Some people with narcolepsy experience automatic behavior during brief episodes of narcolepsy. People with narcolepsy may have other sleep disorders, such as obstructive sleep apnea - a condition in which breathing starts and stops throughout the night - restless legs syndrome and even insomnia. These hallucinations may be particularly vivid and frightening because you may not be fully asleep when you begin dreaming and you experience your dreams as reality. An example is feeling as if there is a stranger in your bedroom. These hallucinations are called hypnagogic hallucinations if they happen as you fall asleep and hypnopompic hallucinations if they occur upon waking. People with narcolepsy often transition quickly to REM sleep, usually within 15 minutes of falling asleep. REM sleep can occur at any time of the day in people with narcolepsy. REM sleep is typically when most dreaming happens. Changes in rapid eye movement (REM) sleep.Many people without narcolepsy experience some episodes of sleep paralysis. Not everyone with sleep paralysis has narcolepsy, however. This temporary immobility during REM sleep may prevent your body from acting out dream activity. This sleep paralysis mimics the type of temporary paralysis that normally occurs during a period of sleep called rapid eye movement (REM) sleep. You may be aware of the condition and have no difficulty recalling it afterward, even if you had no control over what was happening to you. These episodes are usually brief - lasting a few seconds or minutes - but can be frightening. People with narcolepsy often experience a temporary inability to move or speak while falling asleep or upon waking. Not everyone with narcolepsy experiences cataplexy. Some people with narcolepsy experience only one or two episodes of cataplexy a year, while others have numerous episodes daily. For example, when you laugh, your head may droop uncontrollably or your knees may suddenly buckle. This condition, called cataplexy (KAT-uh-plek-see), can cause a number of physical changes, from slurred speech to complete weakness of most muscles, and may last up to a few minutes.Ĭataplexy is uncontrollable and is triggered by intense emotions, usually positive ones such as laughter or excitement, but sometimes fear, surprise or anger. Excessive daytime sleepiness usually is the first symptom to appear and is often the most troublesome, making it difficult for you to concentrate and fully function. You may also experience decreased alertness and focus throughout the day. When you awaken, you feel refreshed, but eventually you get sleepy again. For example, you may be working or talking with friends and suddenly you nod off, sleeping for a few minutes up to a half-hour. People with narcolepsy fall asleep without warning, anywhere, anytime. They include:Įxcessive daytime sleepiness. Additionally, sufferers of cataplexy should implement safety practices to prevent injuries from occurring during an cataplexic episode.The signs and symptoms of narcolepsy may worsen for the first few years and then continue for life. Someone suffering from cataplexy should maintain good sleep hygiene. In other instances, an individual's knees may buckle or he or she may be unable to speak.Ĭataplexy cannot be cured but may be managed through the use of medications and behavior changes. An episode of cataplexy may have a slight affect, causing a dropping eyelid or small muscle tremor. Not all instances of cataplexy result in noticeable muscle weakness or paralysis. During the cataplexic attack, the body's muscles are responding as if in a sleep state, while the individual experiencing cataplexy remains awake. Like narcolepsy, the condition is linked to low levels of the neurotransmitter hypocretin in the brain.Ĭataplexy affect voluntary muscle reactions. While the exact cause of cataplexy isn't fully understood, it is believed to be triggered by a malfunction in the sleep/wake cycle. Anxiety, anger, joy and even laughter can all act as triggers. However, the condition is sometimes triggered by other medical conditions including some chromosomal disorders, strokes and head injuries. Non-narcolepsy related cataplexy is rare. Cataplexy is a neurological condition usually associated with narcolepsy.
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