More recent studies have shown that DHEA can cause significant reductions in abdominal fat, which is associated with diabetes and blood plaque build up in arteries. So effect of hormone on heart is still undecided.

DHEA is also proven to help some lupus suffers.

As with all hormone therapies, experts warn that long term risks are unknown. There is concern that DHEA may cause or worsen heart conditions or cause or accelerate prostate cancer or other tumors.

The hormone is available as a supplement and not patentable, so no research is likely to be done by pharmaceutical industry. As a matter of fact, DHEA was briefly banned in US, but is now legal, to chagrin of many doctors.

Other physicians feel that a dosage up to 50 mg a day would probably not be harmful. But even they call for more studies.

DHEA is probably not needed before age of 40. A blood test can be used to establish if you are suffering from a deficiency.

There is nothing to prevent anyone from buying and taking DHEA. There are many short term benefits and long term hazards, if any, have not yet been proven.

If you feel you might benefit from DHEA, consult a qualified physician first. This article is for informational purposes only. It does not purport to offer medical advice.

The major side effects of these stimulants are irritability, anxiety, quickened heart rate, hypertension, substance abuse, and disturbances of nocturnal sleep. Methylphenidate and dextroamphetamine are known to cause hypertension. A common side effect of modafinil is headache, usually related to dose size, which occurs in up to 5 percent of patients. Pemoline poses a very low but noticeable risk for liver complication. None of these stimulants influence occurrence of narcolepsy’s auxiliary symptoms and usually are not used to treat them.

Modafinil does not carry addiction potential that methylphenidate and dextroamphetamine do. In fact, latest development in treatment is a new modafinil drug called Provigil®, which does not act as a stimulant and so does not produce side effects like anxiety and irritability. Provigil’s therapeutic effects have been observed in maintenance of wakefulness test research, where patients have tripled their wakefulness.

Although there is no cure for narcolepsy, excessive daytime sleepiness, sudden sleep onset, and cataplexy. Proper sleep hygiene,which includes a consistent sleep schedule and avoidance of shift work and alcohol, can drastically reduce ill impact of narcolepsy.

And often, patients with narcolepsy feel refreshed after a short nap; therefore, taking short scheduled naps may greatly benefit patients combatting excessive daytime sleepiness.