There are some narcolepsy medications that some people might find work very well with them. However, there are also that do not work great. Majority of narcolepsy medications are fast-acting but their effects are short-lived. Other medications might act slower, but work for extended periods. It is necessary that the doctor prescribes a few medicines to be taken several times a day so that the patients can become aware and keep alert for an acceptable length of time.
There is a bad news for people who are searching for the complete cure for narcolepsy. The news is that at the moment, there is no such thing. However, while there is no complete cure for narcolepsy, unlike is the case with the cure for teeth grinding, there are various treatments available. Some of the treatments are quite effective.
Below are the most common drugs used to manage narcolepsy.
1. Stimulants Narcolepsy Drugs
This drug stimulates the central nervous system and is effective in treating Excessive Daytime Sleep. With that said, when taking stimulants, you will be able to stay awake during the day and lessen the time you asleep. The most common drug that used is Modafinil (Provigil). The drug is used because it has many advantages over other types of medications.
To begin, Modafinil is not as addictive and it doesn’t produce highs and odds like other drugs. Another good thing about Modafinil is that it is not likely to lead to side effects. However, in rare case, patients may experience mild headache, nausea, anorexia and diarrhea. At high doses, Modafinil may cause an increase in blood pressure. There are more stimulant narcolepsy medications used for treatment but not as good as Modafinil. Concerta, Ritalin and other drugs that contain methylphenidate could be effective but they have significant side effects.
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You should go for this medication if you suffer from symptom like the Rapid Eyes Movement sleep (REM sleep), cataplexy, hypnagogic hallucinations and sleep paralysis. However, the drugs have some potential side effects. For example, when using it, you may lose desire on sex or experience delayed orgasm. In the long run, digestive problems, restlessness, insomnia are expected as the side effects of using these drugs.
3. Tricyclic Antidepressants
These drugs are mainly used to cope with cataplexy. However, they are not being used widely due to the complaints of side effects such as constipation and dry mouth.
4. Sodium Oxybate (Xyrem)
This is the new drugs that proven to have good results on treating cataplexy. Xyrem has sodium oxybate, which is effective in providing you a good night sleep and reduce daytime sleep. The treatment course using Xyrem can last from two to three months to get the best result. The downside of Xyrem is it can result in side effects such as nausea, bed-wetting and sleep walking. With high doses, you can experience difficulty in breathing, coma or even death.
As you can see, no drug can cure narcolepsy without bringing side effects. Thus, before using any drug, you must consult your doctor.
