Narcolepsy is a malfunction of the sleep/wake regulating system in the brain which until recently was of unknownorigin. Its most common manifestation is Excessive DaytimeSleepiness and sleep attacks.

Symptoms of Narcolepsy includes:
a. Temporary paralysis on falling asleep or awakening (sleep paralysis).

b. Hallucinations - vivid images or sounds - on fallingasleep or awakening (Hypnagogic and hypnopompic hallucinations respectively).

c. Moments (but sometimes extended periods) of trance-likebehaviour in which routine activities are continued on "auto-pilot" (Automatic behaviour).

d. Interruption of night-time sleep by frequent wakingperiods, marked by quickening of the heart rate, over- alertness, hot flushes, agitation, and an intense cravingfor sweets.

Is there any treatment?

There is no cure for narcolepsy, but the symptoms canbe controlled with behavioral and medical therapy. Theexcessive daytime sleepiness may be treated with stimulantdrugs or with the drug modafinil. Cataplexy and other REM-sleep symptoms may be treated with antidepressantmedications.

Medications will only reduce the symptoms, but will notalleviate them entirely. Also, many currently
available medications have side effects. Basic lifestyle adjustments such as regulating sleep schedules, scheduleddaytime naps and avoiding "over-stimulating" situations mayalso help to reduce the intrusion of symptoms into daytime
activities.

Drug Therapy

Stimulants are the mainstay of drug therapy for excessive daytime sleepiness and sleep attacks in narcolepsy patients.These include methylphenidate (Ritalin®), modafinil,dextroamphetamine, and pemoline. Dosages of these medications are determined on a case-by-case basis, and theyare generally taken in the morning and at noon. Otherdrugs, such as certain antidepressants and drugs that are still being tested in the United States, are also used totreat the predominant symptoms of narcolepsy.

 The major side effects of these stimulants are irritability,anxiety, quickened heart rate, hypertension, substanceabuse, and disturbances of nocturnal sleep. Methylphenidate
and dextroamphetamine are known to cause hypertension. A common side effect of modafinil is headache, usually relatedto dose size, which occurs in up to 5 percent of patients.Pemoline poses a very low but noticeable risk for liver complication. None of these stimulants influence theoccurrence of narcolepsy’s auxiliary symptoms and usuallyare not used to treat them.

Modafinil does not carry the addiction potential that methylphenidate and dextroamphetamine do. In fact, thelatest development in treatment is a new modafinil drugcalled Provigil®, which does not act as a stimulant and so does not produce side effects like anxiety and irritability.Provigil’s therapeutic effects have been observed inmaintenance of wakefulness test research, where patients have tripled their wakefulness.

Although there is no cure for narcolepsy, excessive daytime sleepiness, sudden sleep onset, and cataplexy. Proper sleephygiene,which includes a consistent sleep schedule and theavoidanceof shift work and alcohol, can drastically reduce the ill impact of narcolepsy. And often, patients with narcolepsy feel refreshed after a short nap; therefore, taking short scheduled naps maygreatly benefit patients combatting excessive daytimesleepiness.



About the Author

How important is a good night sleep worth to you? Ebe Henghas co-created the ultimate, informative and useful sleepdirctories for anyone with any sleep related problems. Ridthatinsomnia bug and get the sleep that you deserved! Check out=> http://www.1-2-sleep.com