Harvard Medical School | Division of Sleep Medicine | Sleep and Health Education

Medications for Treating Daytime Sleepiness in Narcolepsy

Generic name US brand name(s) Typical adult doses Common side effects Serious side effects

10 to 20 mg twice each
abuse potential, altered
day or 20 mg sustained reduced appetite,
Ritalin, Concerta, thinking (psychosis),
methylphenidate release every morning nausea, headache,
Metadate, Methylin seizures, abnormal heart
with 10 to 20 mg every insomnia
rhythm, heart attack
afternoon

5 to 30 mg each day abuse potential, altered

or 10 mg sustained reduced appetite, thinking (psychosis
dextroamphetamine Dexedrine release every morning nausea, headache, or mania), seizures,
with 10 to 20 mg every insomnia abnormal heart rhythm,
afternoon heart attack

abuse potential, altered

10 to 30 mg twice each reduced appetite, thinking (psychosis
mixed amphetamine
Adderall day or 20 mg sustained nausea, headache, or mania), seizures,
salts
release twice each day insomnia abnormal heart rhythm,
heart attack

100 to 400 mg every

headache, nervousness,
modafinil Provigil morning or 200 mg severe rash
nausea, insomnia
twice each day

150 to 250 mg every

morning or 125 mg headache, nervousness,
armodafinil Nuvigil severe rash
(half of a 250-mg tablet) nausea, insomnia
twice each day

morning sedation,
2.5 to 4.5 grams at abuse potential,
nausea, dizziness,
sodium oxybate Xyrem bedtime and repeated confusion, severe
urinary incontinence,
3 to 4 hours later sedation, coma
sleepwalking

Note: mg = milligrams. This table lists some but not all of the side effects that can occur with these medications.
You should speak with your doctor if you have any concerns that one of your medications is causing any side effects.

Copyright 2013 by the President and Fellows of Harvard College 1 of 2

 Harvard Medical School | Division of Sleep Medicine | Sleep and Health Education

Medications for Treating Cataplexy in Narcolepsy

These medications can also reduce hypnagogic hallucinations and sleep paralysis.

Generic name US brand name(s) Typical adult doses Common side effects Serious side effects

37.5 to 75 mg twice transient nausea,

each day or 37.5 to 150 headache, insomnia,
venlafaxine Effexor (rare)
mg extended release increased blood pressure
every morning at higher doses

20 to 80 mg each nausea, dry mouth,

fluoxetine Prozac abnormal heart rhythm
morning insomnia, rash

dry mouth, nausea,

constipation, sweating, abnormal heart
10 to 150 mg each
dizziness, increased rhythm, seizures,
clomipramine Anafranil morning or split into
sleepiness, weight gain, low blood counts,
multiple doses
low blood pressure when liver inflammation
standing

dry mouth, constipation,

5 to 60 mg each sweating, dizziness, abnormal heart
protriptyline Vivactil morning or split into disturbed nighttime sleep, rhythm, seizures,
multiple doses low blood pressure when low blood counts
standing

2.5 to 4.5 grams at morning sedation, abuse potential,

sodium oxybate Xyrem bedtime and repeated nausea, dizziness, urinary confusion, severe
3 to 4 hours later incontinence, sleepwalking sedation, coma

mg = milligrams

This table lists some but not all of the side effects that can occur with these medications. You should speak with your doctor
if you have any concerns that one of your medications is causing any side effects.

Copyright 2013 by the President and Fellows of Harvard College 2 of 2