Narcolepsy
Is characterized by an uncontrollable desire to sleep during the day. Sudden attacks of deep sleep will occur when a person does not want to sleep, and patients with narcolepsy will often wake frequently during nighttime sleep. Narcolepsy can cause a severe disruption in quality of life, and many patients suffer for years before seeing a doctor or receiving proper care.
Symptoms of narcolepsy include:
• Excessive daytime sleepiness
• Sudden, severe attacks of deep sleep during daytime hours
• Sudden loss of ability to control muscles in the body
• Hallucinations or vivid dreams that occur just before falling asleep or just after waking up
• Automatic behavior (patients perform routine tasks but will have no recollection doing so)