What Is Narcolepsy?

Narcolepsy is a chronic neurologic condition, which means that it involves nerve cells and chemicals in the brain. With narcolepsy, the brain is not able to control sleep-wake cycles normally. The symptoms can make it hard to do everyday tasks and may impact home, school, or work.

Narcolepsy is also considered a sleep disorder. So if you think you or someone you love may have narcolepsy, a sleep specialist can make an accurate diagnosis using overnight testing in a sleep laboratory.

Misdiagnosis is common, so assessment by a healthcare professional with narcolepsy expertise is important.

People with narcolepsy may be at risk for other conditions.

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These are the 5 major symptoms of narcolepsy.
Someone doesn’t have to have them all to have narcolepsy.

An uncontrollable urge to sleep, often at inappropriate times

Excessive Daytime Sleepiness

Weakening of muscles (knee buckle, jaw sag, eye droop, etc) with strong emotions like laughter

Cataplexy

Poor-quality sleep at night (you fall asleep easily but have trouble staying asleep)

Disrupted Nighttime Sleep

Feeling unable to move or speak when falling asleep or waking up

Sleep Paralysis

Vivid (often frightening) dreamlike experiences when falling asleep or waking up

Hypnagogic/ Hypnopompic Hallucinations

2 types of narcolepsy

There are 2 types of narcolepsy.

Narcolepsy type 1 includes both EDS and cataplexy
Narcolepsy type 2 does not include cataplexy

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What Is Narcolepsy?

These are the 5 major symptoms of narcolepsy.Someone doesn’t have to have them all to have narcolepsy.

2 types of narcolepsy

These are the 5 major symptoms of narcolepsy.
Someone doesn’t have to have them all to have narcolepsy.