I chose narcolepsy for my topic for this final. Narcolepsy is a chronic neurological disorder that affects the brain’s ability to control sleep-wake cycles. The reason I chose narcolepsy is because one out of every 2,000 people are affected by it. Narcolepsy can greatly affect daily activities. People can unwillingly fall asleep even if they are in the middle of an activity like driving, eating, or talking. Other symptoms will include sudden muscle weakness while the person is awake that can make a person go limp or unable to move, vivid dream-like images or hallucinations, and total paralysis just before falling asleep or just after waking up. The people who can get narcolepsy can vary, the diagnostic process for discovering if someone has
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Another symptom is sleep paralysis, the temporary inability to move or speak while falling asleep or waking up usually lasts only a few seconds. Sleep paralysis resembles cataplexy except it occurs at the edges of sleep. As with cataplexy, people remain fully conscious. Even when severe, cataplexy and sleep paralysis do not result in permanent dysfunction. After episodes end, people rapidly recover their full capacity to move and speak. The last common symptom is very vivid and sometimes frightening hallucinations. They can accompany sleep paralysis and usually occur when people are falling asleep or waking up. Most often the content is primarily visual, but any of the other senses can be involved.There are treatment options available for people suffering with narcolepsy. Although there is no cure for narcolepsy, some of the symptoms can be treated with medicines and lifestyle changes. When cataplexy is present, the loss of hypocretin is believed to be irreversible and lifelong. Excessive daytime sleepiness and cataplexy can be controlled in most individuals with medications. Medications that can be taken are antidepressants, sodium oxybate, and modfinil. Sodium oxybate has been approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration to treat cataplexy and excessive daytime sleepiness in individuals suffering with narcolepsy. It is a strong sedative that must be taken twice a night. The distribution of sodium oxybate is tightly restricted because of its heavy side effects. The initial line of treatment is usually a central nervous system stimulant such as modafinil. Modafinil is usually prescribed first because it is less addictive and has fewer side effects than older stimulants. For most people these drugs are generally effective at reducing daytime drowsiness and improving alertness. Lifestyle changes can also improve the side effects of narcolepsy. Many individuals take short,
Another symptom is sleep paralysis, the temporary inability to move or speak while falling asleep or waking up usually lasts only a few seconds. Sleep paralysis resembles cataplexy except it occurs at the edges of sleep. As with cataplexy, people remain fully conscious. Even when severe, cataplexy and sleep paralysis do not result in permanent dysfunction. After episodes end, people rapidly recover their full capacity to move and speak. The last common symptom is very vivid and sometimes frightening hallucinations. They can accompany sleep paralysis and usually occur when people are falling asleep or waking up. Most often the content is primarily visual, but any of the other senses can be involved.There are treatment options available for people suffering with narcolepsy. Although there is no cure for narcolepsy, some of the symptoms can be treated with medicines and lifestyle changes. When cataplexy is present, the loss of hypocretin is believed to be irreversible and lifelong. Excessive daytime sleepiness and cataplexy can be controlled in most individuals with medications. Medications that can be taken are antidepressants, sodium oxybate, and modfinil. Sodium oxybate has been approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration to treat cataplexy and excessive daytime sleepiness in individuals suffering with narcolepsy. It is a strong sedative that must be taken twice a night. The distribution of sodium oxybate is tightly restricted because of its heavy side effects. The initial line of treatment is usually a central nervous system stimulant such as modafinil. Modafinil is usually prescribed first because it is less addictive and has fewer side effects than older stimulants. For most people these drugs are generally effective at reducing daytime drowsiness and improving alertness. Lifestyle changes can also improve the side effects of narcolepsy. Many individuals take short,