{"id":37,"date":"2026-10-18T19:27:31","date_gmt":"2026-10-18T18:27:31","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/yourmedsuk.com\/insights\/?page_id=37"},"modified":"2026-10-18T19:27:31","modified_gmt":"2026-10-18T18:27:31","slug":"narcolepsy","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/yourmedsuk.com\/insights\/narcolepsy\/","title":{"rendered":"Narcolepsy and Excessive Sleepiness"},"content":{"rendered":"\t\t<div data-elementor-type=\"wp-page\" data-elementor-id=\"37\" class=\"elementor elementor-37\" data-elementor-post-type=\"page\">\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-71513752 e-con e-atomic-element e-div-block-base e-default-section e-25c44754-5557 \" data-id=\"71513752\" data-element_type=\"e-div-block\" data-e-type=\"e-div-block\" data-interaction-id=\"71513752\">\n    <div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-351c26e6 e-con e-atomic-element e-flexbox-base e-default-div e-640f45cc-f47c \" data-id=\"351c26e6\" data-element_type=\"e-flexbox\" data-e-type=\"e-flexbox\" data-interaction-id=\"351c26e6\">\n    \t\t\t<h4 data-interaction-id=\"49134bfb\" class=\"e-7d802dde-8c01 e-heading-base e-default-h4\">Condition guide<\/h4>\n\t\t\t\t\t<h1 data-interaction-id=\"34f596d3\" class=\"e-7911cb98-8888 e-heading-base e-default-h1\">Narcolepsy and excessive sleepiness<\/h1>\n\t\t\t\t\t<p class=\"e-3d1589e9-aee5 e-paragraph-base e-default-p\" data-interaction-id=\"396335f0\">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.<\/p>\n\t\t\n<\/div>\n\n<\/section>\n<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-4ec36cfb e-con e-atomic-element e-div-block-base e-default-div e-6be1a8ac-2bd6 \" data-id=\"4ec36cfb\" data-element_type=\"e-div-block\" data-e-type=\"e-div-block\" data-interaction-id=\"4ec36cfb\">\n    <div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-39ccee03 e-con e-atomic-element e-flexbox-base e-default-div e-24b2557e-214b \" data-id=\"39ccee03\" data-element_type=\"e-flexbox\" data-e-type=\"e-flexbox\" data-interaction-id=\"39ccee03\">\n    <div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-4cf95e63 e-con e-atomic-element e-flexbox-base e-default-div e-29454c69-7f77 \" data-id=\"4cf95e63\" data-element_type=\"e-flexbox\" data-e-type=\"e-flexbox\" data-interaction-id=\"4cf95e63\">\n    \t\t\t<h2 data-interaction-id=\"5e998da7\" class=\"e-67fe9333-b464 e-heading-base e-default-h2\">Signs of narcolepsy<\/h2>\n\t\t\t\t\t<p class=\"e-4962974b-59a0 e-paragraph-base e-default-p\" data-interaction-id=\"1ebe8e58\"><ul><li>Feeling sleepy during the day and finding it hard to stay awake<\/li><li>Falling asleep suddenly<\/li><li>Sudden muscle weakness that can make you fall (cataplexy), often triggered by laughter, anger or sadness<\/li><li>Being unable to move or speak when falling asleep or waking (sleep paralysis)<\/li><li>Waking often in the night, and vivid or intense dreams<\/li><li>Difficulty concentrating<\/li><\/ul>Symptoms usually begin in children and young adults.<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t<h3 data-interaction-id=\"49f05d56\" class=\"e-2bd45e7a-4d98 e-heading-base e-default-h3\">Causes<\/h3>\n\t\t\t\t\t<p class=\"e-paragraph-base e-default-p\" data-interaction-id=\"d579dac\">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.<\/p>\n\t\t\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-19041581 e-con e-atomic-element e-flexbox-base e-default-div e-314d117a-e603 \" data-id=\"19041581\" data-element_type=\"e-flexbox\" data-e-type=\"e-flexbox\" data-interaction-id=\"19041581\">\n    \t\t\t<h2 data-interaction-id=\"a5626c7\" class=\"e-7590e740-6443 e-heading-base e-default-h2\">What can help<\/h2>\n\t\t\t\t\t<p class=\"e-1f0fc2a4-af8d e-paragraph-base e-default-p\" data-interaction-id=\"590c6dbe\"><ul><li>Going to bed and getting up at the same time every day<\/li><li>Taking planned naps during the day<\/li><li>Getting enough sleep at night<\/li><li>Avoiding alcohol<\/li><li>Exercising regularly, but not late at night<\/li><li>Avoiding activities that would be dangerous if you fell asleep or fell suddenly<\/li><li>Support from <a href=\"https:\/\/www.narcolepsy.org.uk\/\" target=\"_blank\">Narcolepsy UK<\/a> and others living with the condition<\/li><\/ul><\/p>\n\t\t\n<\/div>\n\n<\/div>\n\n<\/div>\n<section class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-16ebb370 e-con e-atomic-element e-div-block-base e-default-section e-7f240fff-639f \" data-id=\"16ebb370\" data-element_type=\"e-div-block\" data-e-type=\"e-div-block\" data-interaction-id=\"16ebb370\">\n    <div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-8f6c15c e-con e-atomic-element e-flexbox-base e-default-div e-21081660-344a \" data-id=\"8f6c15c\" data-element_type=\"e-flexbox\" data-e-type=\"e-flexbox\" data-interaction-id=\"8f6c15c\">\n    <div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-42b747f9 e-con e-atomic-element e-flexbox-base e-default-div e-712cfd71-7257 \" data-id=\"42b747f9\" data-element_type=\"e-flexbox\" data-e-type=\"e-flexbox\" data-interaction-id=\"42b747f9\">\n    \t\t\t<h4 data-interaction-id=\"4d4d2d5b\" class=\"e-heading-base e-default-h4\">Diagnosis and treatment<\/h4>\n\t\t\t\t\t<h2 data-interaction-id=\"516869ed\" class=\"e-heading-base e-default-h2\">How narcolepsy is diagnosed and treated<\/h2>\n\t\t\t\t\t<p class=\"e-70b017c4-c940 e-paragraph-base e-default-p\" data-interaction-id=\"69410eb1\">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.<br><br>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.<\/p>\n\t\t\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-74d7108d e-con e-atomic-element e-flexbox-base e-default-div ym-note e-1303219d-fece \" data-id=\"74d7108d\" data-element_type=\"e-flexbox\" data-e-type=\"e-flexbox\" data-interaction-id=\"74d7108d\">\n    \t\t\t<h3 data-interaction-id=\"139b48b7\" class=\"e-6609ff57-94ea e-heading-base e-default-h3\">See a GP if<\/h3>\n\t\t\t\t\t<p class=\"e-1255e656-2845 e-paragraph-base e-default-p\" data-interaction-id=\"f5c0e98\"><ul><li>you feel tired all the time for no clear reason<\/li><li>you fall asleep suddenly during the day<\/li><li>sleep problems are worrying you or affecting your life<\/li><\/ul><strong>Driving:<\/strong> you must tell the DVLA if you have narcolepsy and drive. See the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.gov.uk\/excessive-sleepiness-and-driving\" target=\"_blank\">DVLA rules<\/a>.<\/p>\n\t\t\n<\/div>\n\n<\/div>\n\n<\/section>\n<section class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-46600aa8 e-con e-atomic-element e-div-block-base e-default-section e-4b763f7c-dd41 \" data-id=\"46600aa8\" data-element_type=\"e-div-block\" data-e-type=\"e-div-block\" data-interaction-id=\"46600aa8\">\n    <div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-18fb0946 e-con e-atomic-element e-flexbox-base e-default-div e-16fdce08-2467 \" data-id=\"18fb0946\" data-element_type=\"e-flexbox\" data-e-type=\"e-flexbox\" data-interaction-id=\"18fb0946\">\n    \t\t\t<h4 data-interaction-id=\"46edb791\" class=\"e-heading-base e-default-h4\">Sources<\/h4>\n\t\t\t\t\t<p class=\"e-7d35f64c-134a e-paragraph-base e-default-p\" data-interaction-id=\"e809af1\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.nhs.uk\/conditions\/narcolepsy\/\" target=\"_blank\">NHS: Narcolepsy<\/a> \u00b7 <a href=\"https:\/\/www.gov.uk\/excessive-sleepiness-and-driving\" target=\"_blank\">GOV.UK: Excessive sleepiness and driving<\/a> \u00b7 <a href=\"https:\/\/www.narcolepsy.org.uk\/\" target=\"_blank\">Narcolepsy UK<\/a>. Information only; it does not replace advice from your doctor or pharmacist.<\/p>\n\t\t\n<\/div>\n\n<\/section>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>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 [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"parent":0,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"elementor_header_footer","meta":{"footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-37","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry"],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v28.8 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>Narcolepsy: symptoms, diagnosis and treatment | Your Meds UK<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Narcolepsy explained: daytime sleepiness, cataplexy, sleep studies, treatment, living safely and DVLA driving rules. 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