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Chris was tired. Not just tired, actually, but fatigued. Normally, he loved working with his clients as a mental health counselor—and in his spare time, Chris enjoyed hiking, staying active, and being out in nature. But his fatigue prevented him from living his life to the fullest. He was often falling asleep in situations where he shouldn’t and struggled to keep up with his favorite activities. According to a story in the Sun City West Independent, Chris pursued medical intervention and was soon diagnosed with narcolepsy. 

Although he jumped into treatment and worked with a sleep specialist, Chris still experienced excessive daytime sleepiness and cataplexy, a unique narcolepsy symptom characterized by sudden uncontrollable muscle weakness or paralysis. Eventually Chris switched doctors to look for better care options. His new physician recommended WAKIX (pitolisant). This once-daily tablet increases histamine levels in the brain, which improves brain activity in areas related to wakefulness. Learn more about WAKIX. 

For Chris, WAKIX was effective in reducing his cataplexy and excessive daytime sleepiness. That being said, he recommends that each person speaks with their physician to determine the optimal care plan for themselves. Outside of this, Chris also suggests using sun lamps for waking, taking the time to nap, using blackout curtains, and getting involved in support groups. Through these groups, people can learn more about narcolepsy, speak with others who are going through the same thing, and discuss management, advice, and other ideas. 

A Brief Overview of Narcolepsy

Narcolepsy is a chronic neurological disorder that affects the brain’s ability to regulate the sleep-wake cycle. It may cause people to fall asleep quickly for a few moments, and results in excessive daytime sleepiness that can be debilitating. Many people with narcolepsy also experience cataplexy, though not everyone does. Cataplexy is generally triggered by strong emotions, such as fear, anger, or excitement, or by laughter. In a cataplectic attack, someone is awake but cannot move. Outside of cataplexy and excessive daytime sleepiness, narcolepsy can cause hallucinations and sleep paralysis. Treatment options include sodium oxybate, gamma-hydroxybutyrate, Modafinil, Xyrem, and other medications such as WAKIX.