Narcolepsy: The Symptoms, Causes and Treatments

Narcolepsy is a serious condition that can fundamentally affect the way a person lives his or her life. The condition is marked by extreme daytime drowsiness and sudden attacks of sleep that cannot be controlled. Accordingly, it is very difficult for people with narcolepsy to attend school or hold regular jobs.

Who is at Risk of Narcolepsy?

Typically, people are first diagnosed with this condition between the ages of 10 – 25. It is almost always diagnosed by age 50.

It is unknown what causes narcolepsy. Some people believe that genetics play an important role in the onset of the condition and some people believe that it is brought on by an infection or other trigger that affects the brain’s sleep functions.

Contact Our Ethex Morphine Recall Lawyers Today »

Symptoms of Narcolepsy

While the primary symptom of narcolepsy is extreme drowsiness and falling asleep without warning or control, there are also other symptoms of the condition. Narcoleptics may have a sudden loss of muscle tone called cataplexy. Cataplexy can occur infrequently or as often as several times a day. It can cause slurred speech and complete weakness of the muscles. Narcoleptics may also suffer from sleep paralysis where they are paralyzed in the moments before they fall asleep or upon awakening. Narcoleptics might also suffer from hallucinations. Nighttime sleep might be restless and disturbed.

Drug Treatments

Narcolepsy is a chronic condition. The severity of a patient’s symptoms might fluctuate over the course of his or her life but it is not a condition that can be cured.

Drugs can, however, help patients manage their symptoms and lead lives that are as normal as possible. There are different types of drugs that are used in the treatment of narcolepsy. Those drugs include stimulants that affect the central nervous system causing people to remain awake during the day. Many of the stimulants, such as Ritalin and various amphetamines can be addictive and cause side effects. Provigil is a relatively new stimulant drug that is being used to treat Narcolepsy that seems to be less addictive and cause fewer side effects.

Do You Have an Ethex Morphine Recall Case? »

Drugs other than stimulants are also used to treat narcolepsy. Antidepressants can be used to help suppress REM sleep and treat the cataplexy, sleep paralysis and hallucinations that can plaque narcoleptics. Xyrem can also be used to treat cataplexy.

Lifestyle changes and coping skills are also an important part of treatment for narcolepsy. Drugs can help treat the symptoms of this difficult condition but they are not without risk and they will not cure a patient. Therefore, careful monitoring by a team of medical professionals is recommended.

 

Please fill out the form below to see if you have a Ethex morphine recall case.

---

PERSONAL INFORMATION

---

First Name:
Last Name:
E-mail Address:
Phone:	-
Address:
City:
State:	-Please Select- Alabama Alaska Arizona Arkansas California Colorado Connecticut Delaware District of Columbia Florida Georgia Hawaii Idaho Illinois Indiana Iowa Kansas Kentucky Louisiana Maine Maryland Massachusetts Michigan Minnesota Mississippi Missouri Montana Nebraska Nevada New Hampshire New Jersey New Mexico New York North Carolina North Dakota Ohio Oklahoma Oregon Pennsylvania Puerto Rico Rhode Island South Carolina South Dakota Tennessee Texas Utah Vermont Virgin Islands Virginia Washington West Virginia Wisconsin Wyoming
Zipcode:
INCIDENT INFORMATION
Dates drug was taken	from:   January February March April May June July August September October November December 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 2010 2009 2008 2007 2006 2005 2004 2003 2002 2001 2000 1999 1998 1997 1996 1995 1994 1993 1992 1991 1990 1989 1988 1987 1986 1985 1984 1983 1982 1981 1980 1979 1978 1977 1976 1975 1974 1973 1972 1971 1970 1969 1968 1967 1966 1965 1964 1963 1962 1961 1960 1959 1958 1957 1956 1955 1954 1953 1952 1951 1950 1949 1948 1947 1946 1945 1944 1943 1942 1941 1940 1939 1938 1937 1936 1935 1934 1933 1932 1931 1930 1929 1928 1927 1926 1925 1924 1923 1922 1921 1920 1919 1918 1917 1916 1915 1914 1913 1912 1911 1910 1909 1908 1907 1906 1905 1904 1903 1902
	to:        January February March April May June July August September October November December 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 2010 2009 2008 2007 2006 2005 2004 2003 2002 2001 2000 1999 1998 1997 1996 1995 1994 1993 1992 1991 1990 1989 1988 1987 1986 1985 1984 1983 1982 1981 1980 1979 1978 1977 1976 1975 1974 1973 1972 1971 1970 1969 1968 1967 1966 1965 1964 1963 1962 1961 1960 1959 1958 1957 1956 1955 1954 1953 1952 1951 1950 1949 1948 1947 1946 1945 1944 1943 1942 1941 1940 1939 1938 1937 1936 1935 1934 1933 1932 1931 1930 1929 1928 1927 1926 1925 1924 1923 1922 1921 1920 1919 1918 1917 1916 1915 1914 1913 1912 1911 1910 1909 1908 1907 1906 1905 1904 1903 1902
Dosage taken:
Please describe any side effects:
Other comments/questions: