The Medications For Narcolepsy

Do you want to know more about the mostbecause it affords them the ability to diagnose and
effective and available medications for narcolepsytreat themselves better. It also helps them to
symptoms? Well, you have come to the right place!communicate better with a doctor.
There are, in fact, a widely scattered group ofCataplexy is the most common auxiliary symptom
medications that can be found on different onlineassociated with this disorder and afflicting over 70
sites on the internet but I have summarized some ofpercent of patients. Sleep paralysis and hypnogogic
these below for your reference.hallucinations are less common but are very
Let's look at the stimulants first. Stimulants likefrightening experiences as they can involve not only
Modafinil, unlike amphetamines, provide fewervisual aspects but also other senses of the body.
sympathomimetic side effects within dosages rangingSleep paralysis, on the other hand, occurs in only 30
from 100-400 mg. Methylphenidate-HCl is a genericpercent of cases, and the last, hallucination, is present
drug but it can be purchased branded at 5-60 mgin only 25 percent.
dosages so it can be very useful. This drug has aNarcolepsy is a debilitating disorder that causes
descriptive short duration of action which is better ifuncontrollable sleepiness and muscle weakness. The
combined with stimulant medications and scheduleddisorder can interfere with a person's ability to work.
napping. Destroamphetamine-sulfate andIf you are a student, who suffers from Narcolepsy,
methamphetamine-HCl are widely used in the Unitedyou may experience lack of mental alertness and
States due to their more potent and effectivepoor performance in school. This is the same with
characteristics compared to amphetamine. Those arethose who are working. Their personal interaction is
a great place to start but there is more.affected by this condition. In cases where narcolepsy
Anticataplectic compounds that aid in the decreasedis left untreated, worse symptoms can be
cataphexy symptom include venlafaxine, a newexperienced and are characterized by microsleep and
antidepressant with slow release that acts on bothtotal paralysis. From a simple case of paralysis
the serotoninergic and adrenergic systems.experienced only by a certain part of our body to
Protriptyline at 5-60 mg dosages is a mild stimulantthe worst cases of untreated narcolepsy, a total
but is associated with side effects like drying of themuscular collapse and paralysis may be experienced
mouth, constipation, and blurred vision. The mostdepending on the patient.
effective anticataplectic drug is the clomipramine. AnThe most recent news is extremely hopeful for
antidepressant Riboxetine acts on the adrenergicNarcolepsy patients. Researchers under the leadership
system of our body and produces very positiveof a professor of molecular genetics, Dr. Masashi
results. Sodium oxybate and hypnoticYanagisawa at UT Southwestern Medical Center at
Benzodiazepines are also hypnotic compounds thatDallas, are now claiming to have discovered a new
affect with short period of action and still helpmethod of treatment for narcolepsy. Just like in
eliminate EDS. That is quite a list but it should be amovies where mice are used for experiments, the
good way for you to get started.team used some genetically engineered mice with
It is important to recognize that this summary is onlylacking nerve cells in the brain. These nerve cells are
for general information and it does not intend toresponsible for producing the brain chemical Orexin.
replace any valuable medical guidance related to sleepThe method involved introducing this brain chemical
disorders. If you suffer from Nardcolepsy, it isto the mice both genetically and by manual injection.
important to see a physician. Scientist have openlyIt was concluded that without Orexin, the mice
admitted the difficulty in determining the accurateexhibited narcoleptic like symptoms including the
factors that cause narcolepsy. This disorder isoverpowering sleepiness and cataplexy symptom.
technically defined as an excessive daytimeWith injection of Orexin, the mice returned to full
sleepiness and involves sleep attacks called excessivewakefulness. Researchers believe that a lack of the
daytime sleepiness or EDS. They are associated withbrain chemical Orexin may be the root cause of
one or more other symptoms such as cataplexy,narcolepsy in humans as well. There is hope on the
hallucination, and sleep paralysis. This tetrad ofhorizon! With further research it is widely anticipated
symptoms occurs only in about 10 percent of cases.that a more complete cure for this disorder will soon
The duration and severity of the symptoms varyappear. However, more research and testing will still
depending on the patient. Understanding Narcolepsybe necessary before Orexin can be made available to
and cataplexy is a great benefit to the sufferersthe public.