Treatment of narcolepsy

Abstract

Treatment of narcolepsy is a complex procedure since the disease is of long-term duration. A successful treatment of narcolepsy requires the full involvement of the patient himself and his family, in addition to the involvement of physicians. The therapeutic procedure should include: counseling of the patient; family and genetic counseling; and drug therapy. Familiarization of the patient with the symptoms of his disease, as well as obtaining the family's acceptance of its sick member as an individual needing assistance and understanding, helps an appropriate social adjustment, mutual decrease of anxiety and, consequently, the improvement of the symptoms. In the drug therapy of narcolepsy, analeptics are used, while tricyclic anti-depressants are used for the treatment of other narcolepsy symptoms (cataplexy, sleep paralysis and hypnagogue hallucinations). The purpose of drug treatment is to enable the patient to achieve normal awakeness and the fullest possible and long-term participation in his life activities.