Over 200,000 Americans and millions of people worldwide struggle with narcolepsy, but sleep medicine experts like Lara Wittine, MD, FAASM, have the tools you need to get answers and treatment. To start receiving professional support for narcolepsy and improving your quality of life, call The Sleep Medicine Institute in Tampa, Florida, or book your consultation via the website.
Narcolepsy is a sleep disorder that causes excessive sleepiness during the day. It may result from abnormalities in the brain pathways that control sleep, including rapid eye movement (REM) sleep.
There are two main types:
Sudden muscle weakness (cataplexy) triggered by strong emotions, along with excessive daytime sleepiness characterizes narcolepsy.
This type involves excessive sleepiness without episodes of cataplexy.
Symptoms often begin between ages 10 and 30, and primarily include:
The hallmark symptom of narcolepsy, EDS involves persistent sleepiness regardless of how much rest a person gets at night. You may fall asleep suddenly and unintentionally or have trouble concentrating or staying awake during usual activities, such as working or driving.
If you have Type 1 narcolepsy, you may experience sudden, temporary loss of muscle tone that can cause slurred speech, limpness, or even collapse.
Despite being conscious, sleep paralysis is a temporary inability to move or speak when falling asleep or waking up. These episodes can be frightening but are not physically harmful.
Vivid, often frightening dream-like experiences that occur at sleep onset (hypnagogic) or upon waking (hypnopompic) are sometimes mistaken for nightmares or mental health disorders.
Even if you’re sleepy during the day, you may have fragmented or restless sleep at night.
Diagnosis typically involves a combination of medical history, physical examination, and sleep studies, such as home sleep testing (HST). Your provider may order labs or ask you to keep a sleep log.
There is no cure for narcolepsy, but Dr. Wittine creates personalized strategies to help you manage your symptoms, such as medications to promote wakefulness, manage cataplexy, or improve nighttime sleep.
Other treatments may include:
She can help you plan and make adjustments to keep yourself and others safe. For example, you may need to take precautions when driving, operating machinery, or engaging in other activities that could be dangerous if a sleep episode occurs.
Schedule a comprehensive narcolepsy evaluation today by booking online or calling The Sleep Medicine Institute.