Narcolepsy is a serious Armod 150 condition, and it needs to be treated. It can affect your life and cause you to become a danger to yourself or others. If you have narcolepsy, you need to work with your doctor to find the best treatment for you.
The most common symptom of narcolepsy is extreme daytime sleepiness. You may feel tired all the time, and it can be hard to focus or function at work, school or in your personal life. You might also have sudden lapses of memory and forgetfulness, as well as problems with concentration.
Another symptom is sudden loss of muscle tone, called cataplexy. This can result in slurred speech and complete weakness of most muscles. This is a very scary experience, and it can happen suddenly and without warning.
Other symptoms include sleep paralysis, interrupted or disturbed sleep (including vivid dreams), and hallucinations while asleep. These episodes can last from a few seconds to several minutes at a time, and you usually wake up when you have them.
Your doctor can diagnose narcolepsy by reviewing your symptoms and medical history. Your doctor might ask you to take a few tests, such as blood tests or a sleep study.
The first line of treatment for narcolepsy is medications that boost your wakefulness. These drugs, which are available as over-the-counter products, such as modafinil or armodafinil, can help you to stay awake longer and improve your ability to concentrate.
They can also prevent or reduce the severity of cataplexy attacks and improve your sleep at night. They can be taken as daily tablets, capsules or drinkable solutions.
You may need to make changes in your diet and exercise routine, and you may have to limit your caffeine and alcohol consumption. This can help to reduce your symptoms and maintain a healthy weight.
Your doctor will also prescribe medicine to prevent relapses of cataplexy and restore normal sleep patterns. These medicines, such as melatonin, can be given as tablets, capsules or drinkable solutions.
These medicines can be helpful in treating narcolepsy, as well as other disorders that cause excessive daytime sleepiness. They also can help you avoid accidents and other health problems that can arise from the condition.
Narcolepsy is a treatable condition
Narcolepsy is a condition that can be treated. Treatments often involve a combination of medications, behavioral changes and counseling. Many people with narcolepsy benefit from these treatments and live normal, healthy lives.
The first step is to get a diagnosis of narcolepsy. This can be done by a medical professional who is trained to diagnose sleep disorders. Your doctor will ask you about your symptoms and conduct a physical exam. They may also do lab tests to confirm the diagnosis.
In most cases, narcolepsy is caused by low levels of a brain protein called hypocretin (orexin). Your body makes orexin to control wakefulness and without it, you feel drowsy all the time. It’s not clear why some people have low orexin, but it could be due to genetic predisposition, an infection or an autoimmune disease such as rheumatoid arthritis.
You can learn more about narcolepsy by visiting the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke. You can also get information from other sources, such as the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
If you have narcolepsy, you will need regular follow-up visits with your doctor. These appointments will focus on managing your symptoms and adjusting your sleep schedule.
Medications are the first line of treatment for most people with narcolepsy. These include stimulants, such as modafnil (Provigil) or methylphenidate (Ritalin), which stimulate your nervous system and help you stay awake throughout the day.
Another type of treatment is behavior modification, which involves changing habits that are disrupting your sleep cycle and causing you to be tired during the day. Getting enough sleep, eating well, exercising and avoiding certain triggers, such as alcohol or caffeine, can improve your sleep quality and reduce your fatigue.
In some cases, your doctor may recommend short naps during the day to refresh your mind and body. However, these naps have only been shown to be helpful for a short period of time and cannot be used as a substitute for getting enough sleep at night.
The most important part of narcolepsy treatment is getting regular check-ups with your doctor. They will monitor your progress, and you should make sure to bring someone with you to help you ask questions. They will also track your daily sleep patterns using a device known as actigraphy.
