Re: Medicare and Provigil

[Guest guest]

Thanks Steve. I appreciate your help nd information.

As I said *I* used Ritalin myself once or twice about 35 yrs ago.

Otherwise no- have not had it prescribed for me..

None of the doctors have ever prescribed Ritalin or Adderall for me.

I intend to ask my doctor for Ritalin this next appointment coming up-as I'd

said, I mentioned it but i had many prescriptions to refill, and he also wound

up telling me I was basically healthy!

Re: appealing-- I can't get any medication preauthorized unless the doctors will

agree to keep filling out the forms.

Which, every doctor I know seems to hate to do.

Truth is, I'd rather try something else besides Provigil anyway.

I believe I may have ADD too, but even though Adderall might help with both

problems(fatigue and trouble focusing)- it's a definite amphetamine.

Not only do I have high blood pressure but I'm sober alcoholic, sober in AA.

Even after more than 3 decades of sobriety, I don't want to take amphetamines.

I know Ritalin is almost the same thing, except it was much less of a jolt to

my CNS and, wore off more smoothly.

Provigil was OK, but if I haven't slept, it doesn't work.

In fact, I felt crazy and dissassociated unless I took it after a full night's

sleep.

Part of my problem is not sleeping well, so that won't work so well for me. :-)

I could use some suggestions re: how to request what I need form the MD, if you

(or anyone) has any ideas..

But thanks very much for your support already either way.

Re: Medicare and Provigil

My best advise is to appeal, appeal, appeal.

When you're attempting to get approval for Provigil or Nuvigil, you

usually have to have already tried a cheaper on formulary generic

(usually generic Adderall or generic Ritalin).

Make sure the Prior Authorization form is filled out THOROUGHLY.

Have you ever tried generic Adderall or Ritalin?

Steve M in PA

> I'll try that .

> The thing is my doctor did try a special authorization for it and they( the

insur co) refused it.

> He'd have to say I have narcolepsy or shift-work disorder.

> I can ask again but he didn't seem to want to bend the rules a bit.

> This doctor is a  very nice man about my own age, easy going and not a jerk.

>

> But unfortunately, I don't think he believes in Fibromyalgia.

> He keeps thinking I should exercise more, which *would* help, but it will

*not* cure me. He wants me to go to water aerobics or at least to swim, and I

would but hav