Treatment for Narcolepsy
There is no one particular cure for narcolepsy unfortunately. However, there are a combination of approches one can take to reduce the symptoms. Treatment of narcolepsy is best done with a combination of lifestyle changes, scheduled naps, and drug treatment. Also, drug treatments can also help deal with secondary symptoms such as catalexy, hallucinations, and sleep paralysis.
Medications for Narcolepsy
The drug most used for excessive daytime sleepiness and narcolepsy attacks are stimulants. Popular stimulants are Ritalin, Modafinil, Dextroamphetamine, and Pemoline. These drugs do have side effects such as irritability, anxiety, quickened heart rate, hypertension. If you are considering using any please consult a doctor.
Lifestyle Changes
Lifestyle changes are very similar to those recommended for insomnia, the idea is that if you can better regulate your normal sleep pattern and then supplement that with a couple of naps during the day, the effects of narcolepsy can be greatly reduced.
Some lifestyle changes may include:
- Avoid stimulants. Cutting stimulants out in the later part of the day will undoubtedly help your sleep and the quality of your sleep. Avoid Try to avoid things like chocolate, caffeinated sodas, and caffeinated teas, coffee
- Don’t go to bed hungry. Have a light snack a while before you go to bed so that you are not hungry, but try to avoid a big heavy meal
- Exercise. Include some exercise in your daily routine, but avoid exercise before bed. But if you lead a life which includes a lot of sitting down and not much movement, including some good exercise in the day will help with your sleep
- If you are not comfortable in your bed try adjusting the height of the pillows or even replacing your bed. Comfort has a lot to do with good restful sleep
- Avoid watching TV in bed. Even reading in bed can be a problem if the material is very stimulation. But if you find that reading in bed helps you to sleep be sure you use a very small wattage bulb to read
- Keep routines and regular bed times. A cup of herbal tea an hour before bed can begin a routine
Medications for the secondary symptoms of narcolepsy
Cataplexy, hallucinations, and sleep paralysis are usually treated with antidepressants and selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs).
Drugs such as imipramine or chlorimimipramine, are the most widely prescribed medications for the three subsymptoms of narcolepsy.
A cure for narcolepsy is probably still some time away but there are effective treatments which can reduce the symptoms and allow sufferers of narcolepsy to life a near normal life.
