Complete Information on Cataplexy

Cataplexy is a strange neurologic condition, occasionally confused with epilepsy. Cataplexy is sometimes confused with epilepsy, where a series of flashes or other stimuli cause superficially similar seizures. Cataplexy can also present as a side effect of SSRI Discontinuation Syndrome. Cataplexy may be partial or complete, affecting a range of muscle groups, from those controlling facial features to (less commonly) those controlling the entire body. Cataplexy may be most severe when the subject is tired rather than fully alert and can lead to considerable anxiety.

The attacks last some minutes and may end in resumption of normal behaviour or the sufferer may slip into sleep sometimes of extended. A sleep disorder believed to affect 1 in 1000. Cataplexy is usually triggered by emotions such as laughter, surprise, fear or anger, and is more common in times of stress. When cataplexy happens often, or cataplexy attacks make patients fall or drop things, it can have serious affects on normal activities. It can cause accidents and be embarrassing when it happens at work or with friends. Cataplexy is often associated with narcolepsy and can affect 60% to 90% of patients with narcolepsy.

Cataplexy requires separate treatment from narcolepsy. Cataplexy is treated pharmacologically. The condition often can be completely controlled with imipramine or desipramine, given in gradually increasing doses. Sodium oxybate is the only medication that will improve both cataplexy and daytime sleepiness. Cataplectic symptoms are improved much faster compared to improvement in daytime sleepiness, which can take up to 6 to 12 weeks. GHB is taken twice; at bedtime and 90 to 120 minutes later. The therapeutic dose is between 6 gm and a maximum dose of 9 gm/day.

5- hydroxy tryptamine reuptake anti- medicinal preparation (SSRIs) has the few side effects and tricyclics compares, possibly is used in the adult and the child. These medicines know the reduced stage REM sleep. They can and reduced muscle atonia with be connected the REM sleep and thus dissociates the REM sleep. The Monoamine oxydase anti- medicinal preparation is perhaps used processes cataplexy and the sleep paralysis and hypnagogic illusion REM sleeps the outset symptom. Three turns of anti- despondent medicinal preparations and SSRIs (fluoxetine3) proved is effective.