Narcolepsy
EDS may vary over time in patients with narcolepsy4-6 and may manifest in different ways7,8
- Inability to stay awake and alert throughout the day7
- Lapses in concentration7,8
- Patients may describe as “tiredness” or “fatigue”8
- Constant need for sleep7
- Unintended lapses into drowsiness or sleep7
- Automatic behaviors associated with microsleep episodes (e.g., writing gibberish)7,9
Cataplexy may develop years after the onset of EDS and may differ widely among patients7,10
- Drooping of the eyelids11
- Muscle weakness in the face or neck7,11
- Mouth opening or tongue sticking out11
- Facial jerks/grimaces7,11
- Knee buckling3
- Patients may describe as “losing muscle control,” “clumsiness,” or loss of grip2,3,10

Assessing for cataplexy in patients with narcolepsy
Use this interactive tool to explore examples of cataplexy.