee mug with one hand. That also subsided. I was still sleepy so my dosage was increased from 150 to 250. I find one 250 gets me all the way through morning, afternoon and evening - vs taking two smaller doses in a day which caused me to stay up very late. For awhile I had no side effects. The past two weeks or so I've experienced something strange: when something or someone startles me I have an all-body tingling sensation which is like a million needles pricking for a moment. It's pretty intense. Also I've become much more aware of people getting in my personal space, especially standing behind me.

All of this being said, I still value the positive effects enough to keep taking Nuvigil. It's helped me keep my job and be more focused on tasks at hand. I don't think I'm ADD because I always did very well academically, but I could be wrong ...

Regardless, I'm interested in learning from anyone who has encountered these side effects and/or discovered an alternative method, etc.

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I was thinking the same thing! Even my doc said "it's almost generic now, so should be no problem!" Well, it's a BIG problem! Now I'm faced w/the decision of sticking w/my $20 Nu that causes ADD & severe joint pain, or sucking it up and spending an add'l $55/month and hope it doesn't do the same thing!

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Hi Angela,
I thought Provigil would be less expensive since it is older than Nuvigil. I have a prescription for Provigil sitting at the pharmacy.

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Hi Mark,
I was on 50mg. of Provigil. I am a fairly small person and I am very sensitive to medicine. It doesn't take much for me.

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I've been on 150mg since June 2011. The pain didn't start until a few weeks ago and it's been pretty severe. I went to the sleep doc yesterday and he switched me to Provigil, twice daily (100 mg each). Unfortunately, the copay is now $75 per month! Nuvigil was only $20 with their discount card. I'm still debating on whether or not this would be a good investment.

I asked about getting on an ADD medication instead since it's been noted that people are often misdiagnosed. He strongly advised against me starting amphetamines because of their addictiveness. He would prefer to try Provigil first and see if it helps.

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I have not been on Nuvigil 150 mg. for about 3 months for Narcolepsy It's still working fine for me. I was sore for a while, but I started exercising which seems to help with the soreness. I have also changed what I eat and added more protein. Do not know if this has made a difference or not, but I do not have the nausea anymore.

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What was your dosage. i was doing fine with 150mg Nuvigil and 3 mg of Lunestra. Was still getting tired and the Nuvigil was increased to 250mg---Big mistake--nausea and metal taste over bearing. it takes almost a week to calm down. went to 50mg of Nuvigil.

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Hi Angela,
I started taking the Nuvigil with my Adderall that was losing it's effectiveness. It's been three days and the pain has started. I am going to ask my doctor for Provigil. From what I have read, Provigil does not have the same side effects as Nuvigil. The drug company changed the Provigil ingredients slightly so that they could keep the patent and that may have been a bad thing for some people.

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I have been taking 150mg Nuvigil daily since June 2011 for narcolepsy without cataplexy (although starting to wonder now if it's not adult ADD). At first, was AMAZING (albeit the nausea, gas, and bloating). Then started to feel like I didn't take anything at all. Now I crash (hard) almost exactly 12-13 hours after taking. I've had the most unbelievable joint pain in both shoulders (right is worse than left), back spasms, and stiff neck. I decided to Google search "Nuvigil joint pain" and look what I found! Ugh... does this mean my miracle stay awake drug needs to stopped? I've been on a diet of Advil twice daily for the past couple weeks because of the joint pain.

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Joint pain so severe I can't lift or bend my arms without wanting to cry. Hit my shoulders and elbow joints. Can't take it. That's only at 50mg, and my MD wants me to increase to 100mg?????

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I started taking Nuvigil about a week ago for Narcolepsy. It has done wonders for me as far as keeping me awake during the day. I did experience some nausea at first and a mild headache. One day, I had tingling in my face, and today I have a lot of bloating. These are all side effects I can live with if it keeps me awake. Will keep taking it for now

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I started Nuvigil Tuesday and was miserably wired. Wednesay I had naseau and found my thoughts jumping and confusing. Wednesay was wonderful and I decided this med. was working miracles in my life. On Friday I felt overwhelming fatigue an hour after taking it. The worst side effect is my eyes turn red, irritated, constantly burning. My Dr. started me on it due the the chronic fatiue I suffer from Autoimmune Hepatitis and Sjogren's Syndrome. Is there anything with less side effects?

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I started on the 150 mg doseage and yes felt like I had tons of energy the first day, even took something to sleep that night. The next couple weeks were great, I could do my college evening class and din't fall asleep reading the chapter, but then it seemed like it didnt help anymore. doctor increased the dose to 250 mg that I take half in the morning and the other half at lunch. I have noticed tingling in the forehead area almost all the time now. Has anyone else had this side effect?

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Geeze Louise. I took my first 250mg Nuvigil tab today and everything started out great. 55yo 10 year cpap user. Later in the day I stared to get jittery, clinching my teeth and confused. Reminded me of my recreational drug days. Ha Ha I got so uptight luckily I had some Klonopin to ease me down. Tomorrow I am taking half the dose. I think my Dr. started me out at too large a dose. I understand everyone is reacts differently. Tomorrow hopefully I'll return from the 70's. I'll let you all know.

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I was diagnosed with idiopathic hypersomnolence and have been on Nuvigil 150mg for a year every morning. I also take Lexapro 150mg for anxiety/panic disorder. I have felt good the past year; no pain, no problems and altho I can lay down and fall asleep anytime anywhere, I don't fall asleep the way I used to. lately though, around 3pm-4pm I start to crash and have to nap. I am thinking of getting off and managing it some other way.

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I stopped taking nuvigil and the next day noticed a lessening of the muscle and joint pain in my left leg. After a week off of it, all pain in my lower leg was gone. But I've been off a month now and still having muscle and joint pain in my left hip, though not as severe. Can anyone tell me how long before the pain is gone completely? FYI went back on provigil and it works great for me.

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I had taken Nuvigil for only a month and a half but was having muscle and joint pain in my left leg also. I am sure it was the nuvigil because I stopped taking it and noticed a lessening of the pain the very next day. After a week the pain in my lower leg was gone. However, the muscle and joint pain in my left hip has remained, but is not as severe. Can anyone who had similar side effect tell me how long before your pain was completely gone? I've gone back to the provigil which I liked much better.

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I have been taking Nuvigil for over a year now. I have developed muscle spasms in my left thigh that are quite frequent and painful. My left arm muscle has been feeling very weak. It's all on my left side. I've been trying to figure out what has caused this as I am a frequent exerciser and try to eat healthy. After reading others have been having the same problems I'm starting to think it's all caused from Nuvigil.

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This is my fourth day of Nuvigil. I have Narcolepsy and Cataplexy. Additional Dx. of Fibromyalgia. Pain increase started yesterday and this morning was so bad that I could not do my usual routine and had to stay home.
This medicine is the only change and it does increase muscle tension. I think there is also some change in the way the neurotransmitters work. I will have to stop this medicine.

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I tried Nuvigil for a month and a half. The joint pain started approx. one week after I started. Just last week, my ankle became so still and painful that I couldn't bend it. I usually have a high tolerance to pain. I stopped taking nuvigil 4 days ago and the pain is subsiding. I don't think I'll be taking it again. I was taking it for MS related fatigue. I'm going to go back on amphetamines instead. They keep me awake when needed with no side effects. Best of luck! :-)

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