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Narcolepsy

Waiz Wasey, MD, FAAFP Reviewed 04/2024
 


BASICS

DESCRIPTION

  • Narcolepsy is a neurologic sleep disorder characterized by excessive daytime sleepiness (EDS) and may be associated with cataplexy (sudden loss of muscle control), hypnagogic halluci...

DIAGNOSIS

HISTORY

  • Classic pentad of EDS, cataplexy, sleep paralysis, and hypnagogic/hypnopompic hallucinations, and disrupted/fragmented nocturnal sleep (five most common symptoms): Only 10–20% have al...

TREATMENT

GENERAL MEASURES

  • Medications do not cure, but the goal is to minimize EDS and cataplectic episodes.

  • Drug therapy, if used, should be supplemented by various behavioral strategies.

  • Proper sleep ...

ONGOING CARE

FOLLOW-UP RECOMMENDATIONS

Patient Monitoring

Monitoring using scoring tools to gauge treatment effectiveness and symptom control 

PATIENT EDUCATION

  • National Institute of Neurological Disorder...

REFERENCES

1
Anderson D. Narcolepsy: A clinical review. JAAPA. 2021;34(6):20-25
2
Meskill G, Davis C, Zarycranski D, et al. Assessment of the Clinical Benefits of Pitolisant on Excessive Daytime Sleepine...

CODES

ICD10

  • G47.429 Narcolepsy in conditions classified elsewhere w/o cataplexy

  • G47.411 Narcolepsy with cataplexy

  • G47.419 Narcolepsy without cataplexy

  • G47.421 Narcolepsy in conditions classified elsewhere...

CLINICAL PEARLS

  • Narcolepsy is an incurable, REM disorder.

  • The classic tetrad includes EDS, cataplexy, sleep paralysis, and hypnagogic hallucinations, only cataplexy is pathognomonic for the disorder.

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