Posted by zeugma on November 4, 2004, at 19:38:01
In reply to Re: hypocretin/dopamine/nore/serotonin/histamine/sleep » dove, posted by SLS on November 4, 2004, at 10:03:25
thanks too dove for posting this. i, too, read the article quickly, but its contents are highly relevant to my condition, as I believe I have narcolepsy (and am in thorough agreement with the article's authors that CNS causes of sleep disorders are often misdiagnosed, to the considerable suffering of those suffering from these conditions.
A couple of observations:
Modafinil (Provigil) chiefly affects hypothalamic structures, and this area is a major CNS crossroads responsible for essential activities such as sleep regulation and appetite. I was on Provigil for a couple of months, and experienced some relief from my chronic exhaustion, as well as the first 'normal' dreams I have had in several years (I have a REM latency of zero and am prone to almost constant hypnagogic hallucinations when unmedicated). I also, and remarkably, experienced normalization in terms of appetite (I have very little appetite and have to force myself to eat, a condition some might envy, but misguidedly, as I believe this interfered with my growth and has caused lasting damage in many other ways as well- basically, I've lived in a chronic state of malnutrition and have to force down bottles of Ensure to avoid starvation). My ADD also improved on Provigil, but has worsened on Ritalin. Unfortunately, Provigil's side effects are a stiff price to pay for its considerable benefits, and I decided a few months ago that if being functional meant taking Provigil, I would choose nonfunctionality (yes, they were THAT bad). My hypnagogic hallucinations and cataplexy are controlled by 100 mg of nortriptyline, an adrenergic uptake blocker. Unfortunately, off Provigil, I am becoming nonfunctional again. That is not a pleasant thought.
I don't know how significant this article will be for the bulk of depressives, but this is the clearest presentation I have seen of the recent research into sleep disorders, and hopefully new treatments will be on the horizon. If my next try at a somnolytic (probably Dexedrine) doesn't work, I am going to look for a sleep study and donate my brain waves to the cause of science.
Thanks again,
-z
-z
poster:zeugma
thread:411549
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20041103/msgs/411879.html