What is Narcolepsy?

This is a chronic neurological disorder caused by the brain's inability to regulate sleep-wake cycles normally. Many 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 addition to excessive daytime sleepiness (EDS), three other major symptoms frequently characterize narcolepsy: cataplexy, or the sudden loss of voluntary muscle tone, vivid hallucinations during sleep onset or upon awakening, and brief episodes of total paralysis at the beginning or end of sleep. This is not definitively diagnosed in most patients until 10 to 15 years after the first symptoms appear.

Causes of Narcolepsy:

The cause of this disorder remains unknown. It is likely that narcolepsy involves multiple factors interacting to cause neurological dysfunction and sleep disturbances. scientists have discovered conditions that may increase an individual's risk of having the disorder. Specifically, there appears to be a strong link between narcoleptic individuals and certain genetic conditions.

Symptoms of Narcolepsy:

The major characteristic of narcolepsy is overwhelming excessive daytime sleepiness (EDS), even after adequate nighttime sleep. A person with narcolepsy is likely to become drowsy or to fall asleep, often at inappropriate times and places.
Other main symptoms of narcolepsy, which may not occur in all patients, are like sudden episodes of loss of muscle function, ranging from slight weakness to complete body collapse. Episodes may be triggered by sudden emotional reactions such as laughter, anger, surprise, or fear, and may last from a few seconds to several minutes. temporary unability to talk or move when waking up. Automatic behavior occurs when a person continues to function (talking, putting things away, etc.) during sleep episodes, etc. etc.

Diagnosis of Narcolepsy:

Diagnosis of Narcolepsy is relatively easy when all the symptoms of narcolepsy are present. But if the sleep attacks are isolated and cataplexy is mild or absent, diagnosis is more difficult.
Two tests that are mainly used in diagnosing narcolepsy are the polysomnogram and the multiple sleep latency test. These tests are usually performed by a sleep specialist. The polysomnogram involves continuous recording of sleep brain waves and a number of nerve and muscle functions during nighttime sleep. When tested, people with narcolepsy fall asleep rapidly, enter REM sleep early, and may awaken often during the night. The polysomnogram also helps to detect other possible sleep disorders that could cause daytime sleepiness.

Treatment of Narcolepsy:

Some treatments are available for narcolepsy.The drowsiness is normally treated using stimulants such as methylphenidate (Ritalin), amphetamines (Adderall), dextroamphetamine (Dexedrine), methamphetamine (Desoxyn), modafinil (Provigil), etc. Other medications used are codeine and selegiline. Treatment is individualized depending on the severity of the symptoms, and it may take weeks or months for an optimal regimen to be worked out. Complete control of sleepiness and cataplexy is rarely possible. The main treatment of excessive daytime sleepiness (EDS) in narcolepsy is with a group of drugs called central nervous system stimulants.