What is narcolepsy?

Narcolepsy is a condition characterized by recurrent, uncontrollable brief episodes of sleep and lapses in consciousness, often associated with hypnagogic hallucinations (seeing and hearing things as one is falling asleep), cataplexy (sudden loss of muscle tone) and sleep paralysis.

How do members experience narcolepsy?

Top 5 symptoms reported by people with narcolepsy*

*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 narcolepsy*

*Data from patients with narcolepsy, who have ever reported treatments, ordered by their reporting frequency during the last 5 years.

Compare treatments taken by people with narcolepsy*

Treatment
Perceived effectiveness
Side effects
Total evaluations
Tried for
Treatment

(Ritalin)
Perceived effectiveness
for narcolepsy (1 evaluation)
Side effects
Total evaluations
1
Tried for
narcolepsy (3)
Treatment

(Provigil)
Perceived effectiveness
for narcolepsy (1 evaluation)
Side effects
Total evaluations
1
Tried for
narcolepsy (2)

*Data from patients with narcolepsy, who have ever reported treatments, ordered by their reporting frequency during the last 5 years.

Who has narcolepsy on PatientsLikeMe?

Age

Age Proportion # of patients
<20 8
20s 99
30s 324
40s 384
50s 355
60s 219
70+ 98

Distribution of sex

Sex

Sex Proportion # of patients
Male 256
Female 1,216

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What is narcolepsy?

Narcolepsy is a condition characterized by recurrent, uncontrollable brief episodes of sleep and lapses in consciousness, often associated with hypnagogic hallucinations (seeing and hearing things as one is falling asleep), cataplexy (sudden loss of muscle tone) and sleep paralysis.



Common symptoms reported by people with narcolepsy

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 narcolepsy

Treatment name(s)
Type
How many have tried
Tried for
Treatment name(s)

(Ritalin)
Type
Prescription Drug
How many have tried
328
Tried for
narcolepsy (3)
Treatment name(s)

(Provigil)
Type
Prescription Drug
How many have tried
524
Tried for
narcolepsy (2)

Data from patients with narcolepsy, who have ever reported treatments, ordered by their reporting frequency during the last 5 years.
Last updated:


Compare treatments taken by people with narcolepsy

Treatment name(s)
Perceived effectiveness
Side effects
Total evaluations
Tried for
Treatment name(s)

(Ritalin)
Perceived effectiveness
for narcolepsy (1 evaluation)
Side effects
Total evaluations
1
Tried for
narcolepsy (3)
Treatment name(s)

(Provigil)
Perceived effectiveness
for narcolepsy (1 evaluation)
Side effects
Total evaluations
1
Tried for
narcolepsy (2)
  • Major
  • Moderate
  • Slight
  • None
  • Can't tell
  • Severe
  • Moderate
  • Mild
  • None

Data from patients with narcolepsy, who have ever reported treatments, ordered by their reporting frequency during the last 5 years.
Last updated:



Who has narcolepsy on PatientsLikeMe?

  • 3 new patients joined this month
  • 869 say narcolepsy is their primary condition

Age
Age Proportion # of patients
<20 8
20s 99
30s 324
40s 384
50s 355
60s 219
70+ 98
Age at first symptom
Age at first symptom Proportion # of patients
0-19 years 295
20-29 years 109
30-39 years 78
40-49 years 62
50-59 years 25
60-69 years 3
70+ years 0

Distribution of sex

Sex
Sex Proportion # of patients
Male 256
Female 1,216

Diagnosis status
Diagnosis status Proportion # of patients
Diagnosed 678
Not Diagnosed 45

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