Effects of sleep deprivation include fatigue, sluggishness, depression, irritability, inability to concentrate, poor memory, slowed reflexes, and depressed immune system, to name a few. Any form of exertion like exercise and even minor activities can increase the feelings of fatigue. Even eating healthy foods may not be enough because the body itself is in a state of unrest.

Sleep deprivation doesn’t only mean sleeplessness or lack of sleep. You may think you are getting enough number of hours of sleep but the body is still unrested because you are not getting quality sleep due to sleep disruptions. Sleep apnea is the most common form of sleep disruption. This is characterized by snoring, waking up in the middle of the night gasping or choking and brief absences of breathing which can last up to 20 seconds.

If you feel you are exhibiting signs of sleep apnea or if your partner notices these signs, try to consult a sleep specialist. You will be asked to undergo sleep studies and when proven you have apnea, CPAP therapy, the simplest, most effective treatment of apnea, will most probably be prescribed. A CPAP is a machine that will help you breathe during sleep allowing you to get a good night’s rest.

You also mentioned having these “electric shock” episodes which jolts you out of sleep. This, too, causes sleep disruption and sleep deprivation. These “electric shock” feelings are actually called hypnagogic jerks or myoclonic jerks. This is pretty normal. This usually occurs when a person is tired or is sleep deprived, like in your case. When you are sleep deprived, the body somehow gets used to the state of sleep deprivation that when sleep comes, the brain refuses to fall asleep, sending involuntary signals to the muscles.

Right now, the best you can do is to get a sleep study done. It is only then that you can determine what kind of sleep problem you are having and what measures you can do to take care of that. Your physician can refer you to a sleep specialist who understands the sleep phenomenon better. Practicing good sleeping hygiene also helps in dealing with sleep problems such as yours.

Insomnia is a condition wherein there is a difficulty trying to initiate sleep and/or maintain it. This condition may be caused by poor lifestyle and sleeping habits. This is also called transient insomnia. One way of dealing with it would be avoiding alcoholic drinks, smoking, and caffeine-containing foods and drinks, i.e. chocolates, teas, colas, coffee. Practicing good sleep hygiene may also prove to be helpful.

However, if you have tried the above-mentioned measures without positive results, then the insomnia may be caused by factors other than lifestyle. Insomnia may also be brought about by an underlying medical condition such as ADHD, hyperthyroidism, sleep apnea, pain issues, etc. Visiting a physician and having yourself checked for such disorders and dealing with it would take care of the sleeplessness. Mental and emotional issues can also trigger insomnia but you mentioned you are on therapy so, we are ruling that out for the meantime.

Being on medications does not always mean relief from symptoms. Sometimes they just mask the symptoms making you think you’re cured and a few more days or weeks of taking them, the symptoms come right back. In your case, they simply won’t work. So, something else must be the problem.

I am sure you are aware that sleeping aids has unpleasant side effects and can be addicting, so my suggestion would be to keep that to a minimum, if not discontinue it altogether. But make sure your doctor knows about it, too. Discontinuing sleeping medications should also be done the right way, gradually. And taking two sleeping medications at the same time can be dangerous. Similar medications, when taken together, will increase the effect of the other which can lead to an overdose. Ask your doctor first about it before starting any medication.

It all boils down to one thing, get yourself seen and assessed by a specialist because it is only through proper screening and diagnostic testing, as in sleep studies, that we can determine what is causing your sleeplessness so that an appropriate treatment regimen will be initiated. And do not self-medicate, much more have medicine cocktails. Going to the root of the problem and addressing it from there is often the safest and best way to go.

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.

Is it safe to take Provigil for depression? I understand Provigil is a drug for narcolepsy but it is also popular as a mood enhancer so I am assuming it would be perfect for depression. Besides, I heard this isn’t addicting at all so it’s totally safe, isn’t it?

Provigil (modafinil) is a new drug manufactured by Cephalon Inc and is FDA-approved for the treatment of excessive daytime sleepiness and fatigue associated with narcolepsy and other sleeping disorders. However, it has been noticed that more than half of Provigil users are not narcoleptics at all, but choose to use the drug for its off-label uses. Provigil has been found to be a great memory booster and mood enhancer sans side effects common among traditional stimulants like amphetamines. Provigil is not yet recognized by the FDA as a mood and memory enhancer. However, several researches suggested that Provigil can be used as an effective adjunct therapy to patients experiencing clinical depression. Provigil was given to subjects with depression and it showed significant positive results after several days of trial. Now, you might be wondering what a drug for a sleep disorder like narcolepsy has to do with depression. Simple. The common features of clinical depression include lack of energy and hypersomnia, or excessive sleepiness. And if I remember correctly, these two are also major signs of sleep deprivation seen in narcolepsy which is exactly what Provigil is for. This drug is thought to act on the hypothalamus, the part of the brain involved in regulating mood and wakefulness, which means Provigil for depression could be a big possibility in the near future. Provigil also claims to have a lower potential for abuse, it being a neurostimulant which acts on specific receptors in the nervous system other than the so-called dopamine receptors that is associated with pleasure and euphoria leading to abuse and subsequent dependence. Provigil, in depression, simply enhances mood and induces wakefulness in near-natural and, apparently, safer ways. But let us not forget the fact that depression also causes sleeping disorders such as insomnia. Which means excessive use of stimulants can aggravate insomnia and further increase in excessive daytime sleepiness and fatigue. Not to mention excessive and prolonged use of stimulants can lead to depression. That is why we need the help of professionals to regulate the timing and dosage when taking Provigil for depression. A lot of things has to be taken into consideration before taking drugs, especially regulated ones such as Provigil for depression. A medication intended for one disorder with symptoms similar to another disorder may be used for that other disorder as long as it has been proven that using the medication for both of these disorders will be safe and not cause further complications. I guess there is lesser harm in waiting for the U.S. Food and Drug Authority’s approval than in going ahead and taking the drug especially without your doctor’s blessing. There are a lot of other ways to deal with excessive daytime sleepiness and sluggishness and depression. All you need to do is get up and look.

Is psychosis related to Provigil use possible? It could be. Provigil, a known trade name of modafinil, is a stimulant, and like most stimulants (i.e. cocaine and amphetamines), symptoms of psychosis develops after prolonged or excessive use.

Provigil is a drug designed to treat the common symptom of narcolepsy, obstructive sleep apnea syndrome, and shift work sleep disorder which is excessive daytime sleepiness or EDS. Provigil has been approved by the FDA for this use alone. However, most users are taking advantage of Provigil’s ability to promote alertness and enhance cognitive ability and taking over-the-counter Provigil as a form of supplement.

The increase in popularity of Provigil would be attributed not only to its off-label uses but also because of its side effects, or lack of it, as claimed by the distributors of the drug. Well, Provigil does have side effects but they are way milder compared to other stimulants and are generally tolerable. Common side effects include stomach upset, nausea, headaches, dry mouth, and anxiety.

But several studies suggest that psychosis related to Provigil use and shift work could occur. One laboratory study showed that psychosis with Provigil can develop even on patients without a history of mental problems. A 38-year-old healthy female volunteer was given 0-mg (placebo), 200-mg and 400-mg doses of modafinil alternately. It was noted that on the 19^th day of the trial, where she was given a 400-mg dose of modafinil for the third time, she developed anxiety which continued to increase in the following days accompanied by disorganized behavior usually seen in psychotics. The modafinil was discontinued on the 21^st day and the symptoms of psychosis resolved within 24 hours.

Another study involving a male volunteer who also had no family history of psychosis developed paranoia and hallucinations and other symptoms of psychosis while on Provigil. He was given 600-mg daily doses of Provigil. The drug was discontinued and the symptoms of psychosis resolved after 36 hours. This shows that excessive Provigil use with the resultant sleep deprivation can be very damaging.

In relation to this, Provigil users are advised to refrain from taking the drug if they have a history of mental health issues, or if somebody in their family has any, because Provigil could exacerbate or further increase their risk of having psychosis and other psychiatric problems.

If we look a little closer, we can find more findings similar to those mentioned above. But we need more data to be able to say for sure that psychosis related to Provigil use does exist. However, a few studies is enough to increase our awareness about the effects of Provigil especially when taken in larger doses or prolonging its use.

Are you taking Provigil? Did you check out the side effects of Provigil before you decided to take them? Provigil is very popular as the new “lifestyle” drug. It is used to induce wakefulness and alertness for those experiencing excessive sleepiness, and as a memory enhancer. Clinically, Provigil is used for patients suffering from narcolepsy, obstructive sleep apnea, and shift work sleep disorder to counteract excessive daytime sleepiness, or EDS.

Provigil is FDA-approved for the above-mentioned medical conditions. However, most Provigil users are neither narcoleptics nor apneics. They are taking it for its off-label uses which are memory enhancement, alertness, and mood stimulation. Provigil is a non-prescription drug and is easily accessible online and over the counter which makes it susceptible to indiscriminate use.

Based on several clinical studies, Provigil is well-tolerated among the subjects composed mainly of patients experiencing excessive sleepiness. The side effects of Provigil that were observed were generally minimal and far safer that those seen in other stimulants like amphetamines and other similar stimulants. The most common were insomnia, headache, dizziness and nervousness. Other side effects of Provigil are:

• Upper respiratory tract infection (rhinitis)
• Gastrointestinal problems (diarrhea, dyspepsia)
• Nausea
• Loss of appetite
• Dry mouth
• Back pain
• Anxiety
• Insomnia
• Mood changes

The more serious side effects of Provigil are mental changes, chest pain, irregular heart beats, trouble urinating or painful urination, visual changes, muscle weakness or stiffness, and signs of allergic reaction like rashes, itching, swelling of the tongue, lips, or face, and chest tightness with trouble breathing. If these effects are noticed, notify your doctor immediately.

In order to prevent these possible side effects of Provigil, make sure you consult your doctor before actually taking the drug. Conditions like hypertension and other heart problems, liver and kidney disease, mental illness, pregnancy, and depressed immune system usually makes you an unlikely candidate for Provigil therapy. Also, make sure you mention to your physician the medications you are currently having including natural supplements. An interaction between Provigil and your “harmless” herbal supplements could occur when taken together.

Possible untoward effects should be taken into consideration when taking any medication. Provigil is a stimulant and there is still that possibility that it could be habit-forming despite claims of it being otherwise. Those with a history of substance abuse should be discouraged from using this drug as a precautionary measure. Provigil has also been found to lower white blood cell count and by that, it increases your risk for infections. So, if you ask me what the easiest way to avoid the side effects of Provigil is, I’d say, talk to your physician.

 With  today’s fast-paced lifestyle, the whole day is not enough to get things done. At home, at the office, so much to do so little time to do it with. That is one reason why shopping on TV was invented. Now you won’t have to leave the house to replace the vacuum cleaner that broke down.

The internet is also another way of acquiring stuff without having to leave the comforts of your home… or the reports at the office. Shopping online is not just another fad. Imagine having to miss an important client meeting just to get a refill of your medicine. Yes, you can acquire medicines online, even prescription drugs! But you’ll have to fill out questionnaires and forms for that.

One of those drugs that you can buy online is modafinil. Modafinil is a psychostimulant. It induces wakefulness and enhances mood. It is currently approved for the treatment of excessive daytime sleepiness for people with narcolepsy, obstructive sleep apnea, and shift work sleep disorder.

Buying modafinil online is not a hassle because this is not a prescription drug, therefore, no forms for you to fill out. Modafinil, manufactured by Cephalon, is currently available online all over the world under these popular brand names: Provigil (USA), Vigicer (Canada), Sparlon, Alertec, Modiodal, Modavigil, and Modalert. Modalert is currently the cheapest modafinil online.

But there are also modafinil users who do not have the disorders mentioned above but still choose to buy modafinil online. Some take the drug to keep them awake whenever they need to. Other claims that this drug has is its ability to improve memory and concentration and to brighten one’s mood. These are modafinil’s off-label uses. But unlike other stimulants, modafinil boasts of much lesser side effects and is non habit-forming.

When you buy modafinil online, make sure the company you are buying it from has a good track record and delivers orders promptly and securely. Modafinil is available in 100-mg and 200-mg doses and in packets of 30 tablets to 100 tablets. Prices may vary depending on where you are in the world. But in the United States, prices may range from $50 to more than $300. Make sure that you compare online modafinil prices to get a better deal.

Now, just because you can buy modafinil online and without a doctor’s prescription doesn’t mean it is totally safe to take them. It is still safer to ask your doctor if it is okay for you to be taking modafinil especially if you are taking other medications and/or suffering from a medical issue. It could interact with the current drug you are taking or aggravate your condition. And being a stimulant, you are not to take it when it is nearing bedtime. It is also up to your doctor to recommend the right dose for you.

You’re having trouble sleeping, you are trying so hard but you just end up wondering when you’re going to able to actually sleep. And when you finally get that much coveted snooze, something wakes you up and, voila! You’re back to “trying so hard but not quite succeeding”.

You’re not alone and you know that. Statistics show that 1 in every 8 people in America suffers from insomnia. But despite the popularity of sleeping pills and the advent of lower-risk sleep pills like Ambien and Lunesta, a lot of these insomniacs refuse to give in to these enticing TV commercials. Others, if not most, prefer to go the natural way.

The newest natural sleeping aid today is melatonin supplements. These are synthetic forms of the hormone melatonin that naturally induces sleep and is normally produced by the pineal gland in the brain. However, this doesn’t work quite the way some users would want it. So, instead of taking double doses, they match it with another mild sleeping aid, Benadryl.

Benadryl is an antihistamine that happens to have a side effect of drowsiness. Benadryl and melatonin together seem to work just fine for some people, especially those experiencing jet lag and shift work sleep disorder. They report being able to sleep a few minutes after taking both Benadryl and melatonin and is able to maintain sleep for 6 to 8 hours. ; © McNeil PDI Inc. Feel Strong. Buy Motrin Save on Aspirin & Pain Relievers Most Orders Over $50 Ship Free. Get Motrin; © McNeil PDI Inc.

A Benadryl-and-melatonin user suggests that limiting coffee and alcohol while on this regimen helps make it work better. It is also important that you know how to taper the doses when you feel that your sleep/wake cycle has returned to normal. Your brain and body becomes immune to the effects of Benadryl and melatonin when it is constantly exposed to high doses of these drugs. There are also sleep aid preparations that contain both Benadryl and melatonin but they are not sold without a prescription. Some claim that they work even better.

But then these two, Benadryl and melatonin, both causes sedation, drowsiness and slowed breathing and if I remember correctly, when two substances with the same effects are taken together, their combined effects would always border on the dangerous. And with Benadryl and melatonin together, it may even result to coma.

Now, they may seem harmless when taken separately but these two would potentiate its other’s effects once they are ingested together and drug interactions may arise. You might think that’s a good thing since they don’t work quite as well when taken alone. But you also have to bear in mind that when it comes to drugs, one and one doesn’t always comes out two. More often than not, it’s ten… or none.

Having said these, the fact still remains that a lot of people get addicted to these drugs. Because taking sleeping pills will definitely detach you from any kind of stress you might be feeling now, albeit for only a short term, many see it as a quick fix, nonetheless. It is due to this that sleeping pills are classified as prescription drugs, as we do have the tendency to abuse them.

Now let us identify sleeping pills. The more popular names of sleeping pills nowadays include Ambien, or zolpidem tartrate, Sonata, or zaleplon, and Lunesta, or eszopiclone. These three drugs are called hypnotics, or medications designed to result in the partial loss of consciousness or deep sleep. Doctors advise that Ambien and Sonata be taken for a one to two week period only, as they have relatively strong formulations; but Lunesta is considered safe for long-term use.

As of present, the Food and Drug Administration is conducting trials on two more sleeping pills, so far called Gaboxodol and Ramelteon. Ramelteon aims to replicate the sedative effect of the melatonin hormone, while Gaboxodol mimics the effect of GABA, a kind of amino acid that helps induce sleep. This is news that deserves the applause of the millions of insomniacs all over the world, who are continuously looking for the best and safest way to win over their disorders.

If you’re one of these people, you should be thankful you live in a day and age where medical developments and innovations are possible. Looking back at the past, one cannot simply imagine how life must have been for those whose rest periods were few and far between. Sleeping pills will remain in the market and will further see improvements so long as generations after continue to encounter reasons to elude sleep — which, in realistic terms, could be forever.

So how does Ambien cause weight gain when there are no apparent driving factors? Some experiments found that people who are taking Ambien and other strongly formulated sedatives are more likely to sleepwalk. This is because while Ambien forces the body to relax, it has no power to calm the brain, thus, leaving it still active during induced sleep.

This is a potentially dangerous situation because the brain’s cognitive and decision-making faculties are reduced while a person sleepwalks. In severe instances, patients performed daily tasks, like driving, cooking, and even eating while on a ‘high’ and were not able to remember after that they did so. Researchers say that this is one of key reasons that Ambien sleeping pills cause weight and inch gain.

Another possible factor to Ambien-related weight gain is longer sleep. Since the body still functions and burns energy even while it is resting, you will expectedly feel hungry upon waking up. And because you will still be a little drowsy, you are likely to find yourself succumbing to the hunger and eating more.

If weight gain is a huge problem for you, ask your doctor to give you the mildest sleeping pill available. If a higher formula, like Ambien, is prescribed to treat your particular situation, it would help to leave written and very visible reminders on areas you expect to visit first after you wake up, to prevent you from possibly bingeing on food. Or you could tell your housemates that you are going under medication so they can monitor your activities.

Doctors advise that sleeping pills be taken for just around a week or two, so extreme weight gain during this period might not happen. There are far serious possible side effects that may be experienced from using Ambien and other brands, so weight gain should be the least of your concerns. However, should rapid weight and inch gain happen during the short time you are taking this drug, consult your doctor immediately.