Which medications are used in the treatment of narcolepsy?
Amphetamines, including d,l-amphetamine, d-amphetamine (sulfate) and met-amphetamine (chlorhydrate) have been used for narcolepsy since the 1930s (Prinzmetal and Bloomberg 1935). At low dose, their main effect is to release dopamine – and to a lesser extent noradrenaline – through reverse efflux via monoaminergic transporters, the dopamine transporter (DAT) and …
Which non-hypocretin-based novel treatments are used in the treatment of narcolepsy?
The following list of medications are in some way related to or used in the treatment of this condition. Select drug class All drug classes vasopressors (1) miscellaneous anxiolytics, sedatives and hypnotics (4) CNS stimulants (20) miscellaneous central nervous system agents (2) decongestants (1) serotonin-norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors (1)
What is narcolepsy?
· Plasmapheresis,80 corticosteroids,81,82 and intravenous immunoglobulin infusions83 have been used in case reports and small studies with mixed results (plasmapheresis did not improve narcolepsy; corticosteroids helped daytime somnolence in two cases, did not help in one case; intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIG) infusions helped cataplexy but not other …
How can schools help children and adolescents with narcolepsy?
Question 162 Multiple Choice 0 points Modify Remove Question Which of the following has been used with modest success in the treatment of narcolepsy ? Question 163 Multiple Choice 0 points Modify Remove Question The rare sleep disorder in which a person will , without warning , go directly from being awake into REM sleep is
What is the best medicine for narcolepsy?
Medications for narcolepsy include: Stimulants. Drugs that stimulate the central nervous system are the primary treatment to help people with narcolepsy stay awake during the day. Doctors often try modafinil (Provigil) or armodafinil (Nuvigil) first for narcolepsy.
How to diagnose narcolepsy?
Methods of diagnosing narcolepsy and determining its severity include: Sleep history. Your doctor will ask you for a detailed sleep history. 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.
Can narcolepsy cause rapid eye movement?
Specialists will observe your sleep patterns. People who have narcolepsy fall asleep easily and enter into rapid eye movement (REM) sleep quickly. These tests can also help doctors rule out other possible causes of your signs and symptoms.
Does sodium oxybate help with narcolepsy?
Sodium oxybate helps to improve nighttime sleep, which is often poor in narcolepsy. In high doses it may also help control daytime sleepiness. It must be taken in two doses, one at bedtime and one up to four hours later. Xyrem can have side effects, such as nausea, bed-wetting and worsening of sleepwalking.
Can narcolepsy cause drowsiness?
If you have other health problems, such as high blood pressure or diabetes, ask your doctor how the medications you take for your other conditions may interact with those taken for narcolepsy. Certain over-the-counter drugs, such as allergy and cold medications, can cause drowsiness.
Is modafinil addictive?
Moda finil and armodafinil aren't as addictive as older stimulants and don't produce the highs and lows often associated with older stimulants. Side effects are uncommon, but may include headache, nausea or anxiety. Sunosi (solriamfetol) and pitolisant (Wakix) are newer stimulants used for narcolepsy, headache and anxiety.
What are the side effects of fluoxetine?
They include fluoxetine (Prozac, Sarafem) and venlafaxine (Effexor XR). Side effects can include weight gain, insomnia and digestive problems.
Drugs used to treat Narcolepsy
The following list of medications are in some way related to, or used in the treatment of this condition.
Further information
Always consult your healthcare provider to ensure the information displayed on this page applies to your personal circumstances.
What neurotransmitter is involved in narcolepsy?
An exciting recent discovery is identification of hypocretin/orexin, which may be the neurotransmitter primarily implicated as the cause of narcolepsy. Animal models suggest that the absence of hypocretin results in narcolepsy. A preliminary study 7 in humans has confirmed the animal-study findings.
What is idiopathic hypersomnolence?
Idiopathic hypersomnolence is a disabling condition (or conditions) characterized by severe EDS in the absence of narcolepsy or other sleep disorders. Nocturnal sleep is often long and undisturbed, and morning awakening is frequently accompanied by sleep drunkenness.
Does modafinil help with sleep?
The Role of Modafinil in Treating Sleep Disorders. Modafinil is a unique and relatively benign CNS stimulant that can effectively promote wakefulness in patients with excessive daytime somnolence.
Is modafinil a stimulant?
Modafinil is a unique and relatively benign CNS stimulant that can effectively promote wakefulness in patients with excessive daytime somnolence. Modafinil has been attracting attention recently in the sleep-medicine field because its properties include the ability to promote wakefulness. This makes modafinil a potentially important tool ...
Is modafinil good for sleep apnea?
This makes modafinil a potentially important tool for treating the excessive diurnal somnolence (EDS) that can accompany sleep disorders such as narcolepsy, sleep apnea, idiopathic hypersomnolence, and other medical conditions characterized by poor sleep quality and/or quantity. In Europe, modafinil has been used since at least 1988 ...
When was modafinil approved?
Following two large, multicenter trials, 1,2 modafinil was approved by the US Food and Drug Administration in December 1998. The mode of action of modafinil is still a bit of a mystery.
What are the side effects of modafinil?
The most common side effects of modafinil are headache (13%), nervousness (8%), and nausea (5%). 3. No known serious drug interactions occur, and there are no required dietary restrictions. No known risk exists of dependence, withdrawal symptoms, or abuse at therapeutic doses. 3,4.
Is mazindol a sympathomimetic anorectic agent?
Mazindol, a sympathomimetic anorectic agent, is effective for both EDS and cataplexy [ 34, Class IV ]. Mazindol, which is no longer available in the United States, is less frequently used due to its weaker stimulant activity [ 34 ]. At doses of 2–8 mg daily, mazindol produces central stimulation, a reduction in appetite, and an increase in alertness, but has little or no effect on mood or the cardiovascular system. It is a weak releasing agent of dopamine but also blocks dopamine and norepinephrine reuptake with high affinity [ 35 ].
Is monoamine oxidase inhibitor anticataplectic?
Monoamine oxidase inhibitors (MAOIs) are known to potently reduce REM sleep and are, therefore, excellent candidates to be anticataplectic agents, but they are less often used because of their poor safety profile. Selective or reversible MAOIs have recently become available, but large-scale clinical trials on these compounds are not yet available [ 3 ].
Does hydroxybutyrate help with EDS?
γ-Hydroxybutyrate (a short-acting sedative also known as GHB or sodium oxybate in the United States), when given at night, improves EDS and cataplexy, so the number of US patients treated with sodium oxybate is increasing [ 8 ].
When was Racemic Modafinil approved?
Racemic modafinil, a compound structurally distinct from amphetamines, was approved by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in 1998 (schedule IV compounds) for the treatment of EDS associated with narcolepsy. The compound has also been explored increasingly to treat other conditions, and clinical uses for residual sleepiness in treated obstructive sleep apnea syndrome (OSAS) and EDS associated with shift-work sleep disorder were also approved by the FDA.
Does imipramine help with cataplexy?
Since the 1960s, it has been known that imipramine is very effective in reducing cataplexy [ 15 ]. Together with protriptyline and clomipramine, these tricyclic antidepressants are now the most commonly used anticataplectic agents (Table 2) [ 7 ]. The use of tricyclic antidepressants in the treatment of cataplexy is hampered by a number of problems, however. The first one is the relatively poor side-effect profile of most tricyclic compounds. Their anticholinergic properties lead to dry mouth (and associated dental problems), tachycardia, urinary retention, constipation, and blurred vision (see Table 2 ). Other effects include weight gain, sexual dysfunction (impotence and/or delayed orgasm), tremors, antihistaminergic effects leading to sedation, and occasionally orthostatic hypotension due to the α-1 adrenergic blockade effects of some compounds.
Diagnosis
Treatment
- There is no cure for narcolepsy, but medications and lifestyle modifications can help you manage the symptoms.
Clinical Trials
- Explore Mayo Clinic studiestesting new treatments, interventions and tests as a means to prevent, detect, treat or manage this condition.
Lifestyle and Home Remedies
- Lifestyle modifications are important in managing the symptoms of narcolepsy. You may benefit from these steps: 1. Stick to a schedule.Go to sleep and wake up at the same time every day, including weekends. 2. Take naps.Schedule short naps at regular intervals during the day. Naps of 20 minutes at strategic times during the day may be refreshing an...
Coping and Support
- Dealing with narcolepsy can be challenging. Making adjustments in your daily schedule may help. Consider these tips: 1. Talk about it. Tell your employer or teachers about your condition and work with them to find ways to accommodate your needs. This may include taking naps during the day, breaking up monotonous tasks, recording meetings or classes, standing during meetings or lect…
Preparing For Your Appointment
- You're likely to start by seeing your family doctor. However, in some cases when you call to set up an appointment, you may be referred to a sleep specialist. Here's some information to help you prepare for your appointment.