What is cataplexy?

Cataplexy is the sudden loss of muscle tone that is triggered by the experience of an intense emotion. Cataplexy is the result of an absence of a neurotransmitter in the hypothalamus known as hypocretin or orexin. It is often associated with narcolepsy but is seen in other pathological conditions.

How do members experience cataplexy?

Top 5 symptoms reported by people with cataplexy*

*Reports may be affected by other conditions and/or medication side effects. We ask about general symptoms (anxious mood, depressed mood, fatigue, pain, and stress) regardless of condition.

Top treatments taken by people for cataplexy*

Who has cataplexy on PatientsLikeMe?

Age

Age Proportion # of patients
<20 1
20s 13
30s 40
40s 41
50s 50
60s 21
70+ 11

Distribution of sex

Sex

Sex Proportion # of patients
Male 30
Female 145

We’re all in this for good.

By sharing your stories and data, you will:
  • help each other live better and uncover the best ways to manage your health today
  • help researchers shorten the path to new treatments tomorrow

How much good can your data do? A whole lot, as co-founder Jamie Heywood explains in this video.

What is cataplexy?

Cataplexy is the sudden loss of muscle tone that is triggered by the experience of an intense emotion. Cataplexy is the result of an absence of a neurotransmitter in the hypothalamus known as hypocretin or orexin. It is often associated with narcolepsy but is seen in other pathological conditions.



Common symptoms reported by people with cataplexy

Common symptoms
How bad it is
What people are taking for it

Reports may be affected by other conditions and/or medication side effects. We ask about general symptoms (anxious mood, depressed mood, fatigue, pain, and stress) regardless of condition.
Last updated:



Treatments taken by people for cataplexy

Let’s build this page together! When you share what it’s like to have cataplexy through your profile, those stories and data appear here too.

Got a question about living with cataplexy? Members in the forum might have the answers.


Compare treatments taken by people with cataplexy

Let’s build this page together! When you share what it’s like to have cataplexy through your profile, those stories and data appear here too.

Got a question about living with cataplexy? Members in the forum might have the answers.



Who has cataplexy on PatientsLikeMe?

  • 0 new patients joined this month
  • 32 say cataplexy is their primary condition

Age
Age Proportion # of patients
<20 1
20s 13
30s 40
40s 41
50s 50
60s 21
70+ 11
Age at first symptom
Age at first symptom Proportion # of patients
0-19 years 45
20-29 years 20
30-39 years 18
40-49 years 14
50-59 years 4
60-69 years 0
70+ years 0

Distribution of sex

Sex
Sex Proportion # of patients
Male 30
Female 145

Diagnosis status
Diagnosis status Proportion # of patients
Diagnosed 110
Not Diagnosed 7

These charts show data from cataplexy patients who have completed their condition history
Last updated: