LymeNet Flash: The drugs Gabitril and Provigil

This is topic The drugs Gabitril and Provigil in forum Medical Questions at LymeNet Flash.

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Posted by proud pup (Member # 4152) on :

Any body else on these??

The provigil is for Husbands fatigue during day.

The gabitril is for at night to help him get into a deep sleep.......

Depression has hit in big time, after a year treatment and he is alot worse, he finally went to a great lyme pych. reffered by our LLMD.

He put him on these meds along with Celexa.

[This message has been edited by proud pup (edited 29 May 2004).]

Posted by WIZARD (Member # 4597) on :

Hi Proud pup,

My husband takes Elavil and Gabitril at night for sleep. He was also prescribed Provigil but the insurance wouldn't cover it and we decided that if you need that much med to put you to sleep then more to wake you up, it seemed a bit excessive. Provigil is an amphitimine (upper) and is supposed to help keep you awake. He is out on disability now, so when he wakes up is no longer really an issue. I have always felt that without sufficient restorative sleep he would never get better. Even with the Elavil and Gabitril he still does not sleep all that well. But we just keep trying. It has been 10 months now and we are starting to see some improvements on IV rocephin and oral Zithromax. We also keep on questioning all the medications. Is he herxing with this current bout of fatigue? Is celexa an antibiotic? I don't recognize that name.

Posted by tickedntx (Member # 5660) on :

I'm curious if either of you (or husband) have seen a sleep disorders specialist to be evaluated for sleep disorders? They MAY (and I emphasize may) be able to help pinpoint the source of sleep disruption and/or help find the best medication or other method to deal with this. I have severely disrupted sleep even though once I fall asleep (which can be a chore), I generally don't realize that I am "waking up" on average every six minutes. I am trying medications but often wonder if it wouldn't be better to first find the source of the disruptions. I don't know if that is possible, though. My main question is do I have a primary sleep disorder or is there something else going on, perhaps as a result of Lyme, CFS, or something else.

Anyway, Wizard, I see you are in MA and I know a terrific sleep doctor at the Beth Israel Deaconness Medical Center in Boston if you are interested. If you are, email me and I'll give you info.

Suzanne

Posted by proud pup (Member # 4152) on :

Hi,

Celexa is for his depression, and really is working as far as getting him through the day with out "bad" thoughts. When you go years with being sick then finding out what it is and still after a year of treatment see NO improvment just worsening, it has left him a bit hopeless.

He has had 2 sleep studies showing nothing.

He never had this much fatigue before treatment. He can not get through the day, so that is why he is on provigil.

As far as the gabitril, since starting treatment a year ago he has trouble getting a good nights sleep and it is around 3am when he falls into his deep sleep to where I can not wake him in the morning.

He just started these meds that is why I asked if anyone else had any experince with them.

Thanks

Posted by curly (Member # 5739) on :

quote:
Originally posted by proud pup:
Hi,
Celexa is for his depression, and really is working as far as getting him through the day with out "bad" thoughts. When you go years with being sick then finding out what it is and still after a year of treatment see NO improvment just worsening, it has left him a bit hopeless.
He has had 2 sleep studies showing nothing.
He never had this much fatigue before treatment. He can not get through the day, so that is why he is on provigil.
As far as the gabitril, since starting treatment a year ago he has trouble getting a good nights sleep and it is around 3am when he falls into his deep sleep to where I can not wake him in the morning.
He just started these meds that is why I asked if anyone else had any experince with them.
Thanks