title: Narcolepsy: clinical decision making for the primary care physician.
abstract: Narcolepsy is a serious neurological condition in which patients are overcome by persistent, excessive feelings of fatigue and drowsiness. In addition to chronic fatigue, patients with narcolepsy often succumb to intermittent, uncontrollable periods where they abruptly fall asleep during waking hours. In addition to episodic bouts of daytime sleeping, narcoleptics also exhibit cataplexy, sleep paralysis, and hypnagogic and hypnopompic hallucinations. Unfortunately, many individuals with narcolepsy remain undiagnosed and therefore, untreated, posing a risk to themselves and those around them. There is currently no cure for this lifelong disease. Nonetheless, narcolepsy can be effectively managed with medications, lifestyle changes, and the peripheral support of individuals such as family members, coworkers, and other casual relations.
authors.affiliation: Division of Neurology, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC 27710, USA. fakhan786@gmail.com
authors.forename: Faisal
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Khan
authors.forename: Ribhi
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Hazin
authors.forename: Mohsin
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Iqbal
mesh_terms: D001559:Benzhydryl Compounds / Q000627:therapeutic use; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000134:cerebrospinal fluid; D002385:Cataplexy / Q000209:etiology; D000697:Central Nervous System Stimulants / Q000627:therapeutic use; D003657:Decision Making; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D017277:Drug Approval; D006212:Hallucinations / Q000209:etiology; D006801:Humans; D047908:Intracellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins / Q000134:cerebrospinal fluid*; D008019:Life Style; D008774:Methylphenidate / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000077408:Modafinil; D009290:Narcolepsy / Q000134:cerebrospinal fluid / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000209:etiology / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000628:therapy*; D009479:Neuropeptides / Q000134:cerebrospinal fluid*; D000068797:Orexins; D010821:Physicians, Family; D017286:Polysomnography; D011320:Primary Health Care; D011788:Quality of Life; D012119:Respiration; D012307:Risk Factors; D020188:Sleep Paralysis / Q000209:etiology; D012894:Sleep Stages; D012978:Sodium Oxybate; D014481:United States; D014486:United States Food and Drug Administration
chemical_list: D001559:Benzhydryl Compounds; D015415:Biomarkers; D000697:Central Nervous System Stimulants; D047908:Intracellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins; D009479:Neuropeptides; D000068797:Orexins; D008774:Methylphenidate; D012978:Sodium Oxybate; D000077408:Modafinil