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Narcolepsy Research Paper

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Narcolepsy, also known as hypnolepsy is a neurological disorder that affects one in every 3,000 people (NIH, 2016). It is a “condition characterized by brief attacks of deep sleep” (Merriam-Webster, 1995, p. 446). Individuals with this disease have excess daytime sleepiness (EDS), which is an uncontrollable obligation to sleep, as well as immediate rapid eye movement (REM) stage upon falling asleep. As a result, symptoms of narcolepsy include cataplexy, sleep paralysis, hypnagogic hallucinations, and comatose. According to Mieda and Sakurai (2016), the cause of narcolepsy is due to the “selective degeneration” of orexins (hypocretins) releasing neurons (p. 11). The hypothalamus is an endocrine gland that is responsible for regulating sleep, body temperature, appetite, sexual desire, and emotions. In homeostatic conditions, the hypothalamus releases neuropeptide, orexin into the blood stream. However, narcolepsy is caused by the homeostatic imbalance where the hypothalamus …show more content…
Individuals with narcolepsy-cataplexy is the result of low levels of hypocretin; as a result, it is currently believed that the condition cannot be treated, and it is life-long condition. Individuals with excessive daytime sleepiness and cataplexy can be given medication. Modafinil and sodium oxybate was approved by the Food and Drug administration for treating narcolepsy (NIH, 2016). Modafinil is a central nervous system “alerting agent” that keep the person awake and reduce the incident of EDS (NIH, 2016). Sodium oxybate is a “strong sedative that must be taken during the night,” it induces sleep and it may reduce the EDS symptoms (NIH, 2016). These medication produce are highly regulated due to its safety concerns because these medications produce various side effects may include but are not limited to is, arrhythmia, nervousness, anxiety, impotence, shakiness as well as anorexia and

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