Comments on: Is Big Pharma learning its sales tactics from street drug dealers?

By: Gerry Higgins, Ph.D.

Gerry Higgins, Ph.D. — Mon, 24 Oct 2011 13:00:57 +0000

Patent extension has already been granted by the FDA for Provigil. In addition, Nuvigil is not covered by many health insurance plans, but Provigil is. Finally, the pharmacology discussed here is not definitive. Very little is known about the pharmacodynamics of either drug.

By: greeble

greeble — Tue, 17 May 2011 18:05:16 +0000

If it is an isomer- then consider this; dextroamphetamine has 2x the potency of “racemic” amphetamine.

So yes, isomers can have significant differences, in both their effects as well as toxicities.

By this set of facts; IF nuvigil is the more active isomer, it may be considerably longer lasting.

That is IF the isomer in question is active at receptors better than provigil, metabolizes at a slower rate.

By: Sylvia

Sylvia — Sun, 24 Apr 2011 12:58:17 +0000

I started taking Nuvagil with the 14day trial while trying to get my incurance though. My insureance denied it but said provigil was fine. So I took the Nuvagil tell I got the provigil. On the Nuvagil I felt wonderful and awake for the first time in my memory (I just got diagnosed with narcolepsy) I had trouble getting to sleep some times but I did alright. Now that I am on provigil I am having crazy mood swings I nearly yelled at a customer at work today and nearly stormed out another time. I feel extreamly bi polor. From your posts I may wait to see if this goes away but if not I dont know what i will do. Because I cannot take the provigail if this keeps up and the nuvagil costs so much!!! I am going to look for programs that may be able to help me in the mean time. But I really dont want to go back to sleeping 12-18hrs a day.

By: Josh

Josh — Sun, 27 Mar 2011 00:11:33 +0000

There should be some measurable differences. The right enanitomere (R-modafinil = Armodafinil = Nuvigil) probably has more favorable characteristics either with respect to potency, side-effects, slower elimination from the body, etc. The fact that the dose is lower can be a good sign. Companies commonly extend their patents by isolating one of the enantiomeres and act like it’s a second generation drug.

It eventually becomes clear whether or not it’s a substantial improvement, so I wouldn’t go switching unless significant improvements are reported over the original and/or the price is similar (i.e. both/neither are generic).

If there are increased side-effects, they may have chosen the molecule with the wrong chirality to maximize one property like potency over others like health effects that are actually more desirable to customers in the long-run. It’s a business decision, so don’t take it personally. No amount of industry regulation can approach the value of self-education on something as dangerous and potentially miraculous as drugs, legal or not.

By: Rudy

Rudy — Tue, 01 Mar 2011 22:10:18 +0000

I have an atuo immune and my doc has had me on Provigil for almost three years. Insurance does not cover any of it. I pay almost $600 a month inorder to fight the effects of my illness. I am switching over to NuVigil in hopes that the insurance company will cover some of the cost. Fighting the cronic fatigue takes more than one pill a day. I am taking three a day just to stay awake. I love Provigil just not the cost. The drug company and the FDA needs to look at the facts that this medication should be allowed for cronic illnesses!!!

By: Sheilla

Sheilla — Sat, 26 Feb 2011 04:46:24 +0000

Provigil has been a wonder drug for me. After years of falling asleep at the drop of a hat; having to allow myself 2 or 3 times as long to drive somewhere in case I had to pullover and sleep, and convincing my employer to let me telecommute to keep from getting caught sleeping at my desk, I feel like a new person. My family can’t believe the difference in me, and I’m relearning what it’s like to have a life again. The doctor started me out on 200 mg and we saw improvement, but not as much as hoped for. We went to 400 mg per day and that did the trick for me…that is until I changed jobs and had to combat the combined effects of narcolepsy with shift work. The doctor added and addtional 200 mg per day as needed and I take the extra pill only rarely but it has gotten me through some challenging days. I’m perfectly happy staying with Provigil except for the cost, but long-term, it seems that it will eventually be more cost effective to do so if I catch the gist of this thread. It would be great to get a generic version, though!

By: Vance

Vance — Fri, 05 Nov 2010 17:10:37 +0000

Did you all know that Provigil *modafinil* has been off patent for years. The drug company (Celgene) paid off generic companies not to make generic Provigil.

There should be almost no difference between Provigil and NuVigil. None. It is simply that Provigil contains right and left handed molecules, anad NuVigil contains only left handed molecules.

It’s like Prilosec and Nexium, or Celexa and Lexapro.

By: Keith

Keith — Wed, 29 Sep 2010 00:30:47 +0000

I agree Provigil works alot better and Nuvigil has been givin me head aches where Provigil did not have any side affects at all.

By: Keith

Keith — Wed, 29 Sep 2010 00:27:33 +0000

Oops…”I meant Doc put me on Nuvigil because Insurance company took Provigil off their list.”

By: Keith

Keith — Wed, 29 Sep 2010 00:25:28 +0000

I have taken the Provigil since it first came out. It really works good with almost no side affect that I ever noticed. Doc put me on Provigil because Insurance company took it off their list (Obviously because the company jacked up the price and brought out Nuvigil). Been taking the highest dose of Nuvigil and I don’t think its as good. Provigil definitly works better and I noticed I get alot of head aches from Nuvigil where I did not with Provigil. My pharmisist said that it has a different way of working but close to the same. I think its a buch of crap that drug companies can get rich with a monopoly on a drug, than jack up the price to pursuade the insurance companies to drop the same drug that has worked great for 12 years and now stuck with head ache city and something that does not keep me awake as good. Trying to find assistance with my pills for six months because I have to go private Insurance and none of them will cover pre-existing conditions which is another legal scheme. When the price drops on Provigil or Generic form comes out Nuvigil is history!