What is Narcolepsy?


Narcolepsy is a neurological disorder caused by the brain's inability to regulate sleep-wake cycles normally.

At various times throughout the day, people with narcolepsy experience fleeting urges to sleep. If the urge becomes overwhelming, individuals will fall asleep for periods lasting from a few seconds to several minutes. In rare cases, some people may remain asleep for an hour or longer. 

In addition to excessive daytime sleepiness (EDS), three other major symptoms frequently characterize narcolepsy:

1. Cataplexy, or the sudden loss of voluntary muscle tone

2. Vivid hallucinations during sleep onset or upon awakening

3. Brief episodes of total paralysis at the beginning or end of sleep. 

Is There a Cure for Narcolepsy?

There is no cure for narcolepsy.  In 1999, the FDA approved a drug called Provigil® (modafinil) for the treatment of EDS associated with Narcolepsy.

Two classes of antidepressant drugs have proved effective in controlling cataplexy in many patients: tricyclics and selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors.  Drug therapy should be supplemented by behavioral strategies.  For example:

1. Many people with narcolepsy take short, regularly scheduled naps at times when they  tend to feel sleepiest. 

2. Improving the quality of nighttime sleep can combat EDS and help relieve persistent feelings of fatigue.

3. Among the most important common-sense measures people with narcolepsy can take to enhance sleep quality are actions such as maintaining a regular sleep schedule, avoiding alcohol and not drinking caffeine-containing beverages before bedtime.

In 2002, the FDA approved Xyrem® (sodium oxybate) for treating people with narcolepsy who experience episodes of cataplexy.  Due to safety concerns associated with the use of this drug, the distribution of Xyrem® is tightly restricted.

References
1. National Institutes of Health. "National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke: Narcolepsy."  http://www.ninds.nih.gov/disorders/narcolepsy/narcolepsy.htm (2007)
 



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