The symptoms of narcolepsy can vary from person to person. Some people experience symptoms very frequently, while others are less severely affected. The symptoms of narcolepsy tend to first appear between the ages of 10 and 25 years.
Sleep attacks
One of the most common symptoms of narcolepsy is falling asleep suddenly and without warning.
People with narcolepsy often experience sudden 'sleep attacks' after eating, although they can occur at any time. Typically, during a sleep attack, you will fall asleep for approximately 15 minutes, although this can vary from person to person.
You will often wake up feeling alert and refreshed after a sleep attack. You may experience attacks several times a day.
As well as sleep attacks, narcolepsy can cause a variety of other symptoms including:
- persistent drowsiness during the day,
- difficulty staying awake,
- temporary muscle paralysis when falling asleep or waking up,
- hallucinations,
- difficulty concentrating,
- restless night time sleep (such as frequently waking, vivid nightmares, physically acting out your dreams), and
- automatic behaviour (when you continue to carry out normal activities, such as talking or moving around, while you are still asleep).
Cataplexy
Approximately 70% of people who have narcolepsy also experience cataplexy. This condition causes sudden loss of muscular control. For example, you may find that your jaw drops, your head slumps down, or your legs collapse uncontrollably. Your speech may also be slurred.
Cataplexy attacks are normally triggered by an emotion, such as excitement, laughter or fear. The attacks can 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.
