Fatique... questions.
 

Hi. I haven't been on here for awhile. I haven't been doing much of anything except working and trying to sleep. I'm so tired.

I saw my neuro last Thursday and he ordered a sleep study test to rule out Sleep Apnea. He mentioned that if I do not have it, then there is medication for MS related fatigue. I had the test Monday night and although the tech wouldn't give me the results, I don't believe I have it.

Anyway, my question is... what is the medication you take for fatique? Does it work? Are there any side effects?

Thanks.:)

Hi Blondi! Glad to see you posting again!

I have a prescription for Provigil. Although I don't take it everyday....actually I haven't taken it in over a month....it does help with the fatigue and sleepiness when it hits.

I tolerate it well, although I know some folks who are very sensitive to meds cannot take it or have to take a reduced dose. The only side effect I have ever noticed was a slight headache but that went away after a few days.

It works well for me when I need it. Luckily, I haven't needed it in a while.

Good luck to you...I hope it's not sleep apnea.

Hello Blondie I also take provigil, it is good for me, but as you will learn in time what works for me may not work for someone else. Pretty sure your doc is going to want to talk about what options you have for meds and should discuss the side effects. I hope you get some relief from the fatigue, I know it can be a pain, hang in there

hi :)

i've taken provigil too. it worked for me for about 4 hrs then wore off.
i find i can get the same effect with a morning cup of regular coffee. but i don't take it too late, say around 1100 because then i can't sleep.

there are several meds that are available for MS fatigue.
i'm sure you'll find one that works best for you.

please know that MS fatigue is a very common sx (symptom).
i've learned how to pace myself thru the day to conserve energy. i've also learned to stop (my errands) when i feel the fatigue setting in. there have been times i've even stopped at a restaurant to have a bite, or a cup of coffee and benefit from their AC.

you'll find strategies that work for you.

Hey Kim~~ I don't currently take anything for fatigue, but have often thought about talking to my Dr about it. I seem to have highs and lows where that is concerned.

Really glad to see you posting and hope you get to feeling better soon. Take care.

Hi Blondi! Sorry to hear the fatigue is getting you down! Kudos to you for being pro-active!

I take Provigil too.

I take it as needed, from 100mg to 400 mg. It's expensive but my neuro wrote my scrip for 200 mg 2xdaily and my insurance covers it all except my co-pay. I just cut the pills in half and take a half when I need it or when I need more of it with my doc's blessing.

Some insurance companies make you try amantadine first. It's a lot less expensive, but it doesn't work for everyone.

I do get dry mouth from Provigil but the clear headedness and energy outweighs the dry mouth and it makes me drink more water and that is good!:)

Good Luck! Let us know how it turns out!

Fatigue is one tough sx to get control of, I've noticed.

I've been on amantadine for 8 yrs and take it every morning. With 2-3 cups of coffee the last year.

I've tried Provigil, it is expensive, and gives me a headache. I've heard if you take it and rest/sleep for 20 minutes it kicks in and you know it. I've not tried that though.

Hope you feel better soon.

MS fatigue is a tough one to treat... just like MS itself.
Everyone is different, with different levels of fatigue and reactions to the various treatments.

With that said, here's my input:

Fatigue stinks. Okay, I had to say that;)

For me, my neuro. has labeled it as 'severe fatigue'. Nice to have a label for that.

Over the years, I've tried Provigil, Amantadine; separately and together
throughout the day.

My current treatment (for the last two years) is Ritalin-SR 20mg 1xday.

Provigil or Amantadine had no effect on the fatigue.

The Ritalin ... it's okay... the neuro has run out of options for the fatigue. I don't have any reaction to the Ritalin, just like the other two...

no added energy or anything...

What's my fatigue like? ... my mind gets tired before the body :yawn: So over the years I've had to adjust.

Can't do anything repetitive for too long -- reading a book, driving ... etc. My energy that I do have is in the morning, so I try to do what I need to do before noon, while trying to pace myself throughout the day to make it to the end of the day.

I've recently been granted SSDI.

I yawn a lot, I drink coffee (not really for the caffeine but for the taste:wink:)

I do what I can do when I can do it.

My suggestion is this: work with your doc and keep a diary of the medication(s) effect over time. Teamwork with the doc. will make progress in treatment.

Take a deep breath and relax :)

Wishing you well!

Niko:cool:

I haven't tried many meds for my fatigue (except initally A/D's, and LDN), but my MS Specialist is of the impression that we should simply sleep when we need to, i.e. it's our body's way of telling us to slow down, if only for a few hours.

Besides the fact that I am a terribly unreliable employee at the best of times now, my MS Specialist thinks that we should "go with the flow" as much as possible. Stressing or taxing our body beyond it's current capability (at any given time) is a no-no as far as she's concerned.

Oddly, the one thing I found that did make a difference in this regard, was going off A/D's. I wasn't able to do that until I got on LDN, but between the two changes, my fatigue let up considerably. (Ironically, I was put on A/D's originally to hopefully HELP the fatigue. :confused:)

If this is a sudden change for you, I wonder if you may be relapsing. Have you noticed any other changes at the same time; weaker legs, numbness/tingling, cognitive problems, etc.? Personally I first go get checked for any unnoticed infection that might be going on (UTI, etc.) because when I have one my symptoms (and fatigue levels) always act up.

Cherie

Don't take any meds for fatigue. I just give into it and rest or
go back to sleep.

That has helped me. There have been times I wake in the morn
and 2 hrs. later I can't even stand up and I go back to bed and sleep
a couple more hrs. then wake and feel much better.

Listen to your body.

Jappy

Wow... thank you all for your replies and well wishes. I forgot how much I missed this place!

Over the weekend I tried something new. When I felt tired, really tired, I took a nap. Saturday and Sunday both. What a difference! I can't believe how much better I felt. I listened to my body... what a concept!

I do feel like I am in a relapse. It has been a rough summer. At my neuro visit, he suggested that I start using a cane because my balance has gotten so much worse. Without it, he is afraid I may fall and hurt myself. I've been going downhill like that for several months. But I actually feel it leveling out a bit. A lot of the same, but nothing new or worse.

I really didn't want to take any more meds, but I'm now welcoming them if he prescribes it. I feel like I live off of coffee and diet pepsi, yet I read (something I love to do) a couple of paragraphs in a book and I'm yawning and falling asleep. I'm still waiting to hear the results of the sleep study. I will also be curious to get the results of my latest brain mri to see if there have been any changes. I may have to do it over though because I had problems with my veins collapsing when they tried to inject the dye..... 7 times! They told me it was probably because I'm dehydrated, which is probably true since like I said, I live off of coffee and diet pepsi... it's hard to get regular water in there, or I would have to live in the bathroom.

Anyway, thank you so much. I feels so good to have someone understand how I am feeling!

Amantadine worked for ahwile for me but it also made my muscles very tense. Provigil didn't work. So I have been on Ritalin for about 5 years now. I also didn't think I had sleep apnea but after a sleep study I found out I did. My C-PAP really helps me with my sleep which just gives me a sounder sleep. I can't say that my fatigue is that much better. I even use the CPAP when I take a nap. I really missed it when our electricity was out for 3 days when the midwest was hit by so many wind starms after Hurricane IKE hit.

Well, I got the results from my sleep study. I have severe obstructive sleep apnea. I'm so upset right now... Isn't having MS enough??? Ugh... sorry, just feeling sorry for myself right now....

Blondi remember that knowledge is power! Get tht CPAP and get some sleep!

Okay, I've passed the feeling sorry for myself moment. Thank God, I hate it when I get like that. I go in Saturday night for the next part of my sleep study to use the cpap machine. I'm nervous, but ready to just get on with it.

I couldn't sleep last night. Everytime I was just about to fall asleep, I would have a panic attack and I was wide awake again. I think it freaked me out, knowing for sure that I stop breathing (according to my test results) 23 times per hour!:eek: I may have to take something to help me get to sleep tonight.

Good luck Blondi. I don't know if the sleep lab you go to is anything like mine was but one thing I could be assured of was that I was watched. You have the oxygen monitor on, the chest monitor is on and the 24 hour camera is on over the bed.

Yes, that sounds exactly like the one I go to. I can't believe how many people have sleep apnea. Since finding out I have it, so many people have told me they have it too. Everyone I've talked to has raved about how much better they feel since using cpap.

Although I'm not excited about sleeping with a mask attached to a machine, I'm looking forward to finally getting a good night's sleep and having more energy. I haven't had that in a very long time. I've always just assumed it was due to my MS. Thankfully my neuro looked outside of the box and recommended the sleep study.

Thanks for helping me through this!

Blondi,

I have a friend who uses the CPAP and he and his wife are very GRATEFUL to have it! He sleeps, therefore he functions in the day and his wife says the machine does not bother her at night at all.

Good Luck with it!

My doctor and Lady's are in agreement. Our bodies NEED the sleep for a reason. I consider it "Brain Repair Time"...you may find that you still need to take some naps!

Well, I survived the night with the CPAP machine. I got used to a lot faster than I thought I would. It wasn't enjoyable by any means, but it wasn't as horrific as I thought it was going to be.

I still have wait for the results of this study to go to my dr, then he will give me a rx for a machine. I thought this would happen a lot faster, but I'm going to enjoy my last week or so sleeping without a mask. :)