AboutDr Alan Galbraith Expertise I can answer most questions on drugs, both medical and "recreational". Answers can be given in either technical or layperson terminology. My main areas of interest are psychiatric, gastrointestinal and cardiovascular drugs.
Experience I have been a university lecturer/head of department for almost thirty years, but am now retired. My research interests were alcohol, smoking and cardiovascular disease.
Organizations Institute of Biology, London.
Publications Author of "Fundamentals of Pharmacology" 5th Edition published in November 2007 by Pearson Education, Australia.
Question Thank you for being so quick. I'm taking 200mg of the provigil. So do you think after 3 months I will have my own natural energy to make it through a day? What if in 3 months, when I stop taking the medication, I am totally drained. In other words, what if I won't be able to make tit through a day awake without the provigil? Will that happen?
-------------------------
Followup To
Question -
Dr. Galbraith,
I am located in the USA and just recently, maybe a month ago, came off of a 2 year addiction to vicoden (hyrdocodone). Yes, the withdrawals were bad, but I had a pain management doctor and my wife slowly wean me off. However, now I have no energy to make it through the work day. Before, the vicoden would keep me going all day with energy and it didn't matter how much sleep I got the night before. When I spoke to my doctor, she prescribed PROVIGIL to help with my tiredness at work. Today is the first day taking it and honestly, the effects are minimal. I'm not tired or anything but I don't feel a big jolt of energy or anything. I just want to know if this stuff works and if it is harmful? Also, I know that I'm tired because I stopped taking vicoden but it's been a month a half now. Should the any symptoms of withdrawals be gone by now? I shouldn't be tired at work like this? I'm only 30. Thanks.
Answer -
Dear Emad
The major symptoms of withdrawal are almost certainly over but the fatigue and tiredness are probably residual withdrawal effects. You do not say what dose you are taking of the Provigil but it should relieve tiredness symptoms almost at once if the correct dose is used, but you may be one of the ten per cent in which it does not work well. I would not give it up yet though as it usually takes three weeks for maximum effect to be achieved. Provigil is related to the amphetamines but much safer but I would still not recommend taking this drug for more than three months, by then you should be completely free of withdrawl effects from the hydrocodone, assuming that this is the problem, which is not 100% certain.
I hope this info is of some comfort.
Regards
Dr Alan Galbraith
Answer Dear Emad
200mg is a medium dose and I am sure you'll notice a benefit. Try not to worry about about what might or might not happen in three months. You seem to be over anxious about this. I think that this may be a part of the problem ie slight depression maybe related to the withdrawal. Depressed states frequently lead to tiredness. Please let your wife read my replies and drop ask her to drop me a note of how she sees the problem. Otherwise speak to your doctor about your concerns. What you are telling me sends messages to my intuitive thought processes and spell out depression. I could off course be completely wrong you being thousands of miles away and I know very little about your case. Be honest with your wife and doctor about your concerns and I am positive that your problem will disappear with time and appropriate help.
