My mom has a condition called fibromyalgia and she is always in extreme pain. It’s painful just by looking at her every time she gets those pain episodes. It is interfering with her sleep and we can tell because she tends to be really grouchy and sullen at the same time and we understand that. Is it okay to put her on Provigil? Pain keeping you up all night can turn you into someone else. Provigil can at least allow her to do her daytime routine as normally as possible instead of fighting sleep and fatigue. Would it be safe?


We may not realize it but sleep deprivation brought about by various sleeping disorders and other causes is on the rise and may probably be on its all-time high. We hear of complaints of insomnia and sleep apnea everywhere. And then there’s shift work sleep disorder and jet lag. No wonder sleeping aids and stimulants such as Provigil are doing good in the market.

The main symptom of lack of quality sleep is fatigue and excessive daytime sleepiness. To be able to attain that much coveted sleep, people just indulge in sleeping aids and when that doesn’t work, they take stimulants to keep them on their feet when they need to be. Call it pathetic but that’s what’s happening.

But another main cause of inadequate sleep is pain. I guess that’s pretty obvious. People who have arthritis, migraines, fibromyalgia and those who are seriously ill and are experiencing pain in one form or another generally do not get as much sleep as those who are not in any pain. They need to have to be assisted by pain relievers and other pain relief measures.

The lack of sleep brought about by pain causes the same debilitating symptoms of fatigue and drowsiness and even depression. That is why experts are looking at Provigil as a pharmacologic measure to control fatigue and daytime somnolence related to pain. Provigil and pain-relievers may just be what these people need to live as normally and as pain-free as possible.

Provigil is a neurostimulant drug that is used in controlling symptoms of narcolepsy. It promotes alertness and continued wakefulness without affecting normal sleep. With proper dosage and timing of intake in a patient who is paralyzed by pain, Provigil can just be his best friend.

However, more clinical studies have to be conducted to make sure it is safe to use Provigil. Pain relievers may interact with Provigil once they are taken together so extreme caution should be observed. Not to mention Provigil is a stimulant which makes it potential for abuse.

I would assume some people who are in pain and are aware of the effects of Provigil are already on the drug, for the purpose of managing fatigue and drowsiness, without a prescription. And they may be doing okay on it right now but we never know about tomorrow. Don’t get me wrong. I know what it feels like to be in pain. Provigil is great. But it would be even better if you let your doctor assess you first because there are certain medical conditions wherein Provigil therapy is contraindicated.