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Disease Profile
Narcolepsy
Prevalence estimates on Rare Medical Network websites are calculated based on data available from numerous sources, including US and European government statistics, the NIH, Orphanet, and published epidemiologic studies. Rare disease population data is recognized to be highly variable, and based on a wide variety of source data and methodologies, so the prevalence data on this site should be assumed to be estimated and cannot be considered to be absolutely correct.
50/100,000
Age of onset
Adolescent and Adult
ICD-10
G47.4
Inheritance
Other names (AKA)
Gelineau's syndrome; Hypnolepsy; Narcoleptic syndrome; Paroxysmal sleep
Categories
Nervous System Diseases
Summary
Narcolepsy is a chronic brain disorder that involves poor control of sleep-wake cycles. People with narcolepsy have episodes of extreme daytime sleepiness and sudden, irresistible bouts of sleep (called "sleep attacks") that can occur at any time, and may last from seconds or minutes. Other signs and symptoms may include cataplexy (a sudden loss of muscle tone that makes a person go limp or unable to move); vivid dream-like images or hallucinations; and/or total paralysis just before falling asleep or after waking-up. Narcolepsy may have several causes, the most common being low levels of the neurotransmitter hypocretin (for various possible reasons). The disorder is usually sporadic but some cases are
Symptoms
This table lists symptoms that people with this disease may have. For most diseases, symptoms will vary from person to person. People with the same disease may not have all the symptoms listed. This information comes from a database called the Human Phenotype Ontology (HPO) . The HPO collects information on symptoms that have been described in medical resources. The HPO is updated regularly. Use the HPO ID to access more in-depth information about a symptom.
Medical Terms | Other Names |
Learn More:
HPO ID
|
---|---|---|
80%-99% of people have these symptoms | ||
Cataplexy | 0002524 | |
Excessive daytime somnolence |
Excessive daytime sleepiness
More than typical sleepiness during day
[ more ] |
0001262 |
Hallucinations |
Hallucination
Sensory hallucination
[ more ] |
0000738 |
Transient global amnesia | 0010534 | |
30%-79% of people have these symptoms | ||
Abnormal rapid eye movement sleep | 0002494 | |
Abnormality of vision |
Abnormality of sight
Vision issue
[ more ] |
0000504 |
5%-29% of people have these symptoms | ||
Obesity |
Having too much body fat
|
0001513 |
Slurred speech | 0001350 | |
Syncope |
Fainting spell
|
0001279 |
Percent of people who have these symptoms is not available through HPO | ||
Autosomal dominant inheritance | 0000006 | |
Hypnagogic hallucinations | 0002519 | |
Hypnopompic hallucinations | 0006896 | |
Narcolepsy | 0030050 | |
Paroxysmal drowsiness | 0002330 |
Diagnosis
Sleep studies are an essential part of the evaluation of people with possible narcolepsy. The combination of an overnight polysomnogram (PSG) followed by a multiple sleep latency test (MSLT) can provide strongly suggestive evidence of narcolepsy, while excluding other sleep disorders. Measurement of hypocretin levels in the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) may further help to establish the diagnosis.[3] People with narcolepsy often have extremely low levels of hypocretin in their CSF.[4] In some cases, human leukocyte antigen (HLA) typing may be helpful.[1]
Testing Resources
- The Genetic Testing Registry (GTR) provides information about the genetic tests for this condition. The intended audience for the GTR is health care providers and researchers. Patients and consumers with specific questions about a genetic test should contact a health care provider or a genetics professional.
- Orphanet lists international laboratories offering diagnostic testing for this condition.
Treatment
Most affected people improve if they maintain a regular sleep schedule, usually 7.5 to 8 hours of sleep per night. Scheduled naps during the day also may help. Other measures that may help include participating in an exercise program; receiving emotional support and career or vocational counseling; and avoiding high-risk behaviors such as alcohol and drug use, which may make symptoms worse.[3] Common-sense measures should be taken to enhance sleep quality (such as avoiding heavy meals before bed time).[1]
Treatment with medications involves the use of central nervous system (CNS) stimulants. These medications help reduce daytime sleepiness and improve this symptom in 65-85% of affected people.[3] Two types of antidepressant drugs (tricyclics, and selective serotonin and noradrenergic reuptake inhibitors) are effective in controlling cataplexy in many people. Sodium oxybate (a strong sedative taken during the night) may also be used to treat narcolepsy.[1]
You can view detailed information about the treatment of narcolepsy on Medscape's Web site.
FDA-Approved Treatments
The medication(s) listed below have been approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) as orphan products for treatment of this condition. Learn more orphan products.
- Modafinil(Brand name: Provigil) Manufactured by Cephalon, Inc.
FDA-approved indication: Improve wakefulness in patients with excessive daytime sleepiness associated with narcolepsy.
National Library of Medicine Drug Information Portal
Medline Plus Health Information - Oxybate(Brand name: Xyrem®) Manufactured by Jazz Pharmaceuticals
FDA-approved indication: Treatment of cataplexy associated with narcolepsy.
National Library of Medicine Drug Information Portal
Related diseases
Related diseases are conditions that have similar signs and symptoms. A health care provider may consider these conditions in the table below when making a diagnosis. Please note that the table may not include all the possible conditions related to this disease.
Conditions with similar signs and symptoms from Orphanet
|
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Daytime sleepiness associated with attacks of cataplexy allows diagnosis of the disease. In case of atypical or incomplete cataplexy, other causes of sleepiness must be taken into account, such as chronic insufficient sleep, idiopathic hypersomnia (see this term) or narcolepsy without cataplexy (see this term).
Visit the Orphanet disease page for more information.
|
Organizations
Support and advocacy groups can help you connect with other patients and families, and they can provide valuable services. Many develop patient-centered information and are the driving force behind research for better treatments and possible cures. They can direct you to research, resources, and services. Many organizations also have experts who serve as medical advisors or provide lists of doctors/clinics. Visit the group’s website or contact them to learn about the services they offer. Inclusion on this list is not an endorsement by GARD.
Organizations Supporting this Disease
-
American Sleep Association
110 W. Ninth Street, Suite 826
Wilmington, DE 19801
Fax: 940-234-3357
E-mail: https://www.sleepassociation.org/index.php?p=contactus
Website: https://www.sleepassociation.org/ -
Hypersomnia Foundation
4514 Chamblee Dunwoody Road #229
Atlanta, GA 30338
Telephone: +1-(678) 842-3512
E-mail: [email protected]
Website: https://www.hypersomniafoundation.org/ -
Narcolepsy Network, Inc.
46 Union Drive
#A212
North Kingstown, RI 02852
Toll-free: +1-888-292-6522
Telephone: +1-401-667-2523
Fax: +1-401-633-6567
E-mail: [email protected]
Website: https://www.narcolepsynetwork.org -
National Sleep Foundation
1010 North Glebe Rd., Suite 420
Arlington, VA 22201
Telephone: 703-243-1697
E-mail: [email protected]
Website: https://www.thensf.org/ -
Project Sleep
P.O. Box 70206
Los Angeles, CA 90070
Telephone: 323-577-8923
E-mail: [email protected]
Website: https://project-sleep.com/ -
The NICER Foundation
(Narcoleptics In Crisis Emergency Relief)
4002 Brookhill Road
Baltimore, MD 21215
E-mail: [email protected]
Website: https://nicer.ngo/ -
Wake Up Narcolepsy, Inc.
PO Box 60293
Worcester, MA 01606
Telephone: +1-978-751-DOZE (3693)
E-mail: [email protected]
Website: https://www.wakeupnarcolepsy.org/
Social Networking Websites
-
RareConnect has an online community for patients and families with this condition so they can connect with others and share their experiences living with a rare disease. The project is a joint collaboration between EURORDIS (European Rare Disease Organisation) and NORD (National Organization for Rare Disorders).
Organizations Providing General Support
-
American Autoimmune Related Diseases Association (AARDA)
19176 Hall Road, Suite 130
Clinton Township, MI 48038
Toll-free: 800-598-4668
Telephone: 586-776-3900
Fax: 586-776-3903
E-mail: [email protected]
Website: https://www.aarda.org/
Learn more
These resources provide more information about this condition or associated symptoms. The in-depth resources contain medical and scientific language that may be hard to understand. You may want to review these resources with a medical professional.
Where to Start
- MedlinePlus was designed by the National Library of Medicine to help you research your health questions, and it provides more information about this topic.
- Genetics Home Reference (GHR) contains information on Narcolepsy. This website is maintained by the National Library of Medicine.
- The Merck Manuals Online Medical Library provides information on this condition for patients and caregivers.
- The National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI) has information on this topic. NHLBI is part of the National Institutes of Health and supports research, training, and education for the prevention and treatment of heart, lung, and blood diseases.
- The National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS) collects and disseminates research information related to neurological disorders. Click on the link to view information on this topic.
- The National Organization for Rare Disorders (NORD) has a report for patients and families about this condition. NORD is a patient advocacy organization for individuals with rare diseases and the organizations that serve them.
In-Depth Information
- Medscape Reference provides information on this topic. You may need to register to view the medical textbook, but registration is free.
- MeSH® (Medical Subject Headings) is a terminology tool used by the National Library of Medicine. Click on the link to view information on this topic.
- The Monarch Initiative brings together data about this condition from humans and other species to help physicians and biomedical researchers. Monarch’s tools are designed to make it easier to compare the signs and symptoms (phenotypes) of different diseases and discover common features. This initiative is a collaboration between several academic institutions across the world and is funded by the National Institutes of Health. Visit the website to explore the biology of this condition.
- Online Mendelian Inheritance in Man (OMIM) is a catalog of human genes and genetic disorders. Each entry has a summary of related medical articles. It is meant for health care professionals and researchers. OMIM is maintained by Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine.
- Orphanet is a European reference portal for information on rare diseases and orphan drugs. Access to this database is free of charge.
- PubMed is a searchable database of medical literature and lists journal articles that discuss Narcolepsy. Click on the link to view a sample search on this topic.
References
- Narcolepsy Fact Sheet. National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke. January 5, 2015; https://www.ninds.nih.gov/disorders/narcolepsy/detail_narcolepsy.htm.
- Narcolepsy. University of Maryland Medical Center. September 18, 2013; https://umm.edu/health/medical/reports/articles/narcolepsy.
- Ali M Bozorg. Narcolepsy. Medscape. April 15, 2015; https://emedicine.medscape.com/article/1188433-overview.
- Narcolepsy. NORD. March 2, 2012; https://www.rarediseases.org/rare-disease-information/rare-diseases/byID/55/viewAbstract.
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