
Table of Contents
KEY POINTS
About 1 in 2,000 people in the U.S. have narcolepsy.
People often have narcolepsy for many years before they get a diagnosis.
Symptoms often begin to occur during the teenage years.
Untreated narcolepsy can have a negative impact on your performance at school and at work.
People with untreated narcolepsy are 10 times more likely to get into a car accident than those who receive treatment.
Am I at Risk ?
GENERAL OVERVIEW
Cataplexy
Disrupted nighttime sleep
Hallucinations
Sleep paralysis
TREATMENTS
Tips
Be careful to avoid driving while drowsy.
Go to bed and wake up at the same times each day.
Take brief, 15-to-20 minute naps during the day if they help you feel refreshed.
Ask your doctor for help in managing school and work schedules.
Take your prescribed medications at the scheduled time each day.
Next Steps
- Talk to your doctor about your symptoms. It may help to write down your symptoms including the time of day when they occur.
- Discuss all of your medications and herbal supplements with your doctor.
- Keep a daily and nightly log of your sleep habits. Share this information with your doctor.
- Your doctor may schedule you for a sleep study. Ask the sleep doctor if you should change any of your sleep habits or medications before the sleep study.
ACKNOWLEDGEMENT: CONTENT DEVELOPED BY THE AMERICAN ACADEMY OF SLEEP MEDICINE
