New Treatment Options in Narcolepsy

Only a few drugs are approved for the treatment of narcolepsy in Germany. Since these medications are effective mainly in the treatment of one or the other of the 2 core symptoms of narcolepsy, (namely excessive daytime sleepiness and cataplexy), and the treatment of facultative symptoms, such as sleep paralysis and hallucinations, have not been well studied, therapy options are rather restricted. Medications with new pharmacological profiles - if they receive approval - can broaden the treatment option and thus the quality of life of patients. The new medications comprise an inverse histamine-3 receptor agonist, a drug with indirect noradrenergic and dopaminergic effect and possibly in the near future a synthesized hypocretin-2 receptor agonist. Some of the new medications are effective against both of the narcoleptic core symptoms. Current findings on immunosuppressive therapies are still limited, but might be promising if given shortly after onset of the first symptoms of this disorder.