The Narcolepsy Network provides patient education and support. Changes in work or lifestyle can be helpful. Sleep specialists normally treat narcolepsy with a combination of behavioral changes (primarily scheduling nocturnal sleep and naps) and medications, tailoring the treatment based on the potential cause(s) of the condition, individual symptoms and response to treatments. In addition to the above, your sleep specialist may request a blood genetic test for narcolepsy if they suspect hypocretin deficiency. The specialist uses this test to measure the extent of daytime sleepiness (how fast the patient falls asleep in each nap, also called sleep latency), and also how quickly REM sleep begins, since narcoleptics fall asleep quickly and experience REM sleep early. During the test, the narcoleptic will usually fall asleep rapidly, enter REM sleep quickly, and potentially awaken frequently during the night.įor the MSLT, a person is given 4-5 opportunities to sleep every two hours during normal wake times. The polysomnogram continuously records brain waves during sleep, as well as a number of nerve and muscle functions during nighttime sleep. UT Sleep Specialists use two main tests to diagnose narcolepsy: the nocturnal polysomnogram and the multiple sleep latency test (MSLT).

A general medical check up excluding anemia, hypothyroidism, heart or other general medical issues is essential. It requires excluding carefully insufficient sleep (sleep deprivation), disturbed nocturnal sleep, insomnia, circadian rhythm disorders, sleep-related breathing (sleep apnea) disorders and psychiatric disorders. However, if sleep attacks are isolated and there is only mild or no cataplexy, making a correct diagnosis is more challenging. If all the common symptoms of narcolepsy are present, diagnosing the disorder is fairly straightforward. Obesity – Many patients with narcolepsy also gain weight as the result of inactivity and sleepiness.Nighttime eating and excessive dreaming with motor activity (acting out dreams, see also REM sleep Behavior Disorder) also frequently occur. Patients often do fall asleep rapidly but are unable to stay asleep for more than a few hours at a time. Difficulties maintaining sleep – Nighttime sleep is disturbed.Automatic behavior – a person continues to function or talk while being half asleep, and awakens with no memory of doing these activities.Hypnagogic hallucinations – vivid, sometimes disturbing dreamlike experiences that occur while dozing, falling asleep and/or upon awakening.Sleep paralysis – the temporary inability to talk or move when waking it may last a few seconds to minutes.Cataplexy is a cardinal symptom as it almost always indicates that the cause of the narcolepsy is a lack of hypocretin in the brain. While cataplexy can manifest as something as minor as a slight slackening of the facial muscles, in extreme cases, a person may experience total collapse or even muscle paralysis. Cataplexy – a sudden weakening of the muscles, often triggered by a strong emotion.Beside excessive daytime sleepiness, patients may display the following symptoms:

Narcolepsy without cataplexy