Carbamazepine as a treatment for cataplexy
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Updated: Nov 4, 2026

Manipulation of Epileptiform Electrocorticograms (ECoGs) and Sleep in Rats and Mice by Acupuncture
Published on: December 22, 2016
1Department of Neurology, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, 27599-7025 USA.
Abstract:
Cataplexy is a common symptom associated with narcolepsy. We evaluated a 51-year-old female who developed symptoms of progressive daytime sleepiness with cataplexy. The diagnosis of narcolepsy was confirmed by overnight polysomnogram and was consistent with results of a multiple sleep latency study, and episodes of cataplexy were documented by video-EEG-EMG monitoring. Examination during a catapletic episode was significant for areflexia and paralysis. The frequency of cataplexy increased with fluoxetine, protriptyline and sertraline and the patient developed frank choreiform movements with protriptyline and sertraline. The cataplexy resolved following treatment with carbamazepine. We feel carbamazepine is a potential treatment for patients with refractory cataplexy.
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