Narcolepsy: Treatments
A sleep disorder characterized by a tendency for excessive sleepiness during the day which occurs even after adequate sleep in the nighttime.
Part of: Narcolepsy
Treatments for Narcolepsy
Narcolepsy has no cure. However, medicines, lifestyle changes, and other therapies can relieve many of its symptoms. Treatment for narcolepsy is based on the type of symptoms you have and how severe they are.
Not all medicines and lifestyle changes work for everyone. It may take weeks to months for you and your doctor to find the best treatment.
Medicines
You may need one or more medicines to treat narcolepsy symptoms. These may include:
Stimulants to ease daytime sleepiness and raise your alertness. A medicine that helps make up for the low levels of hypocretin in your brain. (Hypocretin is a chemical that helps promote wakefulness.) This medicine helps you stay awake during the day and sleep at night. It doesn’t always completely relieve daytime sleepiness, so your doctor may tell you to take it with a stimulant. Medicines that help you sleep at night. Medicines used to treat depression. These medicines also help prevent cataplexy, hallucinations, and sleep paralysis…