Narcolepsy

What Is Narcolepsy?

Patient with sleep study sensors attached

Narcolepsy is a chronic neurological disorder in which the brain cannot properly regulate sleep and wakefulness. It often begins in the teens or twenties, but it can start at any age and is frequently missed for years.

Symptoms can include:

  • Excessive daytime sleepiness and sudden, irresistible urges to sleep, even after a full night in bed
  • Cataplexy: brief muscle weakness, such as a drooping face or buckling knees, triggered by laughter or strong emotion (narcolepsy type 1)
  • Sleep paralysis: being briefly unable to move when falling asleep or waking up
  • Vivid dream-like hallucinations at sleep onset or on waking
  • Fragmented, restless nighttime sleep
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Diagnosis & Treatment

How we diagnose narcolepsy

Diagnosis requires specialized testing in our sleep lab:

  • An overnight polysomnogram to measure your sleep and rule out other causes of sleepiness, such as sleep apnea
  • A Multiple Sleep Latency Test (MSLT) the following day, a series of scheduled naps that measures how quickly you fall asleep and whether you enter REM sleep early
  • A sleep diary or activity monitor beforehand to make sure you are getting enough sleep. Some medications may need to be adjusted before testing, under your physician’s direction

Treatment options

Narcolepsy is a lifelong condition, but treatment can greatly improve alertness and safety:

  • Wake-promoting medications and stimulants to reduce daytime sleepiness
  • Medications that treat cataplexy and improve nighttime sleep
  • Scheduled short naps and a regular sleep schedule
  • Guidance on driving safety, work and school accommodations

See also: Sleep Medicine & Sleep Studies · Shift Work Disorder

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