The best way to cope with narcolepsy is with good sleep hygiene, avoiding alcohol and caffeine, and taking scheduled naps. Stimulant medications may also be used to improve alertness.

Many people with narcolepsy find they can reduce symptoms with lifestyle changes. However, more serious symptoms like cataplexy require medication. Medications include sodium oxybate and modafinil 200mg australia.

What Is Narcolepsy?

People with narcolepsy have a disorder that affects their brain’s natural sleep/wake cycle. This can cause daytime drowsiness and "sleep attacks," or overwhelming urges to fall asleep, along with poor, fragmented sleep at night. It can also interfere with your daily activities, work, and relationships.

The most common symptom is excessive daytime sleepiness (EDS), which causes you to feel tired even if you get enough sleep at night. This makes concentrating hard, and you may experience memory lapses or energy loss. You can also experience a sudden loss of muscle tone, called cataplexy, that is triggered by strong emotions such as surprise, fear, or anger. These episodes can range from slurred speech to complete body collapse.

Narcolepsy can be difficult for others to understand, and it's easy for them to misinterpret your behavior as laziness or a lack of interest in what you’re doing. It can also be challenging for you, especially if your condition is accompanied by other symptoms such as sleep paralysis or REM-related hallucinations. The good news is that narcolepsy is treatable, and most people see improvements in their symptoms with medication. Prepare for your visit by writing down questions and bringing them with you to the appointment.

Narcolepsy Modalert Side Effects

Medications are a core therapy for narcolepsy, and most people with narcolepsy experience large improvements in alertness after their medications have been optimized. Identifying the best combination of medications can take time and can require persistence.

A new medication called solriamfetol can improve alertness by increasing brain levels of norepinephrine and dopamine. It is safe and effective for most people with narcolepsy, but it should not be taken with monamine oxidase inhibitors and higher doses should not be used in individuals with renal impairment.

It is also important to avoid medicines that can cause drowsiness, including some common cold and allergy medicines. Speak to your GP or pharmacist if you are taking medicines that can make you drowsy and they may be able to recommend alternatives. Stimulant medications, such as modafinil and armodafinil, are often very effective in reducing sleepiness in narcolepsy. Other useful medications include amphetamines and oxybates, which can improve cataplexy in some patients.