There is no specific cure for narcolepsy but some medications can help you deal with the symptoms. Drugs which act as stimulants and antidepressants are commonly used in treatment of narcolepsy. Stimulants help combat excess daytime sleepiness and sleep attacks.

They also promote alertness. Dextroamphetamine, Modafinil, methylphenidate etc are common stimulants used to treat narcolepsy. Sometimes, doctors prescribe antidepressants to help reduce narcolepsy symptoms. These medication help suppress REM sleep and reduce sleep paralysis, hallucination etc. People who suffer from narcolepsy might suffer sudden transient loss of muscle tone which disturbs nighttime sleep. This is called cataplexy. Sodium oxybate is used to treat cataplexy. It can also promote nighttime sleepiness and reduce sleepiness during the day. Narcolepsy medications can cause side effects like headache, irritability, anxiety, increased heart rate, high blood pressure and so on.

Some drugs like methylphenidate and dextroamphetamine can be addictive if taken over a long period of time. Lifestyle changes like maintaining good sleep hygiene, avoiding shift jobs and abstaining from alcohol and nicotine also go a long way in dealing with the symptoms of narcolepsy. Taking short naps of 10 to 20 minutes during the day and sticking to a regular exercise regimen will also help promote wakefulness during the day and good sleep at night.