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Sleeping Problems (Home) > Narcolepsy > Narcolepsy Treatment

Narcolepsy: Diagnosis, Test Treatment and Prevention

Diagnosis

The diagnosis of Narcolepsy is relatively easy when all the symptoms are present. However, if the sleep attacks are isolated or rare, and Cataplexy is mild or absent, then diagnosis can be a lot more difficult.

The following tests are performed by a sleep specialist to diagnose Narcolepsy:

• Polysomnogram
• Multiple Sleep Latency Test

People with Narcolepsy fall asleep rapidly, enter REM sleep quickly, and may awaken often during the night. These tests are designed to test for this behavior.

A Polysomnogram is a device that continuously records the brain waves and a number of other nerve and muscle functions during nighttime sleep, the results of which can be used to detect and distinguish between a range of possible sleep disorders that could cause the Excessive Daytime Sleepiness (EDS).

For the Multiple Sleep Latency Test, a person is given a chance to sleep every 2 hours during times that they are normally awake. Observations are made of the time taken to reach various stages of sleep, and these can determine the degree of daytime sleepiness and also detect how soon REM sleep begins.

	Random Sleeping Tip
It is really important that our bodies must adapt to early morning exercise for about 30 minutes to an hour in the form of walking or spending time at a gym lifting weights every day. The reason that this workout is important is that our bodies expend energy and this helps us to decrease the reserves of our energy accordingly that helps us to maintain proper sleeping habit every single day. People who exercise regularly are able to maintain a very healthy lifestyle that is an example for a lot of people.

Complications / Issues

The symptoms of Narcolepsy, especially the Excessive Daytime Sleepiness (EDS) and Cataplexy, can often become so severe that they cause serious disruptions in a person's social, personal, and professional lives and severely limit their activities and independence.

Treatment

Several treatments are available for the symptoms Narcolepsy. These treatments treat the symptoms, but not the underlying cause, which at this time is incurable.

The treatment(s) selected for Narcolepsy depend on the severity of the symptoms, and it may take weeks or months for an optimal treatment regime to be worked out. Complete control of sleepiness and Cataplexy is rarely possible.

Narcolepsy treatment is achieved by lifestyle changes and, if necessary, medications. The main treatment of Excessive Daytime Sleepiness (EDS) in Narcolepsy is with a group of drugs called central nervous system stimulants.

In addition to drug therapy, an important part of treatment is scheduling short naps (10 to 15 minutes) two to three times per day to help control Excessive Daytime Sleepiness (EDS) and help the person stay as alert as possible. These daytime naps are not a replacement for proper nighttime sleep.

Where treatment for Excessive Daytime Sleepiness (EDS) is required, then the drowsiness may be treated with one of the following stimulants:

• Methylphenidate (Ritalin)
• Amphetamines (Adderall)
• Dextroamphetamine (Dexedrine)
• Methamphetamine (Desoxyn)
• Modafinil (Provigil)
• Codeine
• Selegiline

For Cataplexy, antidepressant medications and other drugs that suppress REM sleep are prescribed, such as clomipramine, imipramine, or protriptyline, but this is only usually required in severe cases.

A new medication, called gamma-hydroxybutyrate (GHB) (Xyrem), may be an effective for Narcolepsy because it increases the quality of nocturnal sleep.

Caffeine and over-the-counter drugs are not effective for Narcolepsy treatment, and are not recommended.

Prevention

• At this time, there is no prevention or cure for Narcolepsy.
• The best way to prevent the onset of the symptoms of Narcolepsy is for the sufferer to work with their doctor to discover the cause for their disorder, so that the causes can be treated, removed, or reduced.
• Ongoing communication between the doctor, the Narcolepsy sufferer, and their family members about the response to treatment is necessary to achieve and maintain the best control.

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