Most people who have narcolepsy don't sleep well at night. They may have trouble falling and staying asleep. Vivid, scary dreams may disturb sleep. Not sleeping well at night worsens daytime sleepiness.
How do narcolepsy patients stay awake?
Stimulants. Drugs that stimulate the central nervous system are the primary treatment to help people with narcolepsy stay awake during the day. Doctors often try modafinil (Provigil) or armodafinil (Nuvigil) first for narcolepsy.Nov 6, 2020
Can a person have insomnia and narcolepsy at the same time?
A person can have both narcolepsy and insomnia. While the two conditions represent opposite ends of the sleep disorder spectrum, a person with narcolepsy — who may experience extreme tiredness during the day — will also typically experience difficulties remaining asleep at night.Dec 6, 2021
Is hypersomnia the opposite of insomnia?
The more commonly known sleep disorder insomnia is a condition in which people can't sleep, whereas hypersomnia disorders involve excessive daytime sleepiness or the inability to stay awake during the day.
How much sleep do hypersomnia patients need?
Characteristics of hypersomnia In extreme cases, a person with hypersomnia might sleep soundly at night for 12 hours or more, but still feel the need to nap during the day. Sleeping and napping may not help, and the mind may remain foggy with drowsiness.
Is hypersomnia a symptom of depression?
Does depression cause hypersomnia? Depression is a common mood disorder that causes both emotional and physical symptoms. Sleep problems are a symptom of depression, which can cause difficulty sleeping or oversleeping in some people. Hypersomnia commonly occurs with depression.
How do narcoleptics sleep at night?
People with narcolepsy fall asleep without warning, anywhere, anytime. For example, you may be working or talking with friends and suddenly you nod off, sleeping for a few minutes up to a half-hour. When you awaken, you feel refreshed, but eventually you get sleepy again.Nov 6, 2020
Do people with narcolepsy sleep during the night?
Fragmented sleep and insomnia. While individuals with narcolepsy are very sleepy during the day, they usually also experience difficulties staying asleep at night. Sleep may be disrupted by insomnia, vivid dreaming, sleep apnea, acting out while dreaming, and periodic leg movements.
How often do narcoleptics fall asleep?
A person with narcolepsy usually has the condition for life. All people with narcolepsy have extreme levels of sleepiness during the day, but how this shows itself can differ. For instance, some people with narcolepsy might fall asleep for 10 to 20 minutes several times every day, whether they want to or not.