Narcolepsy Treatment With Phentermine
Phentermine, a member of the amphetamine family, has been used by many narcoleptic patients with a certain level of success. There are, however, some serious side effects that patients must be aware of so that they are able to make informed decisions about whether to continue taking this medication or switch to another modality altogether.
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What Is Narcolepsy?
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Narcolepsy is a neurological sleep disorder that is characterized by severe and unrelenting drowsiness during the daylight hours. It is an often debilitating condition that can disrupt daily routine and often relies on the use of stimulant medications to combat the symptoms
Side Effects
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Heart arrhythmia, anorexia and nocturnal sleep disturbances can occur. You can also easily become addicted to the use of phentermine, so usage for treatment of narcolepsy should be closely monitored.
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Expert Insight
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As stated at Drugandalcoholrehab.net, amphetamines taken for the treatment of narcolepsy carry the danger of causing abnormally high body temperatures, cardiovascular distress and deadly seizure activity.
Function
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Phentermine works by speeding up a narcoleptic individual's blood pressure and heart rate.
Non-Stimulant Medications to Treat Narcolepsy
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To avoid the side effects that phentermine and other stimulants can cause, some narcolepsy patients are turning to the prescription medication Xyrem (sodium oxybate) to treat their symptoms.
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References
- Photo Credit Image by Flickr.com, courtesy of Adrian Sampson
