How to Treat Narcolepsy

A sleep disorder such as Narcolepsy can ruin your daily routine. An individual affected with narcoleptic experience may encounter severe jolts of sleep any hour during day time. Following are some useful pieces of information to manage Narcolepsy.

Indications

• Numbness

• Restlessness during sleep

• Involuntary behaviors

These include sleep walking and talking. An individual may venture to act out his dreams even.

• Drowsiness during day

This constitutes the first symptom of the condition you notice in the very onset. You may tend to asleep anytime irrespective of your whereabouts.

• Cataplexy

This sign is attributed to an abrupt loss of muscle toning. The phenomenon can be enunciated in numerous instances such as speech slurring and weakening of muscles of leg.

• Paralysis of speech

The sign appears just prior to slipping into sleep or before getting up. The duration of attack may range from a couple of seconds to some minutes.

• Hypnagogic hallucinations

This is a peculiar kind of experience that a victim of narcolepsy goes through when he happens to immediately fall into a sleep of the description of REM.

Diagnosis

The diagnosis is primarily rooted in the preliminary signs of the condition that constitute a great deal of daytime cataplexy and sleepiness. A confirmatory diagnosis will be done subsequent to a complete examination. You may be required to hospitalize overnight to facilitate the physicians examine patterns of your sleep. Any of the following tests can be sought from you:

• Polysomnograph

It keeps a constant surveillance over brain activity during sleep.

• Sleep journal

Your physician may also ask you to maintain a diary where there is the need to record your sleep patterns. An actigraph is recommended for this. It is a sort of wrist watch type you have to wear all the time. It is meant to monitor the time and manner of your sleep.

Medications

• Sodium Oxybate

Sodium Oxybate helps you in gaining control over cataplexy and soothes your sleep at night.

• Antidepressants

These are dispensed to bring hypnagogic hallucinations and cataplexy within endurable limits. Spearheading among these medications include Imipramine, Fluoxatine and Sertraline.

• Stimulants

Modafinil and Methyohenidate are administered to keep victims of Narcolepsy awake throughout the day. These drugs have to be administered carefully in view of their side effects as such an overdose may cause addictive effects in the subject.

Home Care

Narcolepsy is a chronic malady. The medical treatment may relieve the symptoms provided you play your role properly. Just medications in the absence of a habitual change won’t work here.

• Maintain a proper sleep time

Get your body used to sleeping at a scheduled time at night.

• Naps

A little while’s nap daily will help you feel re-invigorated. It will also prevent sleep attacks.

• Keep yourself away from alcoholic intake and smoking

These will only aggravate your condition.

In case you have a sleep disorder such as Narcolepsy, be conscious about your safety. Try to have somebody with you while you are venturing far out on journey. Better ask a fellow to drive you to your work place and get back to home.