A combination of clinical assessment, sleep history, and specialized testing is used to confirm narcolepsy. A polysomnography (overnight sleep study), which tracks muscle activity, eye movements, and brain waves, is the most conclusive test. A multiple sleep latency test (MSLT), which gauges how rapidly a person falls asleep during the day and when they transition into REM sleep, frequently comes after this. Doctors may also check for low levels of the neurotransmitter hypocretin in CSF fluid if narcolepsy is suspected. After the diagnosis is established, medications such as Modalert 200 (modafinil) may also be used to treat excessive daytime drowsiness.
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