Narcolepsy
Narcolepsy is a chronic disorder of sleep-wake regulation causing persistent daytime sleepiness. Some people also have cataplexy, a brief loss of muscle tone triggered by emotion while awareness is retained.
Key points
- Daytime sleepiness has many causes, including insufficient sleep, sleep apnoea, medicines and depression, which must be considered.
- Diagnosis uses sleep history and specialist overnight and daytime testing rather than sleepiness alone.
- Wake-promoting medicine improves alertness but does not make driving safe when sleepiness remains uncontrolled.
A stimulant or wake-promoting listing cannot diagnose narcolepsy; sleep testing, cardiovascular health, pregnancy and interactions guide treatment.
What symptoms occur besides sleepiness?
Cataplexy, sleep paralysis, vivid dream-like experiences around sleep and fragmented night sleep can occur, but not everyone has every feature. A regular sleep diary helps show whether inadequate sleep is contributing.
How is narcolepsy managed?
Modafinil may improve daytime alertness, while cataplexy can need separate treatment. Regular sleep scheduling, planned naps and workplace or education adjustments also matter. See neurology for class context.
When to seek urgent care
Stop driving or operating machinery if sleepiness or sleep attacks are uncontrolled. Seek urgent care after a related collision or injury, or for new collapse with prolonged unresponsiveness, seizure, chest pain or breathing difficulty.