Alteration of the nervous system that causes very severe daytime attacks of sleep that invalidate the involved person, preventing them from carrying out their usual daily life activities.
Normally, its cause cannot be identified but an hereditary component has been described.
The most common symptom is the sleep attack in which the patient cannot avoid falling asleep everywhere and anywhere. Other symptoms can include cataplexy (loss of muscle tone when experiencing intense emotion), hallucinations, sleep paralysis, depression, difficulty concentrating and remembering things, sensation of intense fatigue, continuous lack of energy, binge-eating episodes, limb weakness, etc.
Diagnosis is suspected reviewing the patient's clinical history and a physical examination, other complementary tests such as blood tests and a sleep study can also be included.
There is no cure, only the symptoms can be controlled through stimulants and antidepressants. If it happens while driving, using heavy machinery or other risky activities it can be dangerous.
- Ronald D Chervin, MD, MS. Approach to the patient with excessive daytime sleepiness. UpToDate. Jan 08, 2016.
- Thomas E Scammell, MD. Clinical features and diagnosis of narcolepsy in adults. UpToDate. Oct 02, 2015.
- Thomas E Scammell, MD. Treatment of narcolepsy in adults. UpToDate. Apr 07, 2015.
- Ozaki A, Inoue Y, Hayashida K, et al. Quality of life in patients with narcolepsy with cataplexy, narcolepsy without cataplexy, and idiopathic hypersomnia without long sleep time: comparison between patients on psychostimulants, drug-naïve patients and the general Japanese population. Sleep Med 2012; 13:200.
- Morgenthaler TI, Kapur VK, Brown T, et al. Practice parameters for the treatment of narcolepsy and other hypersomnias of central origin. Sleep 2007; 30:1705.
- Czeisler CA, Scammell TE, Saper CB. Trastornos del sueño. Harrison. Principios de Medicina Interna. Volumen 1. 19º Edición: 189-190
