Medications To Treat Narcolepsy That Are Commonly Prescribed

Narcolepsy is a serious neurological disorder which affects that part of the human brain which carries out the job of regulating sleep in human beings.

People who suffer from narcolepsy generally experience a sudden loss in muscle control, excessive sleepiness during daytime. These conditions get triggered by firm emotions.

It is only because of this reason that people might fall asleep suddenly while working, driving or cooking. Prescribed medications to treat narcolepsy are one of the common and effective treatment options available.

Common Medications To Treat Narcolepsy

Medications to treat narcolepsy, which are commonly prescribed by sleep specialist for treatment, are as follows:

Stimulants

These are the best medications to treat narcolepsy. Such medications include Provigil or Modafinil which is taken during daytime for promoting alertness and wakefulness. However, there are certain side effects of this medicine that must be watched out for and they are nausea, headache, diarrhea and dry mouth.

Xyrem or Sodium Oxybate

This is a very strong drug which might be prescribed for people suffering from severe narcolepsy. This medicine is also called GHB or date rape drug and is considered quite safe in the treatment of narcolepsy. The side effects of Xyrem include bed-wetting, nausea and sleepwalking. It should also be noted that Xyrem should not be taken with other medicines, alcohol and narcotic pain relievers.

Antidepressants

Selected antidepressants used for treating depression might also be used for treating narcolepsy in people. The best antidepressants that can be of good help in treating narcolepsy include sertraline, venlafaxine and fluoxetine. However, the side effects of these medicines also need to be watched out for and they include digestive issues, insomnia and headaches.

Tricyclic Antidepressants

Tricyclic antidepressants are older antidepressants like clomipramine, Imipramine and protriptyline which are quite effective in the treatment of narcolepsy. They are useful in treating the condition from its very roots but they might have certain serious side effects like lightheadedness and dry mouth.

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