Nuvigil Side Effects (Page 9) (Top voted first)

I'm having severe side effects from nuvigil. Muscle and joint pain with numbness and tingling down my arms.

REPLY

REPORT

Thank you for the suggestion. Strattera is used to treat Narcolepsy and it may work for some people. We usually have to try different meds and change meds when one stops working.

REPLY

Was this helpful? 0

Helps to know others had joint pain as a side effect using Nuvigil. Side effects began after taking Nuvigil for 2 weeks. Quit taking it. Side effects went away. Severe joint pain, mainly in knees (have poor knees) and stomach bloating-pain. 3 months later, Dr. said try again, I did, side effects were back within 2 days just as bad, maybe worse. Taking for Narcolepsy. Recently Adderall has become less affective, Dr. now says take Nuvigil again (it's been 10 months) along with Celebrex for the joint pain. Dr. acts like he doesn't believe me about Nuvigil side effects. Said joint pain is very rare and almost unheard of with Nuvigil?

REPLY

Was this helpful? 0

My doctor did not believe me about the side effects either. He thinks it's all in my head even though I told him about others on the forums have had the same side effects. Really, they don't know anything except what they are told by the manufacturer.

REPLY

Was this helpful? 0

My doctor gave me samples a while ago for MS related fatigue. When I took it just on days when I knew I would have a lot going on, it worked fine. Recently, I started having more prolonged fatigue so my dr prescribed it to take once a day. After the 3rd day I would become so drowsy in the middle of the day, and I have also started experiencing the worst headaches I have ever had in my life. The headaches even continue while I sleep. I don't think Nuvigil is a bad drug, but it definitely doesn't work for me.

REPLY

Was this helpful? 0

I started Nuvigil 4 days ago. I felt great no sleepiness at all and more energy, perhaps too much. But it has also caused headaches and played havoc with my blood pressure going from an of average 118/63 eventually jumping steadily up to 165/95 and heart rate from 60's to 99. It took me a years to finally get my bp under control. I love being able to stay awake and not play my life around a nap. But not sure the side effects are going to be worth it. I am trying half the dosage of 150mg for a few days and monitoring my bp as well as my sleep issue and reporting to the Dr. on Monday.

REPLY

Was this helpful? 0

I did not realize that it was possible to hate a drug so much.

I realize that many people have positive experiences with this drug and it's important for people to not that people with negative experiences are more likely to post online about it.

Either way, taking Nuvigil for 3 months was the worst decision I've ever made. I took 50mg for 3 days and then went up to 250. On 50mg, I essentially crashed wuickly and would have terrible headaches. I wasn't prepared for what happened when I went up to 250. Initially, I felt great. I felt more awake, I was working harder, I was more engaged in what I was doing, etc. However I soon realized I was anxious. I'm a naturally calm person but I began wringing my hands, biting my nails, pacing, looking out of the window, became anxious in crowded places, etc. By the end of the night I was so sad about nothing that I cried myself to sleep. Though some side effects did not continue, the anxiety was severe and continued even after I went down to 200, and later, 150. I took four breaks from nuvigil recently and felt immensely better.

Strangely enough, when I would take breaks from the drug, I would realize that the severe anxiety, depression, and overall negative affect was atypical. However once I began taking it again, I decided that my emotions were justified and reasonable. I still can't believe that this drug was able to alter who I was a person so much.

I encourage people to try this drug: it works for many people. But tell your family and friends to look out for you and please consider speaking to your doctor if your mood changes are severe and/or last for more than 2 weeks. I'd rather sleep 18 hours a day or give myself another ulcer with coffee than take this drug.

REPLY

Was this helpful? 0

Food for thought; it has been my experience that mixing caffeine with Nuvigil,
can increase anxiety and inter fear with cognition and memory function.

REPLY

Was this helpful? 0

I was first on Provigil, now on Nuvigil I take it for MS fatigue somedays my arm and leg go numb and I get severe shooting pains and somedays it works wonderfully I dont get it?!
Another thing I noticed was that a lot of people are stating that after taking their Nuvigil the first few hours they were fine and then it began going downhill... Nuvigil reaches its full potential 5 hours after taking it so that is when you are going to experience the intensity of the drug, and remember Nuvigil works closely like an amphetamine therefore the appetite suppression, anxiety, shakiness, etc should be expected your body will begin to develop a tolerance but this is a powerful stimulant so take it as cautiously as you can.

REPLY

Was this helpful? 0

I do and I just took my first dose of Nuvigil this morning. I'm ready to say its my new best friend, but after reading the various posts..I think I'll wait a few weeks and then decide. ;-)

I have some shortness of breath, but it is the same as what I feel when I use to get iv steroid treatments. I called my brother (he is a pharmacist) and he said the shortness of breath could go away in a few days. And I don't have any actualy chest pain.

I'll take a little shortness of breath in order to chase my 2 kids around and have fun any day! :-)

REPLY

Was this helpful? 0

I take it for MS fatigue too. Just started on Nuvigil today. My doctor wanted me to take Provigil, but insurance wouldn't pay for it until I've tried Nuvigil first.

Today, it worked great! I was able to run around with my kids at the beach and still feel able to walk upstairs tonight. I read the other posts about the negative side effects, so I'll keep all of that in the back of my mind.

I have some shortness of breath, but it is the same as when I would get iv steroid treatments. My brother (he is a pharmacist) says the shortness of breath may go away in a few days.

Why did you start on Provigil and change to Nuvigil? What do you think the differences are?

REPLY

Was this helpful? 0

I experienced the exact symptoms you did! My thigh muscles were is so much pain, I was having to shuffle my feet like an elderly person to walk! I have swelling in my tongue and brome out with a rash on arms face and chest. The worst is my hands won't stop shaking so I end up having to take Xanax to calm me down! So I Will NOT. Take this med again going to go to doc tommorow to discuss other options for extreme fatigue and sleepiness!

REPLY

Was this helpful? 0

Wow. It sounds like you have some sort of sensitivity to the drug, like an allergic reaction. I had that happen with a drug named Compazine many, many years ago. They had to give me valium to stop the muscle spasms in my tongue and face. I can't take that drug or any like it again.

REPLY

Was this helpful? 0

I experienced similar reactions, terrible muscle & joint pains. They have continued even after stopping the medication. I'm now working with a specialist who has me on chemo to try and calm the inflammation. I only now wish that I had never taken Nuvigil, it hs destroyed my life!

REPLY

Was this helpful? 0

I know this is an old thread, but I just wanted to clarify. Lopressor (metoprolol) is a beta blocker that is used to treat hypertension. However, many physicians use this medication to help treat anxiety (off label usage) as it lowers heart rate which can help with that anxious feeling. The doseage is smaller when used for this reason.

REPLY

Was this helpful? 0

Okay this is an update. I have been on Nuvigil now 2 weeks and it mostly stopped working on day 5. Before I started Nuvigil I was taking a 5 hour everyday and that would work for me and it lasted until the end of my work day. Now, I take the Nuvigil and I wait 1 then 2 hours and nothing so I take a 5 hour and I am good to go. I will continue to take until my doctors appt in 2 more weeks but I don't think that it will start working again. I do have more joint pains so the meds I am on for Fibro aren't working either. I read somewhere that someone else had this issue and it turned out to be Adrenal Insufficiency. I have suspected for years now that I have Adrenal issue and I have said something to the doctor who treats my thyroid but he keeps putting me off. I have had the saliva test done twice and it always comes back low in the morning/afternoon and too high at night; that's why I take Lunesta. Anyone else have this issue?

REPLY

Was this helpful? 0

I have been taking Nuvigil 150mg for 6 days now for chronic fatigue syndrome and ADD. The side effects i am feeling are an even more pronounced inability to focus and racing thoughts. I want to start projects and then quickly lose my focus on them. (I am having trouble staying focused on writing this) The first few days i did not have these issues. I did have the headache and jaw clenching but those went away after the first few days to be replaced by this. It seems like i am also starting to forget to do small things like turning the burner off after i make tea. I do feel more awake at times but what good is that if you cant focus on anything. I do tend to get really sleepy (but cant fall asleep) after i eat a meal. I also seem to hear my heart beat a lot more its not going faster i am just more cognizant of it. I was on adderall and it worked i just didnt like some of the side effects and it lost its efficacy after a time and my pcp did not want to up the dose or put me on any other amphetamine. (He actually wants me to go see another psychiatrist but due to no health insurance its not an option). I also took ritalin for a time way back in high school and it seemed to have a similar effect with making my thinking. I am going to try and half my dose today to see if that helps at all but if it does not i may just give up on this medicine. I was wondering if anyone else experienced anything like this and also if they did and also used provigil if that was any better for them when they switched?

REPLY

Was this helpful? 0

Hello Conor,
Nuvigil caused me to be awake, but unable to do anything except stare into space. Provigil is actually very expensive now (it's an older drug) because the drug company wants people to use the new one. I went on Adderall and that seems to be working. I intensely dislike the effects Nuvigil had on me.

I have been wondering if the use or previous use of antidepressants causes fatigue.

My neurologist has advised me to not eat any carbohydrates during the day. Only protein (i.e., almond milk) and fat. For example, milk has lactose (a sugar) and fruit has fructose (a sugar) so I cannot have either of these during the day and it helps. Actually, not eating at all during the day helps me the most with the fatigue, but it's not good for my body. Also, the neurologist has suggested a brain reset; a 15 min. nap. This too helps.

I hope this gives you some help.

REPLY

Was this helpful? 0

been taking nuvigiul for 2 years , it was great but now i am very nauseated, i take 450mg.

REPLY

Was this helpful? 0

20 female, college student. diagnosed 6months ago w/narcolepsy, no cataplexy (so far). only symptom i notice is EDS, but it was affecting my life to the point where i did overnight sleep study & mslt. Have had eds & difficulty staying awake for at LEAST 2 years. just started nuvigil 150 in the am. today is 2nd day on it. yesterday (1st day on nuvigil) AWFUL headache, nausea that resulted in dry heaving, and was very emotional crying until the early am. today (2nd day) woke up with horrible dry mouth which has lasted all day. woke up w/headache as well. called nurse who said to try taking tylenol. reduced headache severity. not sure if i should continue... did anyone with dry mouth have that side effect improve over time? headaches improve?

REPLY

Was this helpful? 0

I'm taking it now for ms been 7 days but have joint pain and its getting worse I might stop taking it

REPLY

Was this helpful? 0

Started taking nuvigil 250 mg 2 weeks ago. Today noticed bloody stool is this a common side effect? Can't find any i...

4 REPLIES

I started nuvigil 1/4 of 150mg tablet or 37mg in the morning. The first two weeks were great , it was like my mind was a...

3 REPLIES

Been doing some research on Nuvigil. On day three with no major side effects, light headache and slight dry mouth. Wife ...

1 REPLY

I have been taking Nuvigil for a week to treat shift work sleep disorder. The first two times didnt have a huge effect o...

16 REPLIES

I need to know of any side effects that may occur while taking this medication. ## Are there any risks to taking this me...

487 REPLIES

side effects of cherrifer vitamins ## I chanced upon your site researching for side effects of Cherifer. You sent me an ...

281 REPLIES

I have been on suboxone now for just under a month. I think it is an amazing drug, i have had no cravings or interest in...

262 REPLIES

I am taking one capsule a day of this vitamin with my breakfast, but have very severe nausea after taking it. Is this co...

185 REPLIES

amitriptyline tab 10 mg generic for elavil other than drowsiness ## Common side effects of using Amitriptyline include: ...

117 REPLIES

As I read the side effects I find myself getting more and more annoyed at big pharma. If you google Gilead and litigatio...

109 REPLIES