Destination Unknown - Life with Narcolepsy

Introduction

Narcolepsy is a chronic neurological disorder that causes overwhelming daytime drowsiness, sleep attacks, and abnormal behavior. These symptoms are often mistaken for laziness or inattention, but narcolepsy can be a life-changing condition that requires careful treatment to manage. In this article we’ll explore the causes of narcolepsy and its symptoms through first person accounts from people who live with the condition every day.

Narcolepsy is a sleep disorder that causes excessive sleepiness, as well as episodes of muscle weakness and unusual hallucinations.

Narcolepsy is a sleep disorder that causes excessive sleepiness, as well as episodes of muscle weakness and unusual hallucinations. It’s a rare condition that affects about 1 in 2,000 people.

There are two types of narcolepsy: type 1 and type 2. Type 1 is caused by loss of brain cells in the area that regulates sleep-wake cycles, while type 2 may be linked to genetic factors or environmental triggers such as stress or illness.

The exact cause of narcolepsy is unknown, but it appears to be caused by a deficiency of the brain chemical hypocretin/orexin.

The exact cause of narcolepsy is unknown, but it appears to be caused by a deficiency of the brain chemical hypocretin/orexin. Hypocretin is a neurotransmitter that helps regulate your sleep-wake cycle. People with narcolepsy have low levels of this chemical in their brains, while people with other sleep disorders like obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) and restless legs syndrome (RLS) have high levels.

At the time that you read this book, scientists think that most cases of narcolepsy are caused by a genetic abnormality that affects how the hypothalamus produces hypocretin and/or its receptors on neurons in several areas of the brainstem involved in regulating sleep and wakefulness.

There are four main symptoms of narcolepsy including excessive daytime sleepiness, cataplexy, sleep paralysis and hypnagogic hallucinations.

Narcolepsy is a chronic neurologic disorder characterized by excessive daytime sleepiness, abnormal REM sleep and vivid dreams. Narcolepsy affects 1 in 2,000 people worldwide. There are four main symptoms of narcolepsy including excessive daytime sleepiness, cataplexy (sudden muscle weakness in response to strong emotion), sleep paralysis (the inability to talk or move when falling asleep or waking up) and hypnagogic hallucinations (vivid imagery that occurs just as you fall asleep).

The exact cause of narcolepsy is unknown but it appears to be caused by a deficiency of the brain chemical hypocretin/orexin.

Excessive daytime sleepiness is the most common symptom. It can cause you to fall asleep suddenly at any time—such as the middle of a conversation or while driving a car.

Excessive daytime sleepiness is the most common symptom of narcolepsy, and it can cause you to fall asleep suddenly at any time—such as the middle of a conversation or while driving.

If you have narcolepsy, your brain doesn’t produce enough of a chemical called hypocretin (pronounced “hi-poh-KREH-tin”). This chemical helps keep you awake. When there’s less of it in your body, you may feel tired when other people don’t. But this isn’t always true for everyone with narcolepsy: some people with this condition can stay alert for long periods without feeling sleepy again even though their bodies don’t have enough hypocretin.

Other symptoms include cataplexy (sudden loss of muscle tone), sleep paralysis (brief inability to move) and vivid dream-like hallucinations as you’re falling asleep or waking up.

Other symptoms include cataplexy (sudden loss of muscle tone), sleep paralysis (brief inability to move) and vivid dream-like hallucinations as you’re falling asleep or waking up.

The type of medication used to treat narcolepsy depends on the patient’s symptoms. For example, stimulants like Provigil and Nuvigil can help people with excessive daytime sleepiness and cataplexy. But they can also cause high blood pressure and anxiety in some patients, so they’re not recommended for everyone with narcolepsy.

For those who experience hypnagogic hallucinations or sleep paralysis, drugs called tricyclic antidepressants may be prescribed—but these medications can have serious side effects including confusion, dizziness, blurred vision and low blood pressure. Some people with narcolepsy also benefit from taking amphetamines (Adderall XR is one brand name).

Excessive daytime sleepiness can be treated with stimulants like Provigil, Nuvigil, Ritalin and amphetamines.

Stimulants such as Provigil, Nuvigil and Ritalin can be used to treat the excessive daytime sleepiness that is characteristic of narcolepsy. These medications provide temporary relief from symptoms of narcolepsy such as cataplexy, but they do not cure the condition. Stimulants can also cause side effects like insomnia, nervousness and headaches amongst others.

Two other medications are also used to treat narcolepsy—Xyrem (sodium oxybate) and Symmetrel (amantadine). These two medications appear to help control cataplexy.

Two other medications are also used to treat narcolepsy—Xyrem (sodium oxybate) and Symmetrel (amantadine). These two medications appear to help control cataplexy.

The first, Xyrem, is an FDA-approved drug that was originally developed to treat cataplexy in people with narcolepsy. It is currently used off-label to treat excessive daytime sleepiness in patients with narcolepsy. The second, Symmetrel, is an antidepressant that can be used as a replacement for Levodopa/carbidopa or Modafinil if needed by patients with advanced Parkinson’s disease or Restless Legs Syndrome (RLS).

Treating narcolepsy can be difficult due to the severity of the condition and the fact that there isn’t always one treatment that works for everyone

Treating narcolepsy can be difficult due to the severity of the condition and the fact that there isn’t always one treatment that works for everyone. Treatment is based on symptoms, not causes, so finding effective treatment depends on assessing your symptoms and determining which treatments are most appropriate for you.

Narcolepsy affects individuals differently depending on which type they have, so it’s important to work with your doctor to figure out what kind of narcolepsy you have before starting any kind of treatment. Narcoleptics with cataplexy may need more aggressive action than those without cataplexy or REM sleep behavior disorder (RBD).

Treatment options include:

Conclusion

While narcolepsy is a serious condition, it’s also manageable. Treatment options include stimulants, Xyrem and Symmetrel. These medications can help control symptoms like excessive daytime sleepiness and cataplexy so that you can live a more normal life.