Narcolepsy

Narcolepsy Treatment

Narcolepsy is a neurological disorder that causes excessive daytime sleepiness, leading to sudden and uncontrollable sleep episodes. Some individuals may also experience additional symptoms, such as sudden muscle weakness (cataplexy) triggered by strong emotions. At Sp Medifort, we provide expert narcolepsy treatment in Trivandrum to help manage symptoms and improve daily functioning.

Symptoms and Causes

What are the symptoms of Narcolepsy?

Narcolepsy symptoms often worsen during the first few years and typically persist throughout life. Common symptoms include:

Excessive daytime sleepiness.
Sudden muscle weakness (cataplexy).
Sleep paralysis.
Hallucinations during sleep onset or awakening.
Disrupted nighttime sleep.
Automatic behaviors.

What causes Narcolepsy?

Narcolepsy is caused by a combination of neurological, genetic, and immune system factors that disrupt normal sleep-wake regulation.

Loss of Hypocretin-Producing Neurons: Narcolepsy is primarily linked to the loss of neurons in the brain that produce hypocretin (also called orexin), a chemical that regulates wakefulness and sleep. This deficiency leads to excessive daytime sleepiness and sudden sleep attacks.
Genetic Factors: Certain genes may increase the risk of developing narcolepsy. Having a family member with the condition can make an individual more susceptible, though genetics alone usually do not cause the disorder.
Autoimmune Responses: Some evidence suggests that the immune system may mistakenly attack the hypocretin-producing neurons, contributing to the development of narcolepsy.

Diagnosis of Narcolepsy

Narcolepsy is diagnosed by assessing sleep patterns, symptoms, and conducting specialized sleep tests.

Medical History and Sleep Diary: The doctor reviews your sleep habits, daytime sleepiness, sudden sleep episodes, and other symptoms. Keeping a sleep diary helps track patterns and identify triggers for sleep attacks.
Polysomnography: This overnight sleep study records brain activity, eye movements, heart rate, breathing, and muscle activity during sleep. It helps detect abnormal sleep patterns and rule out other sleep disorders.
Multiple Sleep Latency Test (MSLT): Conducted during the day following polysomnography, this test measures how quickly you fall asleep in a quiet environment and how soon you enter REM sleep, which is often accelerated in narcolepsy
Genetic Tests and Lumbar Puncture: Sometimes, genetic tests are done to assess the risk of type 1 narcolepsy. In specialized centers, a lumbar puncture may be performed to measure hypocretin levels in the spinal fluid.

What are the Narcolepsy risk factors?

There are only a few known risk factors for narcolepsy, including:

Family History of Narcolepsy: Having a close relative with narcolepsy increases your risk, suggesting a genetic component to the disorder.
Age: Narcolepsy is most commonly diagnosed in children, teenagers, and young adults between 10 and 30 years of age.
Autoimmune Disorders: Individuals with autoimmune conditions may have a higher risk, as the immune system can mistakenly target neurons that regulate sleep.

What treatment options are available for Narcolepsy?

There is no cure for narcolepsy, but treatment can help manage symptoms and improve alertness and quality of life.

Medications: Doctors often prescribe medications to help control excessive daytime sleepiness and related symptoms. Stimulant medications such as modafinil or armodafinil help promote wakefulness during the day, while newer options like solriamfetol and pitolisant may also be used. Antidepressants (such as SSRIs or SNRIs) can help reduce symptoms like cataplexy, hallucinations, and sleep paralysis. Sodium oxybate may be prescribed to improve nighttime sleep and reduce daytime sleepiness and cataplexy.

Lifestyle Measures: Making structured changes to your daily routine can significantly help manage narcolepsy. Maintaining a regular sleep schedule, taking short scheduled naps during the day, avoiding alcohol and nicotine, and engaging in regular exercise can improve sleep quality and reduce daytime sleepiness.

Supportive Care: Counseling, education, and accommodations at work or school can assist individuals in coping with the challenges of narcolepsy. Support groups and tailored strategies help people adjust their environment and daily habits to maintain alertness and safety.