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 FDA APPROVED FOR TREATMENT OF NARCOLEPSY SYMPTOMS
| Drug Name | Brand Name | Symptoms Treated | Mechanism Of Action |
|---|---|---|---|
| Modafinil | Provigil® | Excessive Daytime Sleepiness | unknown action |
| Armodafinil | Nuvigil® | Excessive Daytime Sleepiness | unknown action |
| Solriamfetol | Sunosi® | Excessive Daytime Sleepiness | Orexin Agonist |
| Pitolisant | Wakix® | Excessive Daytime Sleepiness, Cataplexy | Histamine-3 Reuptake Inhibitor / Inverse Agonist |
| Sodium oxybate | Xyrem® | Excessive Daytime Sleepiness, Cataplexy | GHB – unknown action |
| Calcium, magnesium, potassium, sodium oxybate | Xywav™ | Excessive Daytime Sleepiness, Cataplexy | GHB – unknown action |
| Sodium oxybate extended release | Lumryz ER™ | Excessive Daytime Sleepiness, Cataplexy | GHB – unknown action |
| Methylphenidate / Methylphenidate extended release | Ritalin® / Ritalin SR® | Excessive Daytime Sleepiness | Dopamine-Norepinephrine Reuptake Inhibitor |
| Dextroamphetamine | Dexedrine® | Excessive Daytime Sleepiness | Dopamine-Norepinephrine Agonist |
MEDICATIONS FDA APPROVED FOR TREATMENT OF IDIOPATHIC HYPERSOMNIA SYMPTOMS
| Drug Name | Brand Name | Symptoms Treated | Mechanism Of Action |
|---|---|---|---|
| Calcium, magnesium, potassium, sodium oxybate | Xywav™ | Excessive Daytime Sleepiness, Difficulty Waking | GHB – unknown action |
