I am 63, male, and have had a case of narcolepsy developing for the last 5 years or so and this last year it has been getting much worse. I will be listening to a blaring TV and doze off, then immediately start dreaming like I am in a movie. This is disruptive to my work as a CPA, and is embarrassing when it happens in meetings while listening to speakers and I start snoring. It does not happen when I am active or driving around town. It can happen driving on long trips, especially on hot afternoons, so I caffeine up when its risky. I have been diagnosed with sleep apnea, which I am still not convinced of. I use a CPAP mainly because my sinuses tend to clog up when I lay down, and it does keep me from waking up too often. I get 7 hours sleep a night--sleeping more does not help. I really don't think my daytime sleepiness is related to my nightime sleeping, which people automatic infer. It seems to be just another symptom of aging. Since there is no cure, I am willing to treat it with drugs.

100-200 mg caffeine helps some, but I am told that too much caffeine can raise my blood pressure to risky levels. Lately I have been taking modafinil 200mg tablets, but for it to really help, I need to take 800 mg at a time, and taking that much regularly must be bad for my health as well. I wanted to try taking dexedrine spansule/dextroamphetamine sulfate, but the cost is ridiculously high for long term use. What drug do you think would be best, and not too terribly bad for my health? Each day I also take lisinopril 40mg, metformin 2000mg, simvastatin 20mg, glipizide 20mg, amlodipine 10mg, levothroxine 100mcg and aspirin 80mg for high blood pressure, cholesterol, diabetes, and an aging thyroid. Plus I take a long list of vitamins and supplements.

I consulted about this with my usual doctor, and he ratted me out to the DMV, and I almost lost my drivers license over it. So I have learned that I cannot talk to a physician about this unless it is anonymous or totally confidential, which is why I come to you for advice. By the way, my doctor said that it is more likely “excessive daytime sleepiness” than narcolepsy, but I don’t see the difference. Also, I do not have symptoms of cataplexy. I can find ways to buy drugs online without prescriptions, so you can just suggest recommendations.