Abilify, Pristiq, Provigil & Trazodone are the meds I'm on.
With out going into a long story as to why I recently had my meds completely changed. In the morning I take 5 mg Abilify, 50 mg Pristiq & 100 mg Provigil. In the afternoon I take another 100 mg Provigil and before bed I take 100 mg of Trazodone as a sleep aide. The Abilify and Trazodone are new to me. This mix seems to be working well for me and I have felt the best I have in years. My only concern is weight gain. Has anybody experienced any weight gain with any of these meds? Also do you find it better to take the Abilify in the PM or the AM? Thanks in advance for any and all feedback!
Re: Abilify, Pristiq, Provigil & Trazodone are the meds I'm on.
Hi Bono1968.
Provigil definately helped me lose weight and Pristiq also reduces appetite. I've taken Provigil on occasion for years (for energy and help with my overeating issue) and I've only been on Pristiq for four days. I can't comment on the other two: I have not tried Abilify and Trazodone made me too sleepy during the day so I discontinued it immediately. Good luck! -SJY323
Re: Abilify, Pristiq, Provigil & Trazodone are the meds I'm on.
I started taking Provigil to off set being tired from the meds I’m on. It doesn’t make you feel “speedy” it just makes you feel like you got a good night of sleep. I take 100 mg in the morning and then 100 mg in the afternoon but don’t take it too late in the day or you might have a hard time falling asleep. My insurance does cover it but at the highest copay. If you are finding yourself needing a nap in the middle of the day I would highly recommend Provigil. The only side effect I have noticed is dry mouth.
Re: Abilify, Pristiq, Provigil & Trazodone are the meds I'm on.
Salty,
Provigil has been my fav Rx for years and I only take it on occasion. It's great for energy and to boot, it will reduce your appetitie. I break 200mg pill in half and take it in the morning. It's very expensive, even with insurance but your pdoc should have samples on hand (he/she may also have a coupon from Provigil, good for seven 200mg which is accepted every month so you can ask for several coupons). I've also ordered it online from Canadian pharmacy but it's still pretty pricey (over $100 for 30).
I just started on Pristiq last week and I find that the Provigil in combo is too much (even though I take Pristiq the night before); very speedy so I will probably discontinue the Provigil if Pristiq works out. The jury is still out on that one.
Re: Abilify, Pristiq, Provigil & Trazodone are the meds I'm on.
Thanks so much for replying SJY. I keep leaning towards asking my dr. about pristiq and provigil, but I wouldn't take both at the same time.
My problem is I also have anxiety and I'm afraid the pristiq will cause that since it's supposed to be similar to effexor. I have been trying to find an AD ever since my lexapro stopped working well. I have tried so many things in the past.
You take pristiq at night? It doesn't keep you awake? How much do you take?
I've been on the lexapro so long, I'm afraid to give it up, plus I've heard it's heck to come off of, but if I don't I will just keep suffering. It's the only thing that ever worked for me, I guess I just can't believe it would give out on me.
When I go on an AD, it either works for me pretty much right away or it's not going to. That's just been my experience for many years.
Did you notice anything quickly with the pristiq? What AD were you on before that?
Re: Abilify, Pristiq, Provigil & Trazodone are the meds I'm on.
Hi Salty.
The Provigil will give you a slight lift from depression and lethargy but it's got a short half-life so unlike an AD, it will not build up in your system so I don't think it would work as depression therapy on its own. Also, if you already experience high anxiety, it may worsen it. Prov is similar to a caffeine high.
As far as Pristiq, I've only been on it a week and the side effects are tolerable but I've lost all my motivation and have been laying around so I may give up on it today. I am not usually depressed and my recent episode may have been situational (loss of job, move, boyfriend prob) so I wasn't even sure that I was depressed but I took the Pristiq upon my psych's suggestion. I've been taking it at night and it has disturbed my sleep so I take it with 1/2 tab of Ambien. As far as any other AD experience, 10 years ago (again, major life changing situations), I went to a myriad of AD trails and nothing worked and eventually I felt better on my own.
If I felt deeply depressed, I would definately give Pris more time to work. It comes in 50mg and I believe everyone starts on this and usually stays on it. The side effects for me have been reduced appetite (always a plus), lack of motivation, and sexual dysfunction (this is not a common side effect from Pristiq but I seem to get it from all drugs, even Prov and Wellbutrin!).
Good luck, Salty! Feel free to ask away if you have any more questions!
Re: Abilify, Pristiq, Provigil & Trazodone are the meds I'm on.
I have tried everything from zoloft, lexapro, effexor, cymbalta you name it and what I have found works best for me is pristiq. It has been the only anti-depressant med that I havent had side effects with. On some of the other AD meds if I forgot to take it one day I would definitly be feeling well lets just say not good. Since I have been on pristiq it hasnt effected me if I accidently forget to take it one day. I also dont have sexual side effects, weight gain, etc.. which is common for other AD. I guess the only side effect is I dont feel hungry at all when I take the pristiq (but that could just be me Im not sure) Well Im going to stop rambeling on for now about pristiq but if you have not tried it yet talk to your doctor about it.
Re: Abilify, Pristiq, Provigil & Trazodone are the meds I'm on.
SJY, my dr. instead of putting me on celexa today, decided to try either ritalin or provigil and i picked provigil. I do not have ADD. He knows I have anxiety. He's just trying it to give me a lift. He said it can't hurt to try it.
Do you think I should start out with 50 mg. instead of 100 mg. at first? He prescribed 100mg., but I don't want to have a hard time sleeping at night.
What do you think? I'm hoping it's going to help me.
Re: Abilify, Pristiq, Provigil & Trazodone are the meds I'm on.
Quote:
Originally Posted by salty
SJY, my dr. instead of putting me on celexa today, decided to try either ritalin or provigil and i picked provigil. I do not have ADD. He knows I have anxiety. He's just trying it to give me a lift. He said it can't hurt to try it.
Do you think I should start out with 50 mg. instead of 100 mg. at first? He prescribed 100mg., but I don't want to have a hard time sleeping at night.
What do you think? I'm hoping it's going to help me.
Thank you.
Salty
Hi Salty.
You can break the 100mg Prov in half. Try it in the morning, 50mg and then if you don't feel a "pick up" within a hour, take the other half. I still take the 200mg pill and break it in thirds or in half. If you take it before noon, it should be out of your system before you go to bed so you should sleep fine.
As far your your WB question... it didn't work for me and plus it gave me sexual side affects (inorgasmic). All the ADs affect me that way actually. As a FYI... I was off of Pristiq for three days, and no withdrawal systems, thankfully. But I was stuffing myself with food and felt a little down so I've decided to give it a full two weeks effort so I just started taken it again. I'll keep you posted. I hope you do the same.
Re: Abilify, Pristiq, Provigil & Trazodone are the meds I'm on.
Thank you, sjy. I felt pretty good today--got stuff done for once. I took the 200 mg and cut it 1/3.
I got the 7 free pills with the coupon. My dr. gave me probably 5 coupons, but don't I need a 7-pill script to go with each coupon? I don't know why he didn't do that, I guess he was waiting to see if the med would work.
I still have a regular 30-day script and then I gave the 7-day script with the coupon to the pharmacist.
So am I right that I have to now get (5) 7-day scripts to go along with 5 coupons?
And can I keep using them at the same pharmacy? Do they care? How many did you use before you had to pay for them?
Thank you so much for your help.
Please keep me posted as to how you are doing.
Salty
Last edited by salty; 11-14-2008 at 05:15 PM.
Reason: added
Re: Abilify, Pristiq, Provigil & Trazodone are the meds I'm on.
Salty,
You need a separate Rx for each coupon and it can only be redeemed every 30 days but if you're breaking it into thirds, you won't need a regular prescription for five months! As I've mentioned, the co-pay on a regular Rx can be expensive. The pharmacuetical company reimburses the pharmacy so you can use the same one.
I hope you like the Provigil!!
SJY
Quote:
Originally Posted by salty
Thank you, sjy. I felt pretty good today--got stuff done for once. I took the 200 mg and cut it 1/3.
I got the 7 free pills with the coupon. My dr. gave me probably 5 coupons, but don't I need a 7-pill script to go with each coupon? I don't know why he didn't do that, I guess he was waiting to see if the med would work.
I still have a regular 30-day script and then I gave the 7-day script with the coupon to the pharmacist.
So am I right that I have to now get (5) 7-day scripts to go along with 5 coupons?
And can I keep using them at the same pharmacy? Do they care? How many did you use before you had to pay for them?
Re: Abilify, Pristiq, Provigil & Trazodone are the meds I'm on.
Hi, Sjy323, did you ever get headaches from provigil? If so, what did you do?
I'm hoping it was an isolated incident, but I started working out again on Monday and I took a small amount of provigil when I woke up (to get me going).
I didn't eat right that day (hoping that may have something to do w/it) but by that night, I had one of the worse migraines I've ever had.
I have to take the provigil again tomorrow and am just hoping it won't happen again.
Just curious if you ever got a headache from it and what you took to get rid of it...motrin, aspirin, even paid med. didn't work.
I'm going to start a thread about this just in case someone else has gotten headaches from it.
I tried sending you a priv. msg, but you have them blocked.
Thank you, dear. Hope you're okay!
Salty
Last edited by salty; 06-02-2009 at 02:12 PM.
Reason: added
Re: Abilify, Pristiq, Provigil & Trazodone are the meds I'm on.
Hi Salty.
I am doing well, thank you for asking! Sorry I did not see your email to me... I'll figure out how to unblock direct messages.
I never got a headache from Provigil. The only side effects I felt initially is speediness, suppressed appetite, a "lift" in mood, and lowered blood pressure (like cold fingers... my pressure is slightly low naturally). With continued use, my body adjusted and I have in the past increased my dose (from half a pill to a full). Your appetite will return to normal and I'm guessing the headache will dissipate. I haven't taken a Pro for a few days which I like about this med because it's out of your system right away. Be careful of insomnia if you take it after 12noon! It's like having way too much coffee!
Sorry I'm not able to shed more light on the headache issue. Keep me posted and it was great to hear from you. How are you doing otherwise?
-sjy323
Quote:
Originally Posted by salty
Hi, Sjy323, did you ever get headaches from provigil? If so, what did you do?
I'm hoping it was an isolated incident, but I started working out again on Monday and I took a small amount of provigil when I woke up (to get me going).
I didn't eat right that day (hoping that may have something to do w/it) but by that night, I had one of the worse migraines I've ever had.
I have to take the provigil again tomorrow and am just hoping it won't happen again.
Just curious if you ever got a headache from it and what you took to get rid of it...motrin, aspirin, even paid med. didn't work.
I'm going to start a thread about this just in case someone else has gotten headaches from it.
I tried sending you a priv. msg, but you have them blocked.
Re: Abilify, Pristiq, Provigil & Trazodone are the meds I'm on.
Sjy323, I'm so glad you wrote...didn't want you to think I was ignoring your message...another headache right now...I'll write soon. That would be good if you'd unblock your p.m's.
Re: Abilify, Pristiq, Provigil & Trazodone are the meds I'm on.
Hi Salty. I am obviously technically challenged; I thought I had allowed all messages to me. Anyway, I am so sorry to hear that your depression is creeping back. I'm currently off of all meds. I even went off of birth control so my hormones are playing havic and I'm eating constantly. I have this love-hate relationship with pills so I miss the ritual of popping pills, if you know what I mean. I started St. John's Wart though I've heard mixed reviews on it. I am doing okay; trying to exercise and eat more raw. You know how crazy it feels, trying to find the right combo of medication. I needed a break from it (I've taken many Rx vacations). My skin became dry and my hair was falling out.
The Provigil is great for mini pick-me-ups but since they have such a short half-life, I think adjuncting it with other prescriptions would be beneficial. I went from half a Pro tab to a full.
Take care of yourself!
Quote:
Originally Posted by salty
Hi, dear. I tried sending you a private msg, but it's still blocked.
I just had to go off of the only other add-on to lexapro and i'm back to square one.
Are you on any other meds besides the provigil? You can priv. msg. me if you want.
Also, you posted to me in the thread that you raised your provigil...how much do you take now?
I'm really going to have to rely on the provigil to get me going because the depression is bad again.
Just thought i'd check w/you to see what you are taking because if it wasn't for you and Bono, i never would have known about the provigil.
in the middle of the day I would highly recommend Provigil.
The only side effect I have noticed is dry mouth.
It's like having way too much coffee!
