“I knew my experiences weren't normal... more importantly I knew I wasn’t alone.”– Tim
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What Are the Symptoms of Narcolepsy?
There’s more to narcolepsy than excessive daytime sleepiness.
All people living with narcolepsy have excessive daytime sleepiness (EDS), and many may also have other narcolepsy symptoms, including cataplexy, disrupted nighttime sleep, hypnagogic/hypnopompic hallucinations, and sleep paralysis. People with cataplexy have type 1 narcolepsy; narcolepsy without cataplexy is often called type 2 narcolepsy.
Excessive Daytime Sleepiness »
Excessive daytime sleepiness is the inability to stay awake and alert during the day, resulting in a constant and uncontrollable need for sleep or unintentionally falling asleep.
Cataplexy »
Cataplexy is the sudden and brief loss of muscle strength or muscle tone often brought on by strong emotions or certain situations.
Hypnagogic/
Hypnopompic Hallucinations »
Hypnagogic hallucinations are vivid, dream-like experiences that occur when falling asleep; hypnopompic hallucinations are similar but occur while waking up.
Sleep Paralysis »
Sleep paralysis is the inability to move, speak, or open one’s eyes when falling asleep or waking up.
Understanding Narcolepsy Symptoms
In people living with narcolepsy, symptoms occur because the separate states of wakefulness and sleep do not work properly.
Narcolepsy is so much more than just being tired. It affects every aspect of your life.
Scott, living with narcolepsy
Understanding Narcolepsy Symptoms
In people living with narcolepsy, symptoms occur because the separate states of wakefulness and sleep do not work properly.
Narcolepsy is so much more than just being tired. It affects every aspect of your life.
Scott, living with narcolepsy
How much is narcolepsy interfering with your daily activities or enjoyment of life?
Take this assessment a few times each year before visiting with your healthcare provider. Print or email your results and share them with your healthcare team to help you have informed discussions about your treatment plan.
Your
Narcolepsy Symptoms
Vivid dream-like experiences that occur while falling asleep or while waking up.
Occurs at night and includes dreams; muscles are not active to prevent people from acting out dreams.
People with type 1 narcolepsy can be diagnosed by their cataplexy or low levels of hypocretin (also known as orexin).
The cause of type 2 narcolepsy is unknown.
Restorative sleep state with decreased muscle tone.
Daytime and evening habits to improve sleep.
Brief total loss of voluntary muscle control when falling asleep or while waking up.
Also known as orexin, hypocretin is a naturally occurring chemical in the brain that helps maintain wakefulness and prevent non-REM sleep and REM sleep from occurring at the wrong time.
Unintentionally falling asleep due to excessive daytime sleepiness; “sleep attacks.”
The inability to stay awake and alert during the day; a constant need for sleep or unintentionally falling asleep.
A naturally occurring chemical in the brain that helps maintain wakefulness.
Vivid dream-like experiences that occur while falling asleep or while waking up.
Frequent shifts between different states of sleep and wakefulness at night.
Difficulty focusing or concentrating.
Brief loss of muscle tone with retained awareness, often triggered by strong emotions.
Performance of routine tasks without awareness or memory.