Available Treatments
If you or someone you know has narcolepsy or hypersomnia, the primary treatment for these disorders is medication. Medications increase daytime alertness and/or reduce the occurrence of cataplexy (NT1). The medications in this section are listed as those that are FDA-approved for the indicated use. Some of these medications treat only one main symptom, and some treat both daytime sleepiness and cataplexy.
Behavioral interventions are also used in people with Narcolepsy. Please refer to Knowledgebase for more details.
MEDICATIONS APPROVED FOR TREATMENT OF NARCOLEPSY SYMPTOMS
| Drug Name | Brand Name | Symptoms Treated | Mechanism Of Action |
|---|---|---|---|
| Modafinil | Provigil® | Sleepiness | unknown action (dopamine agonist?) |
| Armodafinil | Nuvigil® | Sleepiness | unknown action (dopamine agonist?) |
| Solriamfetol | Sunosi® | Sleepiness | Orexin Agonist |
| Pitolisant | Wakix® | Sleepiness, Cataplexy | Histamine-3 Reuptake Inhibitor / Inverse Agonist |
| Sodium oxybate | Xyrem® | Sleepiness, Cataplexy | GHB – unknown action |
| Oxybate, calcium, magnesium, potassium | Xywav® | Sleepiness, Cataplexy | GHB – unknown action |
| Sodium oxybate | Lumryz™ | Sleepiness, Cataplexy | GHB – unknown action |
| Atomoxetine | Stattera® | Sleepiness | Norepinephrine Reuptake Inhibitor |
| Methylphenidate | Ritalin® / Concerta® | Sleepiness | Dopamine-Norepinephrine Reuptake Inhibitor |
| Dextroamphetamine | Dexedrine | Sleepiness | Dopamine-Norepinephrine Agonist |
MEDICATIONS APPROVED FOR TREATMENT OF IDIOPATHIC HYPERSOMNIA SYMPTOMS
| Drug Name | Brand Name | Symptoms Treated | Mechanism Of Action |
|---|---|---|---|
| Armodafinil | Nuvigil® | Sleepiness | Unknown action (dopamine agonist?) |
| Pitolisant | Wakix® | Sleepiness | Histamine-3 Reuptake Inhibitor / Inverse Agonist |
| Sodium Oxybate | Xyrem® | Sleepiness | GHB – unknown action |
| Oxybate, Calcium, Magnesium, Potassium | Xywav® | Sleepiness | GHB – unknown action |
| Atomoxetine | Stattera® | Sleepiness | Norepinephrine Reuptake Inhibitor |
| Reboxetine (not available in US) | Edronax* | Sleepiness | Norepinephrine Reuptake Inhibitor |
| *proposed name |
