Narcolepsy: Etiology and Diagnosis

Paper Summary:

Narcolepsy is a chronic, debilitating sleep disorder affecting nearly one percent of the North American population. This paper discusses the history and symptoms of narcolepsy and provides an in depth analysis of the diagnostic tools, both objective and subjective. Issues surrounding diagnosis are given, as well as treatment options such as lifestyle changes and pharmacotherapy.

From the Paper:

"Cataplexy, sleep paralysis, and hypnagogic hallucinations are usually further controlled by tricyclic antidepressants such as Prozac, Triptil, and Anafranil (Daniels, King, Smith & Shneerson, 2001). Medically formulated gamma-hydroxybutyrate (GHB) have shown beneficial effects in control of cataplexy in some patients (Thorpy, 2001). GHB stabilizes nocturnal REM sleep by increasing sleep continuity, and decreases cataplexy attacks, but does not significantly affect daytime sleep attacks or sleep latency (Fry, 1998). Because of GHB's recognition as a date-rape drug and the high instances of personal and social abuse, the drug is highly regulated and hard to receive prescriptions (Fry, 1998)."

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