Narcolepsy Treatments

Narcolepsy treatments may help with symptoms of excessive daytime sleepiness, inability to remain awake, sleep paralysis and sudden loss of muscle tone as well as automatic behavior, such as sleepwalking.

All of these things make it difficult to sleep, which is the key to maintaining proper health.

Narcolepsy is a condition wherein sleep either comes on dramatically for no reason at a time when an individual should typically be awake or they remain sleepy during the day.

How Lifestyle Changes can Help

Making a few lifestyle changes are a crucial factor in managing narcolepsy symptoms. Some of the important changes include:

· Sticking to a schedule: Having a regular sleeping and waking schedule is instrumental in keeping narcolepsy at bay.

· Scheduling regular short naps: 20 minute naps at appropriate times during the day can be refreshing and will help reduce sleepiness.

· Avoiding alcohol and smoking: Tobacco and alcohol can exacerbate symptoms of narcolepsy, especially when taken at night.

· Getting regular exercise: Regular moderate exercise at least 5 five before bed time can help get rid of excess energy and induce sleep.

After trying these steps, if the problem persists it may be time to try some conventional medicines.

Pharmacological Therapy

The basis for a great deal of the treatment for narcolepsy is central nervous system stimulants. These stimulants have to be taken with a great deal of caution and care.

As with all stimulants, there is the potential for abuse, and their effectiveness will decrease as the body gets used to the stimulant.

There are some new non-addictive stimulants that are being used for the treatment of narcolepsy and they have been met with a higher rate of success.

However, this particular disease cannot be successfully self medicated and must be dealt with by a physician who is the head of a team of specialists that can deal with all the ramifications of having narcolepsy.

Other Diagnostic Criteria

While stimulants are the gold standard for the treating of narcolepsy, they have the potential of masking the underlying problem that is causing the narcolepsy.

The potential causes of this disease are both physical and psychological. They all have to be investigated before a successful outcome can be achieved.

The best goal for this treatment is not to just stay awake and alert during the day, but rather find out why you are unable to sleep in the first place.

Diagnostic Protocols

There are social and employment reasons that they make it harder and harder to get the right amount of sleep.

All of these factors will have to be investigated as part of the diagnostic criteria necessary to deal with this disease.

A multidisciplinary approach has to be taken to deal with the problems. Unfortunately, there is no magic bullet for the treatment of this condition.

Alternative Treatments

Both traditional Indian medicine and traditional Chinese medicine have modalities that can be used to treat narcolepsy.

But as with many of these alternative medicines, they have not had the same degree of peer review as orthodox western medicine and should be viewed with caution.

While there has been some success with these alternative traditions, the descriptions are anecdotal and may not be reliable for every patient.

It is best to approach these practitioners with caution, and try to find ones that are willing to work with your regular physicians.












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