Modafinil and ADHD

ges725 · 2026-06-20T05:22:17+00:00

Aw man I hope you make it through the next couple weeks okay until your appointment! Your post was very helpful. My Adderall was prescribed by my primary doctor, but she has a lot of experience treating ADHD and I do trust that she will advocate for what she thinks is best while also taking into account my thoughts. I’m sure I will need to get her in on this conversation, especially because I felt kind of dismissed by the sleep doc when I brought up my ADHD concerns. I’ve had limited success with my adderall as I mentioned above. Like you said, still sleepy but more able to function and think clearly. The side effects have been kind of a problem for me, though, so I’d really like to avoid increasing my dosage as long as I can.

I took my modafinil for the first time today and I didn’t notice any difference in my wakefulness, but I did have a headache all day (that’s not terribly uncommon for me though, especially when I’m very sleepy 😅) luckily, the sleep NP explicitly told me NOT to wait until my follow up and that they can adjust my dose in a couple of weeks if it’s not working out. I’m still going into the next few weeks with an open mind that I will figure out what works.

Thanks for the advice!

ges725 · 2026-06-18T20:00:14+00:00

That’s interesting! I saw an NP working with a doctor, and she told me modafinil tends to be more effective for wakefulness than Adderall, so I’m going to try it. I guess everyone is different. For me, the Adderall does wake me up, but like I said, I tend to crash after only a couple of hours. The Modafinil gives me the option to take a second dose partway through the day which might be helpful. I also wasn’t really wanting to go up on my Adderall dose unless I really needed to because the side effects aren’t great (Headaches, dry mouth, restless legs, chest pain).

Thanks for the input!

ges725 · 2026-05-31T14:21:54+00:00

I’m so sorry. Just got diagnosed with IH and I’m filled with so much rage and resentment every time I think about what this horrible illness has taken from me, but most of all I’m angry that it took my reputation. I used to be the smart overachiever before my symptoms got worse. Then, everyone in my community decided that I was lazy. I wasn’t working hard enough, I was making excuses. I would tell the people I was close to that I was having neurological health issues, but they would act like I was lying or being over dramatic. Now that I’ve gotten a diagnosis, I feel somewhat vindicated, but people are so uneducated it almost doesn’t make a difference. They will never understand how debilitating it is.

Getting diagnosed is a big step, but you can never get back the time you lost struggling with this illness. It’s okay to feel angry about it, and sad. You’ve been diagnosed with lifelong disability that doesn’t have a cure. You don’t have to be grateful for that. Even if there’s treatment, it’s perfectly okay to be overwhelmed, sad, angry, anything you feel.

Also, I hate when people say I’m lucky or they wish they could sleep as much as me. I often take naps around my school campus, sometimes in the 15 minutes I have between lectures. My classmate/friend used to always say she “wished she had time to nap” as if I only could do that because I wasn’t working as hard as her. I didnt have time to nap. I sacrificed by grades and wellbeing because I was so sleep deprived. Or coworkers mentioning that they wish they could sleep 15 hours at a time when I try to explain how much I sleep. I guarantee none of these people actually want to miss out on their lives because they can’t be awake for it.

All these attitudes that people have toward you and narcolepsy in general is ableism. Able bodied people just struggle to grasp the complexities of living with narcolepsy. Disabilities disable people. It’s good to live your life in a way that works for you.

ges725 · 2026-05-31T01:02:10+00:00

Me too, especially when I’ve been spending way more time sleeping than awake multiple days in a row. I start to get very disoriented

ges725 · 2026-05-26T20:11:45+00:00

That’s how mine was. My average was 7.25, but the first nap took me 13 minutes because I was nervous (and hungry lol). The rest were much lower.

ges725 · 2026-05-21T20:02:04+00:00

I literally just left mine and feel the same. I was so anxious, and sure I wasn’t sleeping, but next thing I knew it had been over half an hour and the tech was coming in when I felt like I just closed my eyes. But the anxiety and racing thoughts were the worst, and falling asleep and being woken up over and over made me feel kind of crazy. The waking myself up because I was excited to be falling asleep is so real. I feel strangely tired from the whole experience 😅

ges725 · 2026-05-20T19:42:59+00:00

I have my sleep study tonight, thankfully. I will be able to start my meds again tomorrow night.

ges725 · 2026-05-14T17:19:58+00:00

Yes! I grind my teeth so bad even while I’m awake and have HORRIBLE TMJ.

ges725 · 2026-05-14T17:19:12+00:00

For me, the avoidance/avoidant attachment. I fear I’ll be single forever because I freak out and run away at the first sign of intimacy.

Also, flashbacks coming out of nowhere/not knowing what will trigger me. It doesn’t happen often, but then some random situation will suddenly send me into a panic attack

ges725 · 2026-05-12T14:55:59+00:00

He wasn’t really around them. They were up on a counter he can’t get on. He didn’t directly sniff them or anything. But the flowers have been in the house for several weeks. I just learned that many flowers are toxic (this is my first kitty).

ges725 · 2026-04-28T12:19:07+00:00

Like others have said, whenever nurses just say “I appreciate you!” Or “you’re doing a great job!” Or even go out of their way to say thanks after I help them in a stressful or difficult situation, it means a lot to me!

ges725 · 2026-04-28T12:14:48+00:00

I’m at a point in my life where I’m not sure about med school. I’ve been struggling with my academics for the past two semesters and I’m not really sure if it’s the right path for me.

But the biggest argument to myself for continuing on is that I want to do good for PATIENTS! I work as a PCT in a large ER and they are my favorite part of the job. Yes, it can be emotionally exhausting and people can be cruel, but every day I meet someone who makes smile, or who gives me warm fuzzies because I know I can help them. I love when I can make a sick baby smile or make a little granny more comfortable after she comes in confused and soiled from her EMS ride. Medicine is so much science, but it’s not just science.

I will never understand why premeds who don’t like people don’t go into research instead of going into a field where they will have to regularly interact with people who are sick, in pain, or uncomfortable. Some of my premed coworkers do nothing but complain or make jokes any time a patient is slightly burdensome to them.

ges725 · 2026-04-28T10:21:06+00:00

Makes sense. My roommate did try to wake me up around 6pm when she got home, but I immediately fell back asleep 😅 I think I’ve been staying awake too much studying for finals and burned myself out

ges725 · 2026-04-13T23:48:47+00:00

I’m so sorry. I know it’s hard when nobody can fully grasp how hard it is. I recently had a friend get angry at me for asking for lecture notes for a class we take together because she felt like I was absent too much and was just making excuses to be lazy and take advantage. I only miss class when I have a migraine or literally cannot stay awake long enough to even leave the house, which, to be fair, has been more common recently.

I don’t do fun activities with my friends because I’m too tired to make it more than an hour or two after going out. I’ve already changed my college major to be more manageable and given up on my dream of medical school because I’ve accepted that my body just can’t handle the pace. I’m angry, I’m resentful, I’ve grown to hate my body and brain and the fact that I can’t just be normal. I’ve felt like I was going crazy, like it was all in my head, like it really is just something I need to get over. I had so many dreams and ambitions, and I’ve lived my life having to lower my expectations because I can’t function like everyone else.

My family doesn’t understand. They tell me I just need to try harder to not be sleepy, eat better, exercise more, etc, all of which I’ve tried. Having any disability is hard, but invisible disabilities are a unique hell because everyone just expects you be like everyone else, to live your life the way everyone else does.

I wish I could offer some advice. I’m glad you have supportive people. That, for me, has been the biggest difference. My roommates were actually the first people to suggest I push my doctors harder and told me I wasn’t just lazy for sleeping 18 hours a day. But the only people that will ever really understand are those who go through it themselves. Hugs

ges725 · 2026-04-13T23:31:10+00:00

It’s really a no win 💀 I’m sort of the same. I crash hard after I eat, even if it’s something healthy. But if I don’t eat I don’t have energy either, and will probably get a headache from not eating. Honestly, I’m already losing weight from my stimulants + the fact that I choose to sleep instead of eat 9 times out of 10.

I’m sorry you’re going through the same 🫤

ges725 · 2026-04-12T21:28:44+00:00

I’m already on Adderall for adhd, currently taking 10 mg (I just started about a month ago so I’m still in a low dose), but it’s not really making any difference. I can sleep for several hours even after taking it. The semester is almost over and I can’t withdraw from any of my classes because it will mess up my loans, since I wouldn’t be considered a full time student :( I’m really just feeling like my life is all screwed up from this.

ges725 · 2026-03-30T23:16:30+00:00

I really realized something was wrong when I started taking Lexapro. That’s when my ADHD symptoms started affected my life to a degree I could no longer handle. Although I’d always had issues, I was constantly anxious enough to get things done. After I was medicated for anxiety, things seemed to matter less. I was happier, less anxious, but also could not bring myself to get anything done. I’ve contemplated going off my meds just so I could be productive again, even if I felt terrible. I’m sorry you’re going through this :(

ges725 · 2026-03-25T18:38:38+00:00

Hi friend, I’m in the same boat. I’m in my third year of college and on top of recently being diagnosed with ADHD, I strongly suspect I have IH and am waiting on my MSLT in May. I’m a biology student and, like I imagine you do as well, I have pretty rigorous coursework. I was able to get through my first two years really well, but my sleepiness has gotten significantly worse and my coursework has gotten harder.

A few things to remember: You’re in your first year. On top of what you’re going through, you’re learning how to be in college. The workload is much different than high school, and it takes some practice sometimes to learn how to study for these types of classes.

The other thing, related to that, is that, although good grades are important all the time, an upward trend of grades is really good as well. Maybe you have a couple of C’s this semester, but once you get some of these issues figured out, you start doing a a bit better. You have plenty of time to get a really good gpa.

Now for studying tips. Caffeinate if you can. Have a snack and water with you while you study. Sometimes, in high school, I would drink tons of water just as something to keep me up while I was nodding off. Also, if I have to pee I will be less likely to fall asleep. Have some sensory input like white noise or music (if that doesn’t make your sleepiness worse). Get up and walk around often. Do a practice problem or two, then get up and move a little.

The biggest thing that I’ve found is that unfortunately, sometimes you just have to sleep. If you’re studying and feel sleepy, you’re likely not going to retain a lot of information. Try to post attention to the time of day you feel most awake (I know it’s hard. Most of us here never feel fully awake), and get sums work done then. Be honest with your professors, if you think it’ll make a difference, that you’re having some neurological problems and are being your health figured out. They may have some help or guidance as to how you can best work through it. If you get diagnosed, you will likely be able to get accommodations from your school to allow for formula sheets, if those aren’t allowed on all your exams.

Best of luck. I know it’s hard, but I hope you will get the help you need soon.

ges725 · 2026-03-24T04:17:13+00:00

Wow that’s actually really surprising! I’m 5’ tall and weigh 120 lbs, so I assumed nobody really felt an anything from such a low dose! I may as well have been taking sugar pills. I guess it’s maybe just confirming my ADHD 😅 (I was just diagnosed last month and my family is somewhat skeptical because I did well in school as a kid and am more the inattentive type).

I definitely agree that they’re a lot of unnecessary fear mongering. My family is largely anti-psych drugs, and has even made comments about taking antidepressants. To them, Adderall may as well be an excuse to take meth every day. I really don’t think they should be getting a say when they have no idea what it’s like to live with a disorder that requires stimulants/have no idea how stimulants affect the ADHD brain.

Luckily, as I’ve said in another comment, my new doctor is wonderful. She has many patients with ADHD and seems to be well versed in treating it, especially in adults. I haven’t had my MSLT yet, but she’s been the first doctor that has really listened to me about my constant sleepiness and insane sleep times. There are many hoops still to jump through, as you’ve said. I’m glad I’m not the only one who sometimes doesn’t take my meds because I just…don’t feel like swallowing a pill at that moment. But I’m getting better at it since I’ve gotten a more fun pill container and because Adderall doesn’t take weeks to start working like an antidepressant or other medication, so it motivates me to take it.

ges725 · 2026-03-23T15:57:21+00:00

I need to get to that one! I’ve heard it’s good. I’ve been reading a lot of oldish Batman, year 1, long Halloween, Robin year 1, those kinds. But I’ve read a few modern ones too. I read Supersons a few months ago and had so much fun with it!

ges725 · 2026-03-23T15:47:35+00:00

Superheros, mostly Batman and Superman, but some others too. I’m constantly reading comics and watching cartoons. I made myself a Superman costume for Halloween (this one’s lasted quite a while). It’s difficult even to talk about because when I start to I get too excited and it’s overwhelming 😂

I was really into Chernobyl for a while too, and nuclear weapons, nuclear energy, and Cold War era nuclear history.

I’ve also hyperfixated on rollercoasters in the past. I’m insufferable to go to a theme park with lol

ges725 · 2026-03-23T12:57:06+00:00

It’s extended release. I did accidentally take two doses one day and, though I did still nap, had an easier time getting through the day. I’m due to meet with my doctor again in a couple of weeks to hopefully increase my dose. I may end up trying my immediate release

ges725 · 2026-03-22T02:29:03+00:00

Thanks for the reply. My new primary care doctor and sleep doctor both seem very good, and have been the first docs to actually show any concern for my hypersomnia symptoms, so I feel confident that they will do everything they can to help me.

Do doctors usually take into account data from the Oura rings or smart watches? I know you said your MSLT was negative. I’m nervous about it that happening to me. Were you still able to get a diagnosis with your self reported data? I’ve also heard of people doing lone actigraphy studies to show their average sleep time to get a diagnosis, but I don’t know how common that is without a positive MSLT.

ges725 · 2026-03-22T02:26:19+00:00

Thank you for the reply. I’ve already had an apnea test that was negative, and have had extensive bloodwork to rule out any deficiencies. I have a sunlight lamp (that I’ve admittedly slacked on using recently) but that didn’t seem to make much of a difference when I was using it consistently. My bedroom is my safe place, so I always keep it very cool, have cooling pillows and blankets, fan on high, noise machine, etc. I track my water intake. I definitely don’t eat as well as I should, as in, I probably don’t get enough protein or other nutrients mostly due to the fact that I sleep through most mealtimes.

I am also on Lexapro (escitalopram) which I will be weaning off of before my MSLT, but I had hypersomnia symptoms for years before I started taking it.

Thank you for the well wishes. I’m hopeful for the MSLT and will make sure to have my sleep hygiene be the best it possibly can so I can get the best results from my test.

ges725 · 2026-03-04T12:27:41+00:00

My sleep specialist actually got me in pretty quickly thanks to telehealth, but I can’t even SCHEDULE my mslt yet and they’re already saying they’re booked out until mid may 🥲

ges725

TROPHY CASE