Adjust Font Sizing:

Treatment

Narcolepsy Medications | Lifestyle Adjustments | Alternative Therapies

In most cases of Narcolepsy the special cells in the brain that produce Hypocretin (Orexin) die. Hypocretin is important for regulating the Sleep/Wake Cycle. This missing Hypocretin can not yet be safely replaced.

There is currently no way to affect the disorder itself. Because of this, the only way to treat Narcolepsy is to relieve the symptoms. There are two types of symptoms: Sleep/Wake Irregularities and REM Intrusion. There are also three approaches to treatment: modern medications, lifestyle adjustments and complimentary or alternative therapy. By combining these approaches and balancing between treatments for Sleepiness and REM Intrusion, optimal control of symptoms can be reached.

Narcolepsy is notoriously difficult to treat. It is often best to be under the care of a physician who is specially trained, experienced and Certified in Sleep Medicine. It is also often best for this doctor to also be Board Certified in Neurology and specifically experienced in treating Narcolepsy.

Several months of adjusting medications, dosages, and timing may be needed to arrive at the best treatment. This process also requires good and frequent communication between patient and doctor to assure safety and quality of life. One of the best ways to provide accurate and objective information to the doctor is for the patient to keep a Sleep Diary or Journal. This practice can be a simple notebook in which the patient records everything that happens which affects her or his sleep: all sleep and wake times (including naps), quality of sleep, feelings before sleep and upon awakening; medications (including homeopathic and herbal remedies), times, dosages and how the patient feels before and subsequent to taking the dosage, when symptoms are experienced, how long and how strong any symptoms are; food intake including meals and snacks (especially stimulants like caffeine energy drinks and foods, and depressants like alcohol); activities such as work, leisure and exercise; etc. Another way of tracking these factors is to use an online service such as that found at the Med Help. After several days to a few weeks of recording information, the individual may begin to see patterns emerge. These data are what the doctor needs to know to make important decisions about treatment.

# # #
Date Created: January 27th, 2010
Last Updated: March 2nd, 2010