Narcolepsy - Symptoms

The following are the most common symptoms of narcolepsy. However, individuals may experience symptoms differently. Symptoms may include:

• Excessive Daytime Sleepiness (EDS) - an overwhelming desire to sleep at inappropriate times.
• Cataplexy - a sudden loss of muscle control ranging from slight weakness to total collapse.
• Sleep Paralysis - being unable to talk or move for about one minute when falling asleep or waking up.
• Hypnagogic Hallucinations - vivid and often scary dreams and sounds reported when falling asleep.

Secondary or auxiliary symptoms include:

• Automatic Behavior - performing routine tasks without conscious awareness of doing so, and often without memory of it.
• Disrupted Nighttime Sleep, including multiple arousals
• Other difficulties that may be caused by primary symptoms may include side effects of medication, or result from one's continuing struggle to cope, including:
  • feelings of intense fatigue and continual lack of energy
  • depression
  • difficulty in concentrating and memorizing
  • vision (focusing) problems
  • eating binges
  • weak limbs
  • difficulties in handling alcohol