by WalkWithMe1948

Created on: May 26, 2008   Last Updated: May 28, 2008

Narcolepsy is a challenging and somewhat rare, brain disorder, causing a person to fall asleep anytime. People with narcolepsy fall asleep without warning at inappropriate times. Sleep does not happen during quiet times, such as reading or watching TV. No, instead these attacks occur when driving, eating, and often cause accidents, problems at work or school, impaired memory, or inability to concentrate. All these problems can also cause depression.

Sleep patterns of a normal person, consist of falling asleep and first entering into NREM (non-rapid eye movement) sleep. Later during the sleep cycle, the person then enters into a period of REM sleep (rapid eye movement). But, people who suffer from narcolepsy have a different sleep pattern. They fall immediately into REM sleep before NREM sleep. What this causes is for aspects of REM sleep to happen when they are awake.

Often the person loses muscle tone when awake or muscle weakness which can cause the body to suddenly collapse. This also can cause inability to move or speak which is commonly called sleep paralysis. The person can also have hallucinations while falling asleep or while waking up.

Most doctors believe this disorder is caused by a lack of a brain chemical called hypocretin which stimulates the brain cells and promotes wakefulness. There could also be other factors that may work together to cause this lack of hypocretin such as infections, loss of certain brain cells due to injury or toxins, changes in hormones or stress.

What makes this disorder so difficult is that there is no cure, but there are medications and treatment to help the person live a good life. Many researchers believe that the cause of this disorder is inherited and research is being done in that area.

Doctors only make a diagnosis of narcolepsy after recording the symptoms, family history, physical exam and test results. The symptoms are often distinct enough for doctors to make the diagnosis from just these symptoms, but the lab tests are needed to rule out infections, thyroid diseases, drug or alcohol use, or some other sleep disorders. Tests are also run on the level of hypocretin in the spinal fluid. Low levels of hypocretin help the doctor assure that the correct diagnosis has been made.

Even though there is no cure for this disorder, most symptoms can be helped with medications and certain lifestyle changes. Stimulants can relieve daytime sleepiness and are usually the first medication to be prescribed. Antidepressant medications are commonly used to treat the sudden lose of muscle tone, the hallucinations as well as the sleep paralysis.

It is necessary to combine lifestyle changes along with medication. Naps should be taken during the day when the person feels sleepiest. They should sleep at least 8 hours each night and must also go to sleep and wake up at the same times each day. To make it easier to fall asleep, the person should do some thing relaxing before bedtime. The bedroom should be light free and free of distractions such as TVs or computers. The person should not exercise within 4 hours of sleep. Substances that can stimulate a person such as caffeine, chocolate, soft drinks, tobacco, and alcohol, should be avoided.

Persons with narcolepsy can learn to live with this disorder. Since the person can fall asleep at anytime, it is recommended that driving and using certain machinery should be avoided.

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