What is Narcolepsy?

Narcolepsy is a neurological disorder that affects the patient’s ability to regulate their sleep wake cycle. People with narcolepsy experience extreme daytime sleepiness and sometimes episodes of suddenly falling asleep. It’s an uncommon disorder, but can cause serious disruption of daily activities.

Symptoms of Narcolepsy

In addition to excessive daytime sleepiness, patients with narcolepsy often experience other symptoms. These can include cataplexy, a sudden loss of muscle control associated with strong emotions, such as excitement, laughter, or surprise; sleep paralysis, a brief inability to speak or move while falling asleep or waking up; hypnagogic hallucinations, vivid dream-like images occurring while falling asleep; automatic behaviors, not remembering what you did during a period of sleep; and disturbed nighttime sleep.

Diagnosing Narcolepsy

In order to diagnose narcolepsy, your doctor may recommend a sleep study to help identify any issues such as sleep apnea, periodic limb movement disorder, and other nighttime sleeping disorders. Your doctor may then perform a multiple sleep latency test (MSLT) to measure the speed at which you fall asleep during the day. This can help differentiate narcolepsy from other sleeping disorders. Additionally, your doctor may take blood tests, brain wave tests, or other tests to help rule out other conditions.

Narcolepsy can be a difficult disorder to live with, but it is possible to manage it with the right treatment. Treatment may include medication, lifestyle changes, and therapy. It’s important to discuss any concerns with your doctor to determine the best approach for your individual needs.