Daytime Symptoms of Narcolepsy
Most people have a regular pattern of falling asleep and getting up at close to the same time every day. This cycle is controlled by the brain, which maintains a sort of internal clock. Feeling the occasional need to nap during the day is perfectly normal but if the urge to sleep at inappropriate times comes regularly, you may be one of the one in approximately 2,000 people with narcolepsy.[1]
Narcolepsy symptoms can occur during the day or at night. Not every person with narcolepsy experiences the same symptoms and the frequency can vary from person to person. XYREM® is approved to treat the most common daytime symptoms of narcolepsy, which are:
- Excessive daytime sleepiness (EDS) is the defining symptom, and is present in everyone who is diagnosed. Overwhelming urges to sleep come throughout the day and cause sleep attacks and inadvertent naps.
- Falling asleep for a few minutes or longer in the daytime.
- A sudden loss of muscle tone; approximately 70 percent[4] of patients with narcolepsy experience this symptom. Cataplexy may manifest itself as a momentary weakness of some muscle groups, such as a wobbly neck or buckling knees. It may be bad enough to cause you to fall down and, in its most severe form, you may not be able to move for as long as ten minutes. This temporary paralysis can be triggered by laughter, a surprise or joyful experience, and also by anger or fear.
If you have experienced these symptoms it’s important to talk to your doctor.
Talk with a XYREM Patient Connection Mentor
The XYREM Patient Connection program provides an opportunity for you to talk one-on-one with a mentor who has been diagnosed with excessive daytime sleepiness and/or cataplexy with narcolepsy, and has been treated with XYREM.
References:
- ^ Baumann, Basetti, Scammel, eds.Narcolepsy:Pathophysiology, Diagnosis and Treatment.Springer:NY 2011
- ^ Bassetti C, Aldrich MS. Narcolepsy. Neurol Clin. 1996;14:545–571.
- ^ American Academy of Sleep Medicine. The International Classification of Sleep Disorders, Revised: Diagnostic and Coding Manual. Westchester, Ill: American Academy of Sleep Medicine; 2nd ed. 2005.
- ^ National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke. http://www.ninds.nih.gov/disorders/narcolepsy/detail_narcolepsy.htm. Accessed August 25, 2011.
