What is the difference between narcolepsy and idiopathic hypersomnia?

Yes, you can have narcolepsy and insomnia together. Almost 50% of people with narcolepsy also experience disturbed night-time sleep, fragmented sleep, or difficulty staying asleep at night. Sleep may be disrupted by insomnia, vivid dreaming, sleep apnea, acting out while dreaming, or periodic leg movements. Continue reading

One of the earliest signs of narcolepsy is suddenly falling asleep during the daytime, even if you have had a full night’s sleep. This excessive sleepiness is like a “sleep attack” or an overwhelming sense of sleepiness that comes on quickly, and narcolepsy should be considered if a child or teen habitually falls asleep in class, or an adult finds themselves constantly dozing off at work, despite having had a full nights sleep. In between these sleep attacks, people with narcolepsy have normal levels of alertness, particularly if they are doing something that keeps their attention. Narcolepsy most commonly starts in young adults, aged 15 to 25, although it can occur at any age. Continue reading

There is no cure for narcolepsy, but medications and lifestyle modifications can help manage symptoms such as excessive daytime sleepiness (EDS). Medications include: stimulants such as modafinil (Provigil) or armodafinil (Nuvigil) are usually tried first for narcolepsy because they are less addictive than older treatments such as methylphenidate (Aptensio XR, Concerta, Ritalin) or various amphetamines; solriamfetol (Sunosi), pitolisant (Wakix); selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs), such as fluoxetine (Prozac, Sarafem) or serotonin and norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors (SNRIs), such as venlafaxine (Effexor XR); tricyclic antidepressants, such as protriptyline (Vivactil), imipramine (Tofranil), and clomipramine (Anafranil); and sodium oxybate (Xyrem). Continue reading