What Are the Signs and Symptoms of Narcolepsy?

The four major signs and symptoms of narcolepsy are extreme daytime sleepiness, cataplexy (muscle weakness) while awake, and hallucinations and sleep paralysis during sleep.

If you have narcolepsy, you may have one or more of these symptoms. They can range from mild to severe.

Extreme Daytime Sleepiness

All people who have narcolepsy have extreme daytime sleepiness. This is often the most obvious symptom of the disorder.

During the day, you may have few or many periods of sleepiness. Each period usually lasts 30 minutes or less. Strong emotions, such as laughter, anger, fear, or excitement, can bring on this sleepiness.

People who have this symptom often complain of:

• Mental cloudiness or "fog"
• Memory problems or problems focusing
• Lack of energy or extreme exhaustion
• Depression

Rarely, people who have narcolepsy have sleep episodes in which they fall asleep suddenly. This is more likely to happen when they're not active—for example, while reading, watching TV, or sitting in a meeting.

However, sleep episodes also may occur in the middle of talking, eating, or another activity. Cataplexy also may occur at the same time.

Cataplexy

This condition causes loss of muscle tone while you're awake. Muscle weakness occurs in certain parts of your body or in your whole body.

Cataplexy may make your head nod or make it hard for you to speak. Muscle weakness also may make your knees weak or cause you to drop things you're holding. Some people lose all muscle control and fall.

Strong emotions, such as laughter or excitement, often trigger this symptom. It usually lasts a few seconds or minutes. During this time, you're usually awake.

Cataplexy may occur weeks to years after you first start to have extreme daytime sleepiness.

Hallucinations

If you have narcolepsy, you may have vivid dreams while falling asleep, waking up, or dozing. These dreams can feel very real. You may feel like you can see, hear, smell, and taste things.

Sleep Paralysis

This condition prevents you from moving or speaking while falling asleep or waking up. However, you're fully conscious (aware) during this time. Sleep paralysis usually lasts just a few seconds or minutes, but it can be scary.

Other Symptoms

Most people who have narcolepsy also don't sleep well at night. They may have trouble falling and staying asleep. Vivid, scary dreams may disturb sleep. Not sleeping well at night worsens daytime sleepiness.

Rarely, people who fall asleep in the middle of an activity, such as eating, may continue that activity for a few seconds or minutes. This is called automatic behavior.

During automatic behavior, you're not aware of your actions, so you don't perform them well. For example, if you're writing before falling asleep, you may scribble rather than form words. If you're driving, you may get lost or have an accident. Most people who have this symptom don't remember what happened while it was going on.

Children who have narcolepsy often have trouble studying, focusing, and remembering things. Also, they may seem hyperactive. Some children who have narcolepsy speed up their activities rather than slow them down.