Evaluation and Medical Management of Sleep‐Disordered Breathing

Excessive sleepiness is one of the major symptoms in Narcolepsy. Narcolepsy is one of the most common hypersomnias of central nervous system origin. It is defined by the major symptoms of: hypersomnia, cataplexy, hypnagogic hallucinations, and sleep paralysis. Excessive daytime sleepiness is present in all patients. Cataplexy is pathognomonic for narcolepsy. Diagnostic evaluation usually includes an overnight polysomnogram followed by a next day multiple sleep latency test (MSLT). Treatment requires a multimodal approach with the use of wake promoting agents and REM-suppressant medications.