Central Nervous System Stimulants in Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (ME/CFS): Provigil
Provigil is a central nervous system stimulant. Approved in 1998 by the FDA Provigil is a new class of wakefulness promoting drugs. It is less likely to cause jitteriness, anxiety or fatigue than traditional stimulants. It is approved to treat narcolepsy (daytime sleepiness) and its effectiveness is being examined in many diseases including multiple sclerosis, cancer-related fatigue and Parkinson’s disease
Provigil May Work in Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (ME/CFS) and FM Because many patients have symptoms of ADD, such as lack of attention, poor concentration and Provigil can help with this. Provigil is also prescribed for daytime sleepiness, which many chronic fatigue syndrome (ME/CFS)patients have, and obstructive sleep apnea, which some do.
Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (ME/CFS) /Fibromyalgia Studies – one small double-blinded study found Provigil only very modestly
improved cognition in ME/CFS. The authors suggested that those chronic fatigue
syndrome (ME/CFS)patients
with excessive daytime sleepiness may benefit.
Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (ME/CFS) Physicians Report - Dr. Lapp reports Provigil is safe, offers little risk of
habituation and improves fatigue, mental clarity, attention deficits and
depression. Dr. Teitelbaum recommends Provigil for energy and daytime sleepiness
(narcolepsy). Because he is unclear about its long term effects, however, he
prefers Dexedrine. Dr. Natelson finds Provigil helps in about a quarter of his
patients, another quarter find no improvement and sensitivity issues preclude it
from being used in the remaining half. Dr. Podell also reports that Provigil is
effective in a ‘significant minority’ of his patients. Dr. Bateman has found
Provigil can worsen sleep in patients with disturbed sleep patterns. One
drawback is the high cost. of the drug.
Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (ME/CFS) Patients Report – Reports of Provigil's
effectiveness have been mixed; some ME/CFS patients do very well, others do not.
Click here
to read ME/CFS patients reports.
Dose – The standard recommended dose is 200 mgs./day taken in the morning.
Side Effects – Provigil has been well tolerated in clinical studies with mild
to moderate side effects such as headache, nausea, nervousness, etc. in a small
percentage of patients.
Warning – Serious rash or hypersensitivity reactions may occur in a very small percentage of patients. Click here for more.
To ME/CFS Treatment /
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This summary was put together by a layman with ME/CFS and is not intended to provide complete information on the side effects or any other aspects of this drug.
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Lucinda Bateman, MD., 2006. “Tips and Travails of Treatment”, An abridged
version of a seminar transcript of a Nov. Lecture in Auckland, New Zealand, by
Pat Fero and David Thompson.
Drugs.com: Provigil
Charles Lapp, MD.,2002. HealthWatch Treatment Guide. On the Effective Treatment of Chronic Fatigue Syndrome and Fibromyalgia. ImmuneSupport
RxList, The Internet Drug Index: Provigil
Jacob Teitelbaum, 2007. From Fatigued to Fantastic 3rd ec., Avery Press.