Symptoms of Narcolepsy

While it can happen at any age, symptoms of narcolepsy most often begin between the ages of 15 and 30. The main symptoms are cataplexy and being extremely sleepy during the day, even after a good night's sleep. There are other symptoms of narcolepsy, listed below, which may not occur in all people. These symptoms often come and go. But being very sleepy during the day is a symptom that can be chronic, or long lasting. Other symptoms include waking up during the night, tossing and turning in bed, leg jerks, and nightmares.

• Cataplexy - sudden loss of muscle control, ranging from slight weakness (such as limpness at the neck or knees, sagging facial muscles, or slurred speech) to complete body collapse. Attacks can be triggered by sudden and strong emotions such as laughter, anger, or fear. Attacks can last from a few seconds to several minutes.

• Sleep paralysis - not being able to talk or move when falling asleep or waking up. This is temporary and may last from a few seconds to several minutes.

• Hypnagogic hallucinations - seeing things that are not there. These images can seem very vivid and dreamlike and sometimes scary. They happen when a person is dozing or falling asleep.

• Automatic behavior - doing tasks that are familiar, routine, or boring without knowing that you are doing them. Like getting to work with no memory of actually driving there.