Narcolepsy

The symptoms of narcolepsy can vary in intensity and may develop gradually over time. Common symptoms include:

• Excessive Daytime Sleepiness (EDS): A persistent and overwhelming sense of sleepiness during the day, leading to unintended periods of sleep, known as sleep attacks. This can occur during activities such as eating, talking, or driving.
• Cataplexy: Sudden and brief episodes of muscle weakness or paralysis triggered by strong emotions. Cataplexy can cause slurred speech, drooping of the head, or collapse, but consciousness is maintained during these episodes.
• Sleep Paralysis: A temporary inability to move or speak while falling asleep or waking up. Sleep paralysis can be frightening but typically lasts only a few seconds to minutes.
• Hallucinations: Vivid and often frightening visual, auditory, or tactile hallucinations that occur during the transition between wakefulness and sleep. These hallucinations can accompany sleep paralysis and are known as hypnagogic (while falling asleep) or hypnopompic (while waking up) hallucinations.
• Disrupted Nighttime Sleep: Frequent awakenings during the night, often associated with vivid dreams, restless legs, or other sleep disorders. Despite excessive daytime sleepiness, individuals with narcolepsy may have difficulty staying asleep at night.
• Automatic Behaviors: Performing routine tasks without conscious awareness, such as writing, typing, or driving, while in a semi-awake state. These behaviors are often performed inaccurately and can be dangerous.