#Cataplexy hallucinations full#

The callers have narcolepsy, a debilitating malady best known for its more public symptoms. They ask Anne a straightforward question: Am I still alive?Īnne tells them that, yes, they are alive, and then they hang up, released from their confusion, at least for tonight. But more often than not, somebody is calling for a few words of reassurance. Sometimes the caller is a nuisance, which is why Anne prefers to keep her last name private. A few minutes after half past two in the morning, perhaps, the phone will ring. If you continue to experience problems falling and staying asleep after trying these solutions, talk to your doctor to find out if you may have an underlying sleep disorder causing you to have a difficult time falling asleep or staying asleep at night.Photo: SuperStock/Getty Images/SuperStock RMĮvery night for the last 12 years, Anne has slept by the phone, waiting for calls. Changes in lifestyle can also help to make sure narcolepsy symptoms are well controlled. Others may take antidepressants to help with cataplexy. These medications are typically stimulants that help them to stay awake. Many people with narcolepsy are treated with medications. Data is collected on how fast you fall asleep. These studies may include an overnight study and/or taking several naps during the day. One of the best ways to diagnose for narcolepsy is a sleep study. Studies show that people with untreated narcolepsy are 10 times more likely to get in a car accident than those that are treated. Narcolepsy is a lifelong condition that can be very dangerous if left untreated especially while driving. Hypocretin can be measured in a sample of cerebrospinal fluid, which does require a lumbar puncture-also known as a spinal tap. People that have narcolepsy with cataplexy are often missing a substance called hypocretin.

Sometimes narcolepsy can be genetic, but in most cases it is not. Some people with narcolepsy lose the ability to move and feel paralyzed as they are either falling asleep or waking up in the morning. Intense dream-like hallucinations can occur in people with narcolepsy while they are falling asleep or waking up. This means that muscle paralysis that occurs during REM sleep can also occur during wake. “When people who have the symptom of cataplexy are laughing or angry, their cataplexy might show up as slight pressure on their eyelids, or it could be more serious causing them to fall down.” In patients with narcolepsy, the lines between sleep and wake are blurred. Many narcoleptics will fall asleep involuntarily even when they have been getting enough sleep at night.Ĭataplexy is a muscle weakness that can range from barely noticeable to severe and is often triggered with strong emotions. Sometimes a brief nap can help people feel alert, but the sleepiness typically returns after 1-2 hours. This sleepiness can occur during many different activities, including talking with others or driving.

#Cataplexy hallucinations full#

Other symptoms that can also be experienced when a person has narcolepsy include cataplexy, hallucinations and sleep paralysis.Įxcessive daytime sleepiness is when a person is tired during the day even when they have had a full night’s sleep.

The main symptom of narcolepsy is excessive daytime sleepiness. Symptoms typically begin between the ages of 10 and 20 years old. Have you ever heard of narcolepsy? Narcolepsy is a sleep disorder that affects about one in 2,000 people in the United States.