Hypersomnia vs. Narcolepsy: Similarities and Differences

Hypersomnia and narcolepsy are intently linked and sometimes confused with each other. Nevertheless, there are distinct variations.

Narcolepsy and Hypersomnia Have an effect on REM Sleep Otherwise

Rapid eye movement (REM) sleep is likely one of the fundamental phases of sleep. It normally begins about 90 minutes after you go to sleep and happens a number of instances an evening. Throughout REM sleep, you expertise eye actions, twitching, and most of your goals.

With narcolepsy, REM sleep happens inside quarter-hour after you drift off. Folks with hypersomnia normally do not expertise this modification within the typical REM sleep cycle, which might account for a few of the variations in signs between the situations.

Therapy Approaches Can Differ

Healthcare suppliers might deal with narcolepsy and hypersomnia otherwise.

Stimulant drugs like Adderall (amphetamine), Ritalin (methylphenidate), and Provigil (modafinil) are frequent therapies for narcolepsy. These choices could also be much less efficient for hypersomnia.

Healthcare suppliers might prescribe drugs to deal with cataplexy and sleep paralysis in narcolepsy. These drugs embody Xyrem (sodium oxybate), Wakix (pitolisant), and sure antidepressants. They could be much less efficient for hypersomnia.

When you have cataplexy, it is also vital to comply with your healthcare supplier’s security precautions round issues comparable to driving.

Narcolepsy and Hypersomnia Might Have Totally different Causes

Specialists are nonetheless studying the causes of each sleep issues. They do know that individuals with kind 1 narcolepsy (narcolepsy with cataplexy) have decrease ranges of hypocretin, a mind chemical that helps regulate your waking state and REM sleep. Folks with kind 2 narcolepsy or hypersomnia haven’t got this distinction.

“Hypersomnia” typically refers to idiopathic hypersomnia. You may also develop medicine or substance-use hypersomnia, which can occur from the usage of these medicine:

• Hypnotic drugs, comparable to Ambien (zolpidem), Halcion (triazolam), and others
• Antihistamines comparable to Benadryl (diphenhydramine) and Zyrtec (cetirizine)
• Anticholinergic medicine, comparable to Atropen (atropine), hyoscine (scopolamine), and others
• Opiates comparable to Vicodin (hydrocodone) and Oxycodone (oxycontin)
• Blood strain drugs
• Antiepileptic (antiseizure) drugs comparable to Carbatrol (carbamazepine) and Valproic (valproate) 
• Hashish, alcohol, and different leisure medicine

Hypersomnnia and Narcolepsy Affect the Sexes Otherwise

Analysis means that idiopathic hypersomnia is extra frequent amongst ladies than males. This is not the case with narcolepsy, which impacts the sexes extra equally.

Nevertheless, researchers discovered ladies with narcolepsy are much less prone to report signs, delaying prognosis and therapy. In comparison with males, ladies might expertise a much less vital affect on their way of life and relationships.

Past sharing some signs, hypersomnia and narcolepsy have a number of similarities, together with in prognosis and administration.

Hypersomnia and Narcolepsy Might Start at Related Ages

The primary signs of each hypersomnia and narcolepsy sometimes happen earlier than age 30. Narcolepsy typically begins to seem at ages 10-25. For idiopathic hypersomnia, the age of onset can also be in adolescence or younger maturity.

Hypersomnia and Narcolepsy Each Have a Genetic Element

Each situations have a genetic element. Analysis means that a few third of individuals with idiopathic hypersomnia have a household historical past of hypersomnia, narcolepsy, or one other sleep problem.

For narcolepsy, there is not as clear a sample of inheritance, however having dad and mom or siblings with the situation raises your threat by about 40 instances.

The Identical Diagnostic Exams Detect Hypersomnia and Narcolepsy

Healthcare suppliers might use the identical checks to diagnose hypersomnia and narcolepsy. These embody:

• Bodily examination and a evaluation of signs and medical historical past
• Blood checks to detect different potential causes of signs, comparable to seizures or sleep apnea
• A a number of sleep latency check, which measures how rapidly you go to sleep
• Polysomnography (a sleep examine), which measures your mind exercise, respiration, coronary heart fee, stage of oxygen, and extra
• Psychological well being analysis for despair or different situations 
• An electrocardiogram (ECG), which measures your coronary heart exercise
• An electroencephalogram (EEG), which measures your mind exercise

Way of life Adjustments Assist Handle Each Circumstances

Together with drugs, way of life adjustments are vital for managing each hypersomnia and narcolepsy. These methods embody:

• Go to mattress and stand up on the identical time on daily basis
• Purpose for 7-8 hours of sleep per night time
• Guarantee your bed room is comfy, quiet, and darkish
• Earlier than bedtime, keep away from alcohol, caffeine, or drugs that have an effect on your signs
• Cease or keep away from smoking
• Relieve stress with stress-free actions, comparable to strolling, gentle train, or respiration workout routines
• Get common train, aiming for 150 minutes per week

You possibly can have each situations on the identical time: Narcolepsy, a continual situation, can set off episodes of hypersomnia.

One of the simplest ways to inform which situation you’ve got is to take a look at the signs. Sleep assaults and cataplexy are indicators of narcolepsy, however not hypersomnia. In distinction, daytime naps aren’t normally refreshing with idiopathic hypersomnia, however they’re with narcolepsy.

When you have each situations, IH could make it tougher for healthcare suppliers to detect narcolepsy.

When you have or consider you’ve got a sleep problem like narcolepsy or idiopathic hypersomnia, it is vital to know when to hunt care. Indicators to name a healthcare supplier embody:

• You might have symptoms of narcolepsy, particularly sleep assaults and cataplexy
• You might have repeated episodes of extreme daytime sleepiness, which affect your perform in school or work
• Remedies aren’t enhancing your signs
• Your signs worsen
• You expertise new signs

A number of medical specialists might deal with narcolepsy or IH. When in search of care, a major care supplier might refer you to a neurologist, sleep specialist, psychiatrist, or psychologist.

Hypersomnia and narcolepsy are each sleep issues that trigger extreme daytime sleepiness.

Hypersomnia makes it onerous to get up from lengthy sleep durations, and daytime naps aren’t refreshing. Narcolepsy causes sleep assaults, cataplexy, and sleep paralysis.

The 2 situations share some therapy choices, with way of life adjustments taking part in a task in managing each situations.