There is a brief period of sleep and the person awakens feeling refreshed. However, they may again become uncontrollably sleepy a short time later. Narcolepsy may be associated with cataplexy, a brief episode of severe loss of tone of various muscles. Many persons with narcolepsy also have dream-like hallucinations in the transition between sleep and wakefulness . There is no known cure for narcolepsy.
Treatment is aimed at control of the symptoms.
Lifestyle adjustments and learning to cope with the emotional and other effects of the disorder may improve functioning in work and social activities. Planned naps and sleeping may help to regulate daytime sleep and reduce the number of unplanned, sudden sleep attacks. Antidepressant medications such as imipramine may be helpful in reducing episodes of cataplexy but usually do not reduce the number of sleeping episodes. It is not a fatal illness but may be dangerous if episodes occur during driving, operating machinery, or similar activities. Narcolepsy is usually controllable with treatment.