New AASM Guideline for Treatment of Central Disorders of Hypersomnolence: Lynn Marie Trotti, MD

“The biggest changes, I would say, from the existing guideline that the AASM has for these disorders, are probably the new medications that are included in this guideline that were not available at the time of the prior guideline. In particular, that includes solriamfetol and pitolisant, both of which were FDA-approved for narcolepsy in 2019.” 

A new guideline from the American Academy of Sleep Medicine (AASM) addresses and incorporates new data pertaining to central disorders of hypersomnolence. Last updated in 2007, the guideline provides treatment recommendations for narcolepsy, idiopathic hypersomnia, Kleine-Levin syndrome, and idiopathic hypersomnia. The guideline provides both “strong” and “conditional” recommendations, depending on the indications of available evidence. 

Lynn Marie Trotti, MD, MSc, associate professor of neurology at Emory University School of Medicine, sat down with NeurologyLive to discuss what has been added, particularly the inclusion of additional FDA–approved medications, namely solriamfetol (Sunosi; Jazz) and pitolisant (Wakix; Harmony) for the treatment of narcolepsy, and modafinil (Provigil) for the treatment of idiopathic hypersomnia. As an AASM director and coauthor of the guideline, Trotti further detailed the process by which such guidelines are updated, adhering to a process to ensure new data and approved treatments are incorporated.