The symptoms of narcolepsy can vary from person to person. Some people have very frequent symptoms, while others are less frequently affected.
Daytime sleepiness
In most cases of narcolepsy, daytime sleepiness is the first symptom to appear. It is often the most debilitating symptom.
If you have daytime sleepiness, you will feel drowsy throughout the day and have difficulty staying awake.
Sleep attacks
Falling asleep suddenly and without warning, known as a ‘sleep attack’, is a common symptom of narcolepsy.
You may have a sudden sleep attack after eating, although they can occur at any time. During a sleep attack, you fall asleep for around 15 minutes before waking up feeling alert and refreshed.
The length of time that a sleep attack can last for will vary from person to person, and they can occur several times a day.
Other symptoms
As well as daytime sleepiness and sleep attacks, narcolepsy can cause a variety of other symptoms including:
- temporary muscle paralysis (being unable to speak or move) when falling asleep or waking up
- hallucinations – seeing or hearing things that are not real
- difficulty concentrating
- restless night time sleep – for example, having hot flushes, waking up frequently, having vivid nightmares and physically acting out your dreams
- automatic behaviour – when you continue to carry out normal activities, such as talking or moving around, while you are still asleep
Cataplexy
About 75% of people who have narcolepsy also experience cataplexy. Cataplexy is a condition that causes sudden, but temporary, muscle weakness or a loss of muscular control. For example, during a cataplexy attack, you may find that:
- your jaw drops
- your head slumps down
- your legs collapse uncontrollably
- your speech is slurred
Cataplexy attacks are usually triggered by an emotion, such as excitement, laughter or fear. The attacks may last for a few seconds or they may continue for several minutes. Some people with narcolepsy have cataplexy attacks once or twice a year, while others have them several times a day. The symptoms of cataplexy can sometimes improve with age.
