Cataplexy treatment drugs7/5/2023 ![]() ![]() Of the traditional stimulants, Adderall, a dopamine and norepinephrine-releasing agent, is an additional medication available for managing narcolepsy symptoms. There are two important precautions for patients who use modafinil and armodafinil, Thorpy notes: they can reduce oral contraceptives efficacy (they increase the metabolism of ethinylestradiol) and can cause serious rashes and allergic reactions. Then there are other medications that can be used to treat additional narcolepsy symptoms or in order to improve the quality of sleep,” Thorpy says. “There are two main types of drugs that one would consider the drugs that improve alertness and wakefulness during the daytime and those that suppress cataplexy. These include: caffeine, with the mechanism of adenosine receptor antagonist modafinil, for which the mechanism is not clear, but appears to be predominately by dopamine histamine receptor 3 inverse agonists (H3R) hypocretin agonists and sympathomimetic, which is designed to enhance neurotransmission of dopamine, serotonin, and norepinephrine. ” Current Treatmentsĭuring the symposium, Thorpy detailed the specific mechanisms of different alerting agents. Improving not only their symptoms quality of life but also preventing any risk to the patient or to others because of the sleepiness. “Patients with narcolepsy can fall or have sudden sleep episodes that may put them at risk of either a motor vehicle accident or an accident even around the house…particularly if they’re working with any dangerous equipment. Thorpy notes that treatment should also enable a patient to function better in life (such as perform better in school, on the job, and socially), as well as improve the safety of the patient and the general public. ![]() “Treating narcolepsy is more than just treating excessive sleepiness and cataplexy, but requires management of all the ancillary symptoms of narcolepsy.”Īs such, treatment goals may include reducing daytime sleepiness, cataplexy, sleep paralysis, nightmares and hallucinations, and disturbed nocturnal sleep. Thorpy presented on the subject at the “Best Practices for Managing Narcolepsy and Obstructive Sleep Apnea: Evidence-Based Strategies and Solutions” symposium on June 13 in Denver, Colo. There are other symptoms that patients with narcolepsy have that may need to be controlled as well,” Michael Thorpy, MD, professor of clinical neurology at Albert Einstein College of Medicine in New York, explains in an e-mail interview with Sleep Review. “The goals of treatment are to get under control the excessive daytime sleepiness, which is usually the main symptom in all patients with narcolepsy. Overall goals of narcolepsy treatment include improving the safety of the patient as well as managing symptoms. Thorpy, MD, discussed current and emergent treatment options available for the sleep disorder in a symposium during the SLEEP 2016 meeting. Treatment paradigms for cataplexy in narcolepsy: Past, present, and future. Cataplexy and its mimics: Clinical recognition and management. rare-diseases/narcolepsy/?filter=ovr-ds-resources Thinking outside the box: Cataplexy without narcolepsy. You can learn more about how we ensure our content is accurate and current by reading our editorial policy. Healthline has strict sourcing guidelines and relies on peer-reviewed studies, academic research institutions, and medical associations. If antidepressants don’t work, sodium oxybate (Xyrem) is often the next choice. Off-label means the medications are intended to treat symptoms of depression, but they’ve also been found to relieve symptoms of cataplexy.Īntidepressants like selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) and tricyclic antidepressants are common options. When treatment is required, off-label antidepressant medication is the most common. Your doctor might have to try a few different medications to find one that works right for you. There’s no cure for cataplexy, but medications are often an effective way of reducing episodes. That way, someone can keep an eye out for episodes to ensure the person with cataplexy is safe if one occurs.īut if episodes are frequent, treatment might be needed. Instead, their doctor might recommend that they let trusted family, friends, and coworkers know about the episodes. For instance, people who have mild cataplexy episodes once or twice a year might not need a formal treatment plan. Treatment for cataplexy depends on how often your episodes happen and how severe they are. How is cataplexy without narcolepsy treated? ![]()
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