Try to establish a consistent sleep schedule with enough quality sleep hours to make you feel refreshed. Let your friends and family members know that you have the condition and what to do when they notice symptoms.Also, avoid driving a car when possible, and be aware of activities that involve heat or dangerous objects, such as stoves, devices with sharp edges, and lawn/yard equipment. Start by making sure that you won’t hurt yourself if you collapse and fall. Behavior modification: Perhaps the most important thing a cataplectic person can do is to be aware of the symptoms and avoid situations that cause them.Venlafaxine, in a different class of antidepressants, may also be recommended. However, it is a strong sedative and its distribution is tightly restricted.Other medications are tricyclic antidepressants such as clomipramine, imipramine, and desipramine. Food & Drug Administration specifically for the treatment of cataplexy is sodium oxybate, which has been shown to reduce the frequency and severity of episodes. Medications: The drug approved by the U.S.Remember, too, that medications have side effects, and that behavior modification may require lifestyle changes that affect normal activities of living. Keep in mind, though, that cataplexy can only be managed, not cured. Physicians treat cataplexy in two ways, generally: medications and/or behavior modification. Total body collapse (falling to the ground).When narcolepsy is suspected, a sleep study may be ordered, followed by a test to determine whether sleep the previous night may effect daytime napping. The frequency of episodes ranges among individuals from several per day to less than one per year.Ī cataplexy patient’s medical history and description of possible cataplectic episodes are important for an accurate diagnosis. Episodes vary from mild to severe-mild enough that it’s barely noticeable and severe enough to cause a full body collapse.Ĭataplectic episodes usually last a few seconds to a few minutes. They vary from person to person, and triggers are different for each individual. What Are the Symptoms of Cataplexy?įor cataplectic people, symptoms may begin in childhood or early adulthood. Among people who have narcolepsy and cataplexy, there is a loss of brain cells that produce hypocretin, also called orexin, a neurotransmitter that controls the sleep/wake cycle.Īlthough cataplexy is most often associated with narcolepsy, it has also been associated with stroke, multiple sclerosis, head injuries, and encephalitis.Ĭataplexy may be linked to a dysfunction in the immune system, but that has not been firmly established. The underlying cause of cataplexy is unknown, but we do know that it is a neurological condition. Causes also may include anxiety, happiness, excitement, sadness, annoyance, surprise, fear, and stress. The immediate causes are the emotional triggers mentioned in the first sentence of this post.
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |