Re: FW: Daytime Sleepiness and ProVigil

March 20, 2002

What about Eldepryl? It is used a lot for Parkinson's and must be given

before noon because it metabolizes to an amphetamine and can keep someone

awake. It does lower the BP, but ken too kit for many years and found it very

helpful. As his BP problems became harder to control, he was taken off the

Eldepryl.

Barbara

March 20, 2002

,

Rob's insurance pays for ProVigil. As far as I know, it's a

treatment for narcolepsy, and is not limited to pediatric use. (For

that matter, I'm not sure it's even approved for pediatric use.) I

would suggest that the doctor write a letter to the insurance company

stating why ProVigil is the drug of choice for Jeff and that there

are no other medications that will have the same effect. If they

don't approve it then, be a pushy broad and take it up to the

supervisor, then to the insurance commission in your state. Keep

pushing until you get it approved. It may take a while, but I'll bet

you can get it.

Carol & Rob

> Jeff also had good results with ProVigil, but was only able to get

one

> prescription. After that, the insurance wouldn't pay because Jeff

is over

> 18!! The doctors then tried dexedrine, but Jeff hated the way it

made him

> feel (it's an amphetamine, like being on speed), so we

discontinued.

> Daytime sleepiness and shortness of breath are two of Jeff's most

constant

> and prominent symptoms. Anybody out there have luck getting

ProVigil

> approved? He'd love to get back on it, but we can't afford $300 a

> prescription.

>

> Lou and others,

>

> If you rule out sleep apnea and other medications as a cause of

> sudden daytime sleepiness, I would suggest asking your doctor about

> trying ProVigil. It is used for narcolepsy. Rob has been taking it

> for about a year and it seems to be helping not only with sleepiness

> but with alertness. The only drawback is that it is very expensive.

>

> Carol & Rob

March 20, 2002