Identifying the Signs of Narcolepsy and Your Options for Treatment

Severe day sleepiness is the main and first sign that you might already be suffering from narcolepsy. This sleep disorder could take long before it is recognized as chronic drowsiness can be pointed to other reasons, but in the case of narcolepsy, the severe sleepiness happens no matter how much you’ve slept the previous night. Narcoleptics usually feel fatigued and exhausted or both.

Narcoleptics are susceptible to sleep attacks or sudden events of sleep that usually last from below thirty minutes to a few hours. The individual who has narcolepsy often does not see that he is about to go into an attack and has very little time to make comfortable and safe adjustments for the event that he conks out. These people are also susceptible to blurred eyesight and poor memory.

Researchers say that majority of narcoleptic cases are hereditary. Bad genes prevent the hypothalamus from telling the body to stay alert. The bad part is, narcolepsy can occur anytime regardless of what you are doing. It does not need a trigger.

Conditions that are not related to the genes are pointed to a dysfunction in the amygdala. The hypothalamus sees itself not able to work well because of the shortage of the protein called hypocretin.

So far, no cure for narcolepsy exists. However, there are things we can employ and medications we can take to address its symptoms. The medications you will be given depends on the severity of the disorder.

Drugs like Modafinil, dextroamphetamine (Dexedrine), and methylphenidate (Ritalin) are the most prescribed drugs against narcolepsy, primarily because of their hypocretin content. But doctors still recommend that they be taken along with better lifestyle habits. It’s useless to take caffeine as it’s not effective.

Finally, taking any type of drug to treat narcolepsy symptoms requires the monitoring and supervision of a doctor. If the condition is not taken seriously, it can possibly be morbid. There have been cases that sufferers had attacks while driving, which eventually resulted in their deaths.

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