Cataplexy is considered secondary when it is due to specific lesions in the brain that cause a depletion of the hypocretin The exact cause of cataplexy is unknown, but the condition is strongly linked to experiencing intense emotions and reduced levels of the neurotransmitter hypocretin. Furthermore, upwards of 30% of patients with narcolepsy may never experience cataplexy. However, in some cases, cataplexy occurs without the co-occurrence of narcolepsy. Cataplexy is a rare disease (prevalence of fewer than 5 per 10,000 in theĬommunity), but affects roughly 70% of people who have narcolepsy. In some patients, status cataplecticus, or periods of repetitive loss of muscle tone, occurs and can last for hours or days. The more commonly limited cataplectic attacks involve the head and face, neck, upper limb, and more rarely lower limb known as "knee buckling." Attacks can last from a few seconds up to ten minutes, and may occur up to several times per week.
However, most often patients with postural collapse have the capability to avoid injury because the fall is slow and progressive. A full-blown attack may occur and results in complete muscle paralysis with postural collapse and possible injury. The subject is lucid during this attack consciousness is always maintained at the onset of cataplexy.
A cataplectic attack is sudden in onset and is localized to a specific muscle group or parts of the body.
The sudden loss of muscle tone in cataplexy is similar to rapid eye movement (REM)-associated muscle atonia during sleep, but it is occurring during wakefulness. Cataplexy is a sudden and transient episode of loss of muscle tone, often triggered by emotions such as laughter, fear, anger, frustration, annoyance, nervousness,Įmbarrassment, and sadness. The present invention relates to a method of treating cataplexy in a subject in need thereof, comprising administering to the subject a therapeutically effective amount of certain carbamate compounds. 61/778,998, filed March 13, 2013, the entire contents of which are incorporated by reference herein.
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