anti-fatigue meds
 

Hey kids,

What are the ones that work for you or someone you know? My insurance denied my Nuvigil that happens to work fabulous for me. Provigil doesn't work as well, and the amantadine never worked at all.

I have high blood pressure too. What's left, the stimulants? :confused:

Your Doctor needs to inform the Insurance that the Nuvigil is medically necessary for you. Since you have tried the Amantadine they should approve it once all of the forms are completed. It only took me 3 months to get the Insurance to approve Provigil for me, and it does work very well for me.

They denied the second request. I think it will go to the employer if I have to fight it further.

I used something that isn't used particularly for fatigue normally - but when I suffered from fatigue, it worked better than anything else. It is a patch made for ADHD and is called Daytrana. One of the greatest things about it is that since it is a patch, it is a steady stream of the med, so no ups and downs on it like you get with typical pills. You put the patch on in the morning and then remove at night. :)

What is it with insurance companies denying coverage of Nuvigil? This is the second instance I've read about in the last two weeks. What's up with that?

Sorry to hear of this, Wiz. I hope that the good doctor can find something else for you...it should be up to him to come up with something else that is safe and effective for you.

He's fantastic Debbie but some of the office staff has been dropping the ball with this. Susan has helped me a lot and has been calling me every other day trying to get this straightened out. They're going to call in Provigil again and see if I can get that. I might have to scrape up the cash to pay for the Nuvigil myself if it doesn't work as well.

I'd let Wynn know about your disappointment with the staff...it's weird how he can be such a good physician and then there's that issue:confused:

LDN has really helped my fatigue a lot. It's not covered by insurance, but it is very affordable.

1/2 mL=100mg of Testosterone Cypionate for me once a week. For female, less then 1/2 of that. Mine's 200mg/mL. It comes in 100mg/mL so even 1/4 mL is still 25mg which is still more then females make. Can't explain how much strength it helped me regain where theres no nerve damage.

Eddie,
women should be tested for low Testosterone levels. We can't just take it at random. All men have some Estrogen, but it is small compared to their Testosterone amount in their bodies. All women have some Testosterone and more Estrogen and Progesterone than men, by nature. For child bearing and feminine characteristics, and body shape.

As women age and don't receive any extra Estrogen, they usually become more aggressive, less sensitive and by nature, passive, as the testosterone level is still high or higher than their female hormones. Women in demanding career jobs, like lawyers, Senate and Government usually are from this Menopause type group.

But to purposely take a higher dose for muscle strength, unless levels are too low, would be against their bodies natural growth.

Speaking of growth women, would get hair in places they don't ever want it, even male pattern baldness, beards, deeper voice, etc.

IMO, it would not be a good choice for women unless their doctor first tests them for low levels.

You wanted Estrogen (FDA), as previously posted. Try Soy, lots of soy products. They are filled will a natural Estrogen, if you feel you need it. As a male, have you been tested for lack of Estrogen?, or because of it's trial in MS patients along with Copaxone? It may neutralize the Testosterone benefits your muscle are seeing.

Too much Soy, is not good for normal women or any children to take, because of its high Estrogen properties. Normal adults/children have enough of their own hormones without adding ones that can cause issues.
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Red Penguins, I think that patch Daytrana, has merit, but what dose (or size) is that patch? It is a combo drug, for AD and ADHD. It is still a stimulant, almost like Ritalin. And is it costly?

Lady, insurance covered mine - and if you go to the daytrana website, they used to offer a coupon to pay the first month's copay. The doses are 10mg, 15mg, or 30 mg (I THINK! It's been SO long since I took it).

As for whether it's just ADD ADHD - they don't really distinguish that (and if I'm correct, they are actually combining both dx into one anyhow in the upcoming DSM - the manual that lists mental disorders dx).

Sadly, I recently threw away all of the meds I no longer take - daytrana and provigil included. :(

Thank you RP. :)
Provigil stopped working for me and I, too, stopped all symtomatic MS meds. I askd my Neuro would a stimulant work?.. she is not too happy with them.

I am much better than I used to be but, if I could get rid of this fatigue totally I would be a happy camper. Maybe CCSVI is the answer? Hmm

I noticed a new person on here.

Hi nikki79
Welcome!
Glad you joined us and started to post right away.:) I hope we hear more from you, on the LDN thread on top of front page, or on any post.

You could introduce yourself on a new thread, or the Introduction thread on top too. We love new people.:) Nice to meet you.

Hi from me as well Nikki. :hug:

I'm suffering rather badly from fatigue at the moment, but I've not heard of the medications mentioned here. It may be a 'different country' thing, but I'll check.

Thank you for all the info.

Welcome Nikki!! :)

Ok, they denied the Nuvigil the second time and I'm guessing they didn't note my high blood pressure on the second form.

But they sent an RX for Provigil and that is being processed. I'm going to have to make do with that.

And get this, the Nuvigil is about $900 retail for 90 pills, and Provigil is over $1,300 for 90 pills. It must be a formulary issue, like they have to pay a lot more for the Nuvigil even though the price is less?? :confused:

Wiz, I have no idea since Jim took Ritalin in the beginning and Amantadine later on. He doesn't take anything right now. We've asked, but his doctor isn't a fan of stimulants. :rolleyes:

I hope they eventually allow it for you. My insurance refused Nexium once because it was not on their formulary. 6 months later, it was. Weird how that all works. It may have something to do with who they have contracts with?

Lady - Youre right I shouldve asked if she is pre or post menopausal however, I never got an answer from women I know (cause they wont get bloodwork done for me) if testosterone will get gobbled up by estrogen receptors causing higher levels during meopause. Do you know answer?

Hair growth is only issue if you overdue it i'll say. I watched a show on testosterone and one case was woman becoming man (on purpose) and the amount she/he/it was getting was 2x what I take! yikes. Yes he she it grew facial hair, deeper voice ect. Womans level is 20-70? I forget and mens 300-1000. And on ranges, How could they use such wide ranges when I first hand know theres a major difference between 300 and 1000. (1000 is kind of high)

A little wont hurt and it bothers me that testosterone is something that I bet out of everyone that belongs to this site, maybe 2% have doctors that asked/even thought to check level of.

PS..its the hormone that makes teenagers to the wild thing :)

Im quite fluent in testosterone since I had to educate my dr.
Cypionate is an ester added to whatever to make it's half life 7-10 days.
Enanthate is approx the same, maybe a little less.
Propionate on the other hand is 3 days or so.

It's $100 for 3-4 month supply. Wondering what Amyra is going to cost for 3-4 months. I'll find out in a few weeks.

Eddie, did you post on the wrong thread? Your post didn't make any sense with the thread's subject.
Just wondering.

Wiz, I don't understand why they denied you the medication you need. I am still considering Copenhagan...

Sorry was in a hurry but anti-fatigue meds is thread title and testosterone helps it...alot. Raises bloodpresure a tad though so it's probably out anyway.
Im a firm believer in it. Im case and point. Example..
I could barely keep up with my father as he walked and I pushed my wheelchair 3 yrs ago (im a c6-7 para). I pushed a total of 16 miles last month. How's that for anti-fatigue? Took work but thats where im at now.

Glad it's working for you, Ed...

Hope the provigil helps, Wiz...

B12
 

A woman in Publix I asked where something was had energy and great mood to spare. Liquid B12 was her energy booster. She showed me it, I bought it, said she had half the employees hooked at her work place. Havent tried it yet because I take it pill form 500mcg which is 8,333% rda. The liquid is 20,000 rda. Ewiz maybe that would help.

This I found interesting.

If anyone is looking for something simple to try for fatigue, you could try Aspirin 325 mg - 3 times a day. Use the coated ones.

Mayo is having some success with this, not only for fatigue, but it apparently also helps with cognitive issues as well.

Here is the link if anyone is interested in checking it out.

http://clinicaltrials.mayo.edu/clini...&eKeyword=none


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OK, just got a voicemail from my neuro's nurse...
 

Somehow, my doctor (neurologist, Dr. Wynn) has said or done something so that the refusal for Nuvigil has been reversed. I didn't call back, didn't complain at all, though I did tell his nurse about how mixed up the whole process was. Apparently, he made a call or sent a letter because I was notified that Nuvigil is approved now. :confused:

I don't know how, or why but I can tell you this guy is awesome. :D

I second that opinion...:)

I kept checking the online order status at Medco and the Nuvigil wasn't showing up as pending shipment. I had to call today one last time to remind the order department that the approval department had indeed approved the Nuvigil so after about a 20 minute phone call, they are going to process the order and ship it. They originally received the order on about April 4th. I think all of my regular meds have been approved now, thank God. :icon_eek:

Isn't it amazing how much work one has to do to make sure the pharmas are processing the orders? Sheesh...