Narcolepsy Support Group

A sleep disorder (somnipathy) is a disorder in the sleep patterns of a person or animal. Some sleep disorders can interfere with mental and emotional function. If you are having trouble falling asleep or having some other kind of sleep disturbance, this group is for you.

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Sleep Study and Meds

Ambrosia6
Ambrosia6
I just read in "Narcolepsy?" that docs tell you to go off your meds for 10 days before the study. Last time I had a study, 3 years ago, I wasn't on any meds. I'm going to have another study soon (they didn't consider narcolepsy last time so I didn't have the MSLT) and now I'm on several meds including anti-anxiety and anti-depressants that have severe withdrawal symptoms. If I go off those meds I will be a non-functional emotional wreck, will have to cancel teaching (though it's only a few hours a week) and won't be able to study for my college classes. Does anyone know if xanax, risperdal, buspirone and paxil affect sleep studies? Those are the meds I'm concerned about.
deleted_user
deleted_user
I'm going in for a 24hour sleep test and an all day monitoring and I have been instructed to take my medication because they want to observe your sleep on the meds. I think if they anted you off they would have said that by now and in the case of withdrawals I ca't see them doing that to you.
deleted_user
deleted_user
My sleep specialist had me go off of my meds for 10 days before the test since some medication can interfere with or hide narcolepsy symptoms. For instance, antidepressants reduce the amount of REM sleep you experience. So if you are taking that when you're doing the sleep study, they don't know what your natural sleep state is like and they could miss the N if you have it.
deleted_user
deleted_user
I was on an antidepressant also when I had my sleep study and let me tell you, the vertigo I felt when I went off of it for 10 days was awful! However, I'm glad I did because my N showed it's ugly head in big colors and I was able to get an accurate diagnosis. In fact, they were able to diagnose me with RLS and sleep apnea as well.
deleted_user
deleted_user
Q. Can I take my usual medications?
A. All medications being taken should first be discussed with a physician before making an appointment for a sleep study. Certain medications, such as sleeping pills, stimulants, anti-histamines and drugs for anxiety and depression can interfere with the test results, and may need to be discontinued prior to the evaluation. However, unless instructed otherwise by a physician, you should continue to take all your medications on the day and night of the sleep test.

Found at: http://www.goodnightsleepwell.com/Services.aspx
deleted_user
deleted_user
I had to go off for 7 days for my last sleep study/ mslt. I was tired but no withdraws at all.
deleted_user
deleted_user
Lucky you Jason!
deleted_user
deleted_user
You should really speak with your doctor and your sleep study about this. When I had my sleep study I too was suppose to come off ALL medications.
But I totally forgot, and stayed on all my meds (including my "anti-narcolepsy" medications) and walked into the study with a coffee in my hand. They were all ready to send me home, saying there was no way that I could take the tests. I assured them that it would all work just fine, and indeed it did.
So despite all the medications and stimulants, I was still diagnosed with Narcolepsy from that study.