Around 135,000 to 200,000 people are diagnosed with narcolepsy in the United States. However, this condition often goes undiagnosed or misdiagnosed, so the number may be higher.
What is Narcolepsy?
Narcolepsy is a neurological sleep disorder that affects your brain’s activity which controls the sleep-wake cycle. It causes an uncontrollable urge to fall asleep involuntarily during the day. These are called sleep attacks that cause sudden sleepiness, even if noise surrounds you. Narcolepsy, if not managed properly, can prove to be hazardous. You may find it hard to regain consciousness, which can be potentially dangerous. This also makes it difficult to perform daily activities and disrupts your routine. On the other hand, problems such as Shift Work Sleep Disorder (SWSD) are common among people working odd hours. SWSD disturbs the circadian rhythm, making a person feel lethargic throughout the day as the natural sleep cycle of the person is disturbed. It can cause chronic sleep deprivation and deteriorate health.
How To Deal With Excessive Sleep?
If you’re struggling with excessive sleepiness, you’ve probably heard of the names Armodafinil and Modafinil. These drugs are used to treat narcolepsy, obstructive sleep apnea, and shift work disorder in people. Armodafinil and Modafinil are common active ingredients in narcolepsy medications that help people stay alert and awake. They produce wakefulness effects in your system, which keeps you awake during the day. These drugs work by elevating the concentration levels of norepinephrine and serotonin in the prefrontal cortex and hypothalamus, which indirectly increases extracellular dopamine. It induces wakefulness effects and reduces the effect of sleep-promoting neurons on the brain, allowing a person to perform their daily activities without the stress of excessive sleep.
The effects of these medicines are known to last for 14-16 hours. Consult your doctor for the right dosage and medication.
Narcolepsy is a neurological sleep disorder that affects your brain’s activity which controls the sleep-wake cycle. It causes an uncontrollable urge to fall asleep involuntarily during the day. These are called sleep attacks that cause sudden sleepiness.
The most effective medications to treat narcolepsy contain Modafinil and Armodafinil. Generic versions of these medications are available for more affordable options.
The common side effects of narcolepsy include
Headache
Dizziness
Difficulty falling asleep or staying asleep
Difficulty concentrating or paying attention
Uncontrollable shaking of a part of the body
Numbness
Nausea
Vomiting
Narcolepsy drugs are used to treat excessive sleepiness, so it does reduce your sleepiness. Some experience trouble falling asleep as a side effect, although it is rare. This is not a permanent solution and will not cure your sleeping disorders. Narcolepsy drugs are also not a substitute for sleep.
Yes, drugs like Modafinil have been popular as cognitive enhancers and are also used to treat certain medical conditions. However, there is enough scientific evidence to back the results, and more research is required to prove its effectiveness as a treatment option for certain medical disorders.