Narcolepsy is a chronic disease of the central nervous system which is typically characterized by the following symptoms with varying degrees of frequencies include:
- excessive daytime sleepiness
- cataplexy (loss of muscle tone)
- hypnagogic hallucinations (distorted perceptions)
- sleep paralysis (inability to move or talk)
- disturbed nocturnal sleep
- automatic behavior ((patients carry out certain actions without conscious awareness)
- other complaints such as blurred vision, double vision, or droopy eyelids
Narcolepsy usually begins in teenagers or young adults and affects both sexes equally. The first symptom to appear is excessive daytime sleepiness, which may remain unrecognized for a long time in that it develops gradually over time. The other symptoms can follow excessive daytime sleepiness by months or years.
Advances have been made in the last few years in determining the cause of narcolepsy. The newest discovery has been the finding of abnormalities in the structure and function of a particular group of nerve cells, called hypocretin neurons, in the brains of patients with narcolepsy. These cells are located in a part of the brain called the hypothalamus and they normally secrete neurotransmitter substances (chemicals released by nerve cells to transmit messages to other cells) called hypocretins. Abnormalities in the hypocretin system may be responsible for the daytime sleepiness and abnormal REM sleep found in narcolepsy.
The diagnosis of narcolepsy is based on a clinical evaluation, specific questionnaires, sleep logs or diaries, and the results of sleep laboratory tests.
The treatment of narcolepsy includes drug and behavioral therapies.
The types, number, and severity of the symptoms determine which drugs are used to treat the narcolepsy.
•Severe daytime sleepiness may require treatment with high doses of stimulant medication, and sometimes a combination of stimulants may be needed.
•Rare or infrequent cataplexy and other associated symptoms may not require any drug treatment, or treatment on an "as needed" regimen may be adequate.
•Insomnia and depression may also require treatment.
•Therapy should be catered to the individual needs of the patient. For example, improved alertness may be critical throughout the day for most students and working adults, but may be critical only at certain times of the day (for example, driving times) for other people.
Non-drug treatments include education of the patient and family members and modification of behavior patterns. Understanding the symptoms of narcolepsy may help relieve some of the frustrations, fears, anger, depression, and resentment of patients and family members. Emotional reactions are responses to both the unusual nature of the symptoms and society's ignorance of this disease.
3 comments:
Cylert (generic: Pemoline) was an exceptionally effective treatment for Excessive Daytime Sleepiness. I used it daily for many years. Unfortunately, it's no longer on the market.
Quite by accident, I came across a non-prescription compound which is the only Cylert substitute I've found that works for sufferers of Excessive Daytime Sleepiness and, possibly, other narcolepsy symptoms.
Unlike Cylert, it's not a stimulant. But it does alleviate the symptoms of EDS without any side effects.
Anyone who's interested in the details is welcome to visit our site.
Thanks for the info.
Narcolepsy is not a disease; you really must stop saying that. Narcolepsy is a CONDITION that results from your body's inappropriate autoimmune response to the primary illness. In other words, perhaps you had the flu or some infection accompanied by a high fever; your immune system then freaked out and knocked out your orexin neurons.
Secondly, the loss of orexin, a critical neural transporter / transmitter which has been called the conductor of the symphony of endocrine function, causes a cascade of neurological/hormonal/psychological/systemic dysfunction which brings about a very long list of troubles for the narcoleptic.
I am so puzzled by the total information blackout that accompanies narcolepsy. Not one of the narcolepsy websites I have seen is forthcoming with this information.
Shouldn't patients be told upon confirmation of diagnosis just how ill they are (or will be) and how affected by all this they and their families are going to be over time?
Perhaps if I had been alerted in advance of what was likely in store for me I'd have been able to save my first marriage. Perhaps I'd still have a career. Perhaps I would have generally looked after myself and my affairs in a different manner. Etc.
Well, I don't do woulda coulda shoulda - if my aunt was a teacart she'd have wheels, as they say. Nevertheless, those who come along after me should know the truth: Narcolepsy is a very evil, nasty and insidious condition that is so not only about sleepiness or cataplexy, no matter how entertaining that is to non-narcoleptics.
Post a Comment