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Related Concept Videos

Narcolepsy01:07

Narcolepsy

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Narcolepsy is a chronic sleep disorder characterized by pervasive, uncontrolled sleepiness and other sleep disturbances. One of its hallmark symptoms is an abrupt transition to REM sleep upon falling asleep, which causes symptoms typically associated with this phase to occur unexpectedly during wakefulness. These include the following symptoms, which typically last from a minute or two to half an hour.
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Sleep-Wake Cycles01:24

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Sleep is an essential physiological process vital to maintaining overall well-being. The reticular activating system (RAS), a network of neurons in the brainstem, regulates wakefulness and sleep. While it may seem passive, sleep consists of distinct cycles, each with its unique characteristics and functions. Two key sleep phases are non-rapid eye movement (NREM) and  rapid eye movement (REM).
NREM Sleep
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The sleep cycle, an integral part of human health, consists of several stages with distinct characteristics and functions. It begins with a transition from wakefulness to sleep, known as the light sleep phase, followed by the restorative deep sleep phase, essential for physical recovery and growth. The cycle concludes with the Rapid Eye Movement (REM) phase, characterized by high brain activity and vivid dreaming. Insomnia, a prevalent sleep disorder, involves difficulty falling asleep, staying...
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Sedatives and hypnotics encompass a wide range of substances, each with its unique mechanism of action, uses, and potential adverse effects.
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Parkinson's Disease: Treatment01:24

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Neurodegenerative disorders, such as Parkinson's Disease (PD), involve the gradual and irreversible destruction of neurons in particular brain areas. These disorders exhibit standard features like proteinopathies, selective vulnerability of some neurons, and an interaction of intrinsic properties, genetics, and environmental influences in neural injury.
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Psychosis: Goals of Pharmacotherapy01:26

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Antipsychotic drugs are a crucial treatment method for acute and chronic psychoses, bipolar illness, and behavioral disorders. The selection of these drugs depends on several factors, including the state of the disease, clinical judgment, possible drug interactions, and the patient's sensitivity to adverse effects. In immediate scenarios, such as delirium and dementia, short-term treatment with low doses of high-potency typical or atypical agents can effectively manage symptom exacerbation.
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Evaluating pitolisant as a narcolepsy treatment option.

Stefano de Biase1, Gaia Pellitteri2, Gian Luigi Gigli2,3

  • 1Neurology Unit, Ospedale dell'Angelo , Venezia Mestre, Italy.

Expert Opinion on Pharmacotherapy
|September 17, 2020
PubMed
Summary

Pitolisant effectively treats narcolepsy symptoms like excessive daytime sleepiness and cataplexy. This histamine H3 receptor antagonist offers a novel, well-tolerated oral treatment option for this chronic sleep disorder.

Keywords:
Cataplexyexcessive daytime sleepinesshistaminehypocretinnarcolepsypitolisant

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Area of Science:

  • Neuroscience
  • Pharmacology
  • Sleep Medicine

Background:

  • Narcolepsy is a chronic neurological sleep disorder with symptoms including excessive daytime sleepiness (EDS) and cataplexy.
  • Current narcolepsy treatments are symptomatic and often provide incomplete symptom control.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review the clinical and pharmacological profile of pitolisant for narcolepsy treatment.
  • To evaluate pitolisant as a novel therapeutic option for narcolepsy.

Main Methods:

  • Literature review of studies published between 1990 and 2020.
  • Focus on clinical trials and pharmacological data of pitolisant in narcolepsy.

Main Results:

  • Pitolisant, a histamine H3 receptor antagonist/inverse agonist, demonstrates efficacy in reducing EDS and cataplexy in narcolepsy.
  • Clinical trials indicate effectiveness at doses up to 36 mg/day, with a convenient once-daily oral regimen.
  • Pitolisant is generally well-tolerated with minimal abuse potential.

Conclusions:

  • Pitolisant represents a novel pharmacological approach for narcolepsy management.
  • It offers an effective and well-tolerated treatment option for reducing key narcolepsy symptoms.
  • Further long-term comparative studies are needed to assess pitolisant against other narcolepsy medications.