Can you have mild cataplexy?
Cataplexy – a sudden weakening of the muscles, often triggered by a strong emotion. While cataplexy can manifest as something as minor as a slight slackening of the facial muscles, in extreme cases, a person may experience total collapse or even muscle paralysis.
Is it possible to have mild narcolepsy?
A person with narcolepsy is extremely sleepy all the time and, in severe cases, falls asleep involuntarily several times every day. Narcolepsy is caused by a malfunction in a brain structure called the hypothalamus. Mild cases of narcolepsy can be managed with regular naps, while severe cases need medication.
What does narcolepsy with cataplexy look like?
Other symptoms may include sudden muscle weakness while awake that makes a person go limp or unable to move (cataplexy), vivid dream-like images or hallucinations, and total paralysis just before falling asleep or just after waking up (sleep paralysis).
What does mild cataplexy feel like?
Cataplexy happens when your muscles suddenly go limp or significantly weaken without warning. You may experience cataplexy when you feel a strong emotion or emotional sensation. This can include crying, laughing, or feeling angry. You may find yourself falling over or losing control over your facial expressions.
Is cataplexy a symptom of narcolepsy?
Sometimes, narcolepsy can be accompanied by a sudden loss of muscle tone (cataplexy), which can be triggered by strong emotion. Narcolepsy that occurs with cataplexy is called type 1 narcolepsy.
What can mimic narcolepsy?
Narcolepsy is often misdiagnosed as other conditions that can have similar symptoms, including:
- Depression.
- Anxiety.
- Other psychologic/psychiatric disorders.
- Insomnia.
- Obstructive sleep apnea.
How does cataplexy differ from narcolepsy?
Clinicians now recognize two major types of narcolepsy: narcolepsy with cataplexy (muscle weakness triggered by strong emotions) and narcolepsy without cataplexy. People who have narcolepsy without cataplexy have sleepiness but no emotionally triggered muscle weakness, and generally have less severe symptoms.
Are there different severities of narcolepsy?
There are two main types of narcolepsy: type 1 and type 2. Type 1 narcolepsy used to be known as “narcolepsy with cataplexy.” Type 2 used to be called “narcolepsy withoutcataplexy.” In very rare cases, a person may develop another type of narcolepsy known as secondary narcolepsy.
How long do Microsleeps last?
Microsleep is a fleeting, uncontrollable, brief episode of sleep which can last anywhere from a single fraction of a second up to 10 full seconds.
Can you have cataplexy but not narcolepsy?
In addition, cataplexy can be a side effect of several drugs (eg, lamotrigine, clozapine, and gamma-hydroxybutyrate). Yet, the most prevalent causes of cataplexy without narcolepsy are rare genetic diseases; which explains why cataplexy is classically linked to narcolepsy.
What are signs of narcolepsy?
Narcolepsy usually begins in teenagers or young adults. Signs and symptoms of narcolepsy include excessive daytime sleepiness, loss of muscle tone, abnormalities in perception (referred to as hypnagogic hallucinations), and sleep paralysis (an inability to move or talk).
How is narcolepsy treated?
Diagnosis of narcolepsy requires a medical history and physical exam, as well as studies to access a person’s sleep patterns during the day and at night. The treatment of narcolepsy usually involves a combination of medication and behavior strategies, like maintaining a regular sleep schedule.
Do I have narcolepsy?
Narcolepsy (NAR-ko-lep-se) is a disorder that causes periods of extreme daytime sleepiness . The disorder also may cause muscle weakness. Most people who have narcolepsy have trouble sleeping at night . Some people who have the disorder fall asleep suddenly, even if they’re in the middle of talking, eating, or another activity.