Narcolepsy Symptoms and Treatments

1. Narcolepsy Symptoms and Treatments

2. Narcolepsy A daytime sleepiness condition in which some patients can fall asleep with little or no warning. Narcolepsy is a chronic brain disorder that involves poor control of sleep-wake cycles. Narcolepsy typically affects patients in their teenage years or in their 20’s. Sometimes patients are diagnosed in their 40’s or 50’s. In severe cases patients are prone to falling asleep with little or no warning. These are known as sleep attacks.

3. Symptoms Narcolepsy is a syndrome that can be characterized by chronic daytime sleepiness, accompanied by hypnologic, sleep paralysis and cataplexy. It is often the case where patients may not have all the symptoms but daytime sleepiness is a constant symptom in almost all patients.

4. Causes Most people with narcolepsy have low levels of the neurotransmitter hypocretin, which promotes wakefulness. Neurotransmitters are chemicals that neurons produce to communicate with each other and to regulate biological processes.

5. Common Conditions associated with Narcolepsy Narcolepsy patients are often misdiagnosed as depressed or having mood disorders because their sleepiness leads to mood disorder. Also, Narcolepsy can be a manifestation of other sleep or medical disorders. These can include untreated sleep Apnea, periodic limb movement disorder, restless legs syndrome, insomnia, or insufficient sleep.

6. Diagnosis & Treatments Testing may consist of an overnight Polysomnogram followed by a Multiple Sleep Latatency Test (MSLT). This can help to identify pathologic sleepiness, and abnormal sleep-wake transitions. Pharmacologic therapy and good sleep hygiene are the mainstay of treatment.

7. Thanks for reading !!! If you are experiencing symptoms of Narcolepsy, please contact us online or call us at 708-364-0261 to set up an appointment our sleep specialists.