Cataplexy
Understanding And Dealing With This Disorder
Cataplexy is an all too frequently misunderstood condition.
Attacks happen suddenly and without warning and can be quite alarming
to those who don’t know about the condition. In truth, it
is something which can be easily managed and most sufferers learn
to live with it and handle attacks as they occur.
By definition, it is a condition that results in sudden and complete
loss of muscle control. The severity of attacks varies from patient
to patient. It can manifest as everything from a slacking of the
facial muscles to weakening of the leg muscles that results in
collapse. It does not include of loss of consciousness, which
can make it all the more disturbing to those who witness attacks.
Attacks of cataplexy can also include slurred speech
or blurred vision, but the patient is usually completely
aware of their surroundings. Attacks will subside on their own
after several minutes. Because they are unpredictable, these kinds
of attacks can be as disturbing and difficult to deal with as
seizures, but there are no serious, prolonged effects.
It is not possible to predict a pattern of attacks nor to know
when one is about to happen. They come on without warning and
frequency can differ from one case to the next. What is
known is that the attacks are caused by expressions of emotion.
Anger, surprise, laughter, stress or shock can all bring on an
attack. In come cases, even yawning or sighing can trigger an
attack.
Cataplexy can be difficult to diagnose because
it is sometimes a symptom of narcolepsy
and the two can become intertwined. When most people think of
narcoleptics literally collapsing into sleep, what they are seeing
is really a combination of the sudden onset of sleep caused by
narcolepsy and loss of muscle control common to cataplectics.
While they can occur together, it is necessary to treat cataplexy
separately in order to successfully control the symptoms.
Treatment can also vary, depending on the severity of symptoms.
In some cases, no treatment will be necessary at all. Patients
learn to live with the attacks and simply let them pass on their
own. In more severe cases, antidepressants and other neurological
inhibitors may be prescribed. These medicines will help to block
the signals in the brain which cause the muscles to temporarily
shut down.
Of course, as with any drugs, those used to treat cataplexy
are not without their side effects, therefore it is imperative
that you check with your doctor before beginning any such treatment.
While attacks can inhibit some parts of your daily routine, such
as driving or holding a baby, in most cases they can be managed
and patients can live a full, happy life despite the condition.
Cataplexy can be a frightening experience, but the more you learn
and the more you work with your doctor, the easier it can be to
manage your symptoms. Diagnosis doesn’t have to be the end
of the world. With the proper education, you can go right on living.
Related Articles:
What Is a Sleep Attack?
What is Narcolepsy?
Return from Cataplexy to Sleep
Disorders
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