Narcolepsy Uncontrollable Daytime Sleepiness

Overview

Narcolepsy is a condition which affects the neurological system which disrupts the brain's ability to control the sleep-wake cycle. People with this condition usually feel very sleepy throughout the day.

Signs and Symptoms

Excessive daytime sleepiness, Sudden loss of muscle tone, Sleep paralysis, Changes in rapid eye movement (REM) sleep, Hallucinations

Common Causes

Genetic Factor

Risk Factors

Autoimmune disorders, Brain injuries, Age- Narcolepsy typically begins in people between 10 and 30 years old, Family history- Your risk of narcolepsy is 20 to 40 times higher if you have a family member who has narcolepsy.

Investigation Techniques

Sleep history, Sleep records, Polysomnography, Multiple sleep latency test

Treatment and Prevention

Stimulants, Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) or serotonin and norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors (SNRIs), Tricyclic antidepressants, Sodium oxybate (Xyrem)

Authorship

Written By

Dr Sri Viknarajan

MD (Universiti Hasanuddin, Indonesia)

Reviewed By

Dr Nur Syuhada binti Zulkifli

MD, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (UKM)

Information Updated on : Wed Feb 12 2020 16:04:04 GMT+0800 (Malaysia Time)

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