Xyrem can have side effects, such as nausea, bed-wetting and worsening of sleepwalking. It must be taken in two doses, one at bedtime and one up to four hours later. In high doses it may also help control daytime sleepiness. Sodium oxybate helps to improve nighttime sleep, which is often poor in narcolepsy. This medication is highly effective for cataplexy. These older antidepressants, such as protriptyline (Vivactil), imipramine (Tofranil) and clomipramine (Anafranil), are effective for cataplexy, but many people complain of side effects, such as dry mouth and lightheadedness.
Side effects can include weight gain, insomnia and digestive problems. They include fluoxetine (Prozac, Sarafem) and venlafaxine (Effexor XR). Doctors often prescribe these medications, which suppress REM sleep, to help alleviate the symptoms of cataplexy, hypnagogic hallucinations and sleep paralysis. Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) or serotonin and norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors (SNRIs).They may cause side effects such as nervousness and heart palpitations. These medications are very effective but can be addictive. Some people need treatment with methylphenidate (Aptensio XR, Concerta, Ritalin, others) or various amphetamines. Pitolisant may also be helpful for cataplexy. Sunosi (solriamfetol) and pitolisant (Wakix) are newer stimulants used for narcolepsy, headache and anxiety. Side effects are uncommon, but may include headache, nausea or anxiety. Modafinil and armodafinil aren't as addictive as older stimulants and don't produce the highs and lows often associated with older stimulants. Doctors often try modafinil (Provigil) or armodafinil (Nuvigil) first for narcolepsy. Drugs that stimulate the central nervous system are the primary treatment to help people with narcolepsy stay awake during the day. There is no cure for narcolepsy, but medications and lifestyle modifications can help you manage the symptoms. Other sleep disorders, such as chronic sleep deprivation, the use of sedating medications and sleep apnea, can cause excessive daytime sleepiness. These tests can also help doctors rule out other possible causes of your signs and symptoms. People who have narcolepsy fall asleep easily and enter into rapid eye movement (REM) sleep quickly. Specialists will observe your sleep patterns. You'll be asked to take four or five naps, each nap two hours apart. This examination measures how long it takes you to fall asleep during the day. The test measures the electrical activity of your brain (electroencephalogram) and heart (electrocardiogram) and the movement of your muscles (electromyogram) and eyes (electro-oculogram). For this test, you must spend a night at a medical facility.
This test measures a variety of signals during sleep using electrodes placed on your scalp. It measures periods of activity and rest and provides an indirect measure of how and when you sleep. This device has the look and feel of a wristwatch. Often, in addition to this sleep log, the doctor will ask you to wear an actigraph. You may be asked to keep a detailed diary of your sleep pattern for a week or two, so your doctor can compare how your sleep pattern and alertness are related. For instance, you indicate on a numbered scale how likely it is that you would doze off in certain situations, such as sitting down after lunch.
Cataplexy medication series#
A part of the history involves filling out the Epworth Sleepiness Scale, which uses a series of short questions to gauge your degree of sleepiness. Your doctor will ask you for a detailed sleep history.
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