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Narcolepsy Narcolepsy

Narcolepsy is a rare condition that causes people to suddenly fall asleep during the day. It usually develops between the ages of 15 and 30, though it can occur at any age. It affects both men and women equally.

No one knows exactly what causes narcolepsy. However, it appears to be due to changes in parts of the central nervous system that control sleep and wakefulness.

Narcolepsy usually develops between the ages of 15 and 30

What are the symptoms?

The main symptom of narcolepsy is falling asleep in the day without warning. This might be accompanied by a feeling of excessive sleepiness or drowsiness beforehand.

A sleep attack can last anything from a few seconds to several minutes or more. This can happen even after getting enough sleep at night. Sleep attacks may come on when you are in the middle of a conversation or while eating a meal. Most dangerously they can happen while you are driving or operating machinery.

People with narcolepsy often experience a sudden loss of muscle strength when awake. This is called cataplexy. It may be very mild - for example, causing just a slight weakness in the eyelids, or more extreme - for example, the whole body may collapse. Cataplexy is often triggered by strong emotions such as anger, fear or excitement. Laughter is thought to be the most common cause.

Some people with narcolepsy have sleep paralysis. This means you aren't able to move when you are falling asleep or waking up. It usually only lasts a few minutes but it can be very frightening.

People with narcolepsy don't always have all of these symptoms, and they may develop gradually.

Narcolepsy is a malfunction of sleep/wake regulating system in brain

Getting help

If you have trouble staying awake during the day, the first step is to see your GP. He or she will ask about your symptoms and ask you to explain how you feel and act during the daytime.

If your GP suspects you have narcolepsy, he or she will usually refer you to a sleep specialist.

The sleep specialist will usually ask you to stay overnight at a sleep centre where you will have tests to confirm your diagnosis and determine the best treatment.

Treatment

At the moment there is no cure for narcolepsy, but most of the symptoms can be managed with medicines and lifestyle changes.

Your doctor may prescribe stimulants to make you more alert during the day and antidepressants to help treat symptoms such as cataplexy, hallucinations and/or temporary paralysis. Not all medicines work for everyone and it may take weeks or months for your doctor to find the best treatment for you.

Your doctor will usually suggest you make some lifestyle changes to help lessen your symptoms. This may include taking regular naps during the day at times when you are feeling most sleepy, and going to sleep and waking up at the same time each day.

  • Publication date: September 2008