Condition guide

Narcolepsy and excessive sleepiness

Narcolepsy is a rare, usually lifelong condition in which the brain cannot control sleeping and waking normally. It causes sleepiness and sudden muscle weakness you cannot control. There is no cure yet, but treatment and lifestyle changes can help manage it.

Signs of narcolepsy

Feeling sleepy during the day and finding it hard to stay awake
Falling asleep suddenly
Sudden muscle weakness that can make you fall (cataplexy), often triggered by laughter, anger or sadness
Being unable to move or speak when falling asleep or waking (sleep paralysis)
Waking often in the night, and vivid or intense dreams
Difficulty concentrating

Symptoms usually begin in children and young adults.

Causes

The exact cause is not known. You may be more likely to have narcolepsy if a close relative has it, or if you have certain rare genetic conditions.

What can help

Going to bed and getting up at the same time every day
Taking planned naps during the day
Getting enough sleep at night
Avoiding alcohol
Exercising regularly, but not late at night
Avoiding activities that would be dangerous if you fell asleep or fell suddenly
Support from Narcolepsy UK and others living with the condition

Diagnosis and treatment

How narcolepsy is diagnosed and treated

If a GP thinks you may have narcolepsy, you will be referred to a sleep specialist. Tests can include an overnight sleep study (polysomnography), a test of how quickly you fall asleep in the day (multiple sleep latency test) and sometimes a lumbar puncture. Narcolepsy is then classed as type 1 or type 2.

Treatment combines sleep management with medicines that a specialist may prescribe to help you stay awake during the day or to prevent sudden muscle weakness. Talking therapies can also help with coping day to day.

See a GP if

you feel tired all the time for no clear reason
you fall asleep suddenly during the day
sleep problems are worrying you or affecting your life

Driving: you must tell the DVLA if you have narcolepsy and drive. See the DVLA rules.

Sources

NHS: Narcolepsy · GOV.UK: Excessive sleepiness and driving · Narcolepsy UK. Information only; it does not replace advice from your doctor or pharmacist.