Hey, want to know how to really ruin the day for someone living with excessive daytime sleepiness (EDS)? Just tell them “Oh, I get tired a lot too.”
Apart from making you look like a world-class you-know-what, you’ll help perpetuate stereotypes that make it difficult for people with EDS to be taken seriously.
The truth is, EDS is much more than just “feeling tired”—it’s the result of a sleep disorder like narcolepsy or obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) that disrupts normal sleep patterns.
Without good, restful sleep, people with EDS face real struggles staying awake, alert, and productive during the day. The blank stares and dismissive attitudes from people who don’t get it are just the icing on the EDS crap cake.
Source: giphy.com
It is possible to manage the condition by treating the underlying cause; stimulants, antidepressants, and lifestyle changes can also help with EDS symptoms. Still, the options are pretty limited.
A new option may be coming soon, though. Jazz Pharmaceuticals—whose drug XYREM treats EDS associated with narcolepsy—announced that they’ve started enrolling patients in a Phase III study for JZP-110, a drug promoting wakefulness in EDS patients who have narcolepsy or OSA.
The study will measure how JZP-110 helps patients stay awake while reducing sleepiness; an extension of the study will examine the drug’s long-term safety. Jazz is looking to recruit 880 patients across 67 sites spanning the U.S., Canada, and Europe.
Source: clinicaltrials
This study represents Jazz’s latest effort to raise awareness of sleep disorders like narcolepsy, cataplexy, and OSA while working to bring new treatments to market.
While existing drugs have made a big difference, there are still many EDS patients who haven’t been helped by these treatments or can’t tolerate them. These are the people Jazz hopes can find some relief with JZP-110. Regardless of the trial’s outcome, it’s good to know that someone out there is taking EDS seriously and working to make a difference.
