Narcolepsy
What is Narcolepsy?
Narcolepsy is a sleep disorder that impacts the control of sleep and wakefulness. People with narcolepsy experience excessive sleepiness that includes uncontrollable instances of suddenly falling asleep during any activity at any time of day.
EISC sleep medicine specialist Dr. Andrew C. Peterson explains:
What are the symptoms of narcolepsy?
- Impossible to keep from falling asleep during the day
- Feeling sleepy even after a full night's sleep or shortly after a long nap
- Hallucinations
- Sudden loss of muscle tone
- Temporary inability to move or speak while falling asleep or waking up
How is narcolepsy diagnosed?
In order to diagnose narcolepsy, your doctor may recommend:
- A polysomnogram (sleep study)
- A multiple sleep latency test to determine how quickly you fall asleep during the day
What treatment options are available?
The most common way of treating narcolepsy is with medication. Most doctors will prescribe a stimulant that helps an individual with narcolepsy stay awake during the day.
Learn more about narcolepsy
- National Institutes of Health: Narcolepsy Fact Sheet
- Medline Plus: Narcolepsy
- Narcolepsy Network: About Narcolepsy
- National Sleep Foundation: Narcolepsy and Sleep
- American Sleep Association: Narcolepsy
Questions? Contact the Eastern Iowa Sleep Center today.
