Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsSymptomsCausesDiagnosisTreatmentPrognosisCoping
Table of ContentsView All
View All
Table of Contents
Symptoms
Causes
Diagnosis
Treatment
Prognosis
Coping
Cataplexyis a rare medical symptom. It is a sudden and involuntary loss of muscle tone.Cataplexy is typically associated withnarcolepsy, a rare disorder that causeshypersomnia(excessive sleepiness) and sudden bouts of sleep. There are also other causes of cataplexy.
Cataplexy can be distressing, and it is usually diagnosed after other, more common conditions have been considered, such as epilepsy. This article will describe the types, symptoms, causes, diagnosis, treatment, and ways of coping with cataplexy.
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Cataplexy Symptoms
Cataplexy occurs abruptly and without warning. A key feature of cataplexy is that it does not affect consciousness.This is a distinguishing characteristic that can differentiate cataplexy from a seizure,syncope (fainting), or a psychiatric condition.
An episode of cataplexy may last for seconds at a time. The frequency of episodes can vary, depending on the underlying condition and whether or not it is treated.
An episode of cataplexy can look like the following:
The Difference Between Cataplexy and NarcolepsyNarcolepsy is a medical condition that causes excessive daytime sleepiness and sudden bouts of daytime sleep. It is partlycategorized, as follows, based on whether it includes cataplexy:Narcolepsy type 1 includes cataplexy.Narcolepsy type 2 does not include cataplexy.
The Difference Between Cataplexy and Narcolepsy
Narcolepsy is a medical condition that causes excessive daytime sleepiness and sudden bouts of daytime sleep. It is partlycategorized, as follows, based on whether it includes cataplexy:Narcolepsy type 1 includes cataplexy.Narcolepsy type 2 does not include cataplexy.
Narcolepsy is a medical condition that causes excessive daytime sleepiness and sudden bouts of daytime sleep. It is partlycategorized, as follows, based on whether it includes cataplexy:
Cataplexy occurs with several different medical conditions, the most common of which is narcolepsy type 1.
Cataplexy is associated with a decrease in certain brain cells that producehypocretin, also known as orexin, a hormone that’s involved in maintaining a regular sleep-wake cycle.An autoimmune process in which the immune system attacks the cells in the brain that make hypocretin is considered a possible cause of this cell loss in narcolepsy type 1.
Conditions that can cause cataplexy include:
Sometimes cataplexy is the first sign of these conditions, but it usually begins to happen after other symptoms have started to occur.
The diagnosis of cataplexy involves a medical history and a detailed assessment of symptoms. Sudden loss of muscle tone can occur with several conditions that need to be ruled out before cataplexy is considered the cause.
Other conditions that can cause falls or a loss of muscle tone include:
Tests may include:
The treatment of cataplexy can be challenging. People who have recurrent episodes due to a metabolic disorder may experience improvement of the symptom of cataplexy with treatment of the underlying metabolic condition. Treatment for these conditions needs to be maintained throughout life.
The outcome of cataplexy can vary. Many children who have narcolepsy can experience an improvement of the disease and fewer episodes as they reach adolescence or adulthood.
Sometimes cataplexy is a persistent symptom that requires ongoing medical management and lifestyle adjustments.
Living With Cataplexy
If your episodes of cataplexy occur intermittently or with certain triggers, you should avoid the following whenever you think you could have an episode:
While it may not be realistic to avoid emotions and stress, if it’s possible, you can try to maintain a sense of predictability so that you can minimize the episodes.
Additionally, you should not drink alcohol or use drugs because these substances can have an unpredictable effect on your episodes.
Summary
An evaluation of cataplexy involves ruling out other conditions, such as epilepsy and syncope. Sodium oxybate is approved for treating narcolepsy with cataplexy, and the prognosis can vary. Precautions to avoid injuries are an important part of maintaining safety when living with cataplexy.
5 SourcesVerywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Sleep Foundation.Cataplexy.Pillen S, Pizza F, Dhondt K, Scammell TE, Overeem S.Cataplexy and Its mimics: clinical recognition and management.Curr Treat Options Neurol.2017;19(6):23. doi:10.1007/s11940-017-0459-0Lima FCB, do Nascimento Junior EB, Teixeira SS, Coelho FM, Oliveira GDP.Thinking outside the box: cataplexy without narcolepsy.Sleep Med.2019;61:118-121. doi:10.1016/j.sleep.2019.03.006National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke.Narcolepsy.Dauvilliers Y, Lecendreux M, Lammers GJ, et al.Safety and efficacy of pitolisant in children aged 6 years or older with narcolepsy with or without cataplexy: a double-blind, randomised, placebo-controlled trial.Lancet Neurol.2023;22(4):303-311. doi:10.1016/S1474-4422(23)00036-4
5 Sources
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Sleep Foundation.Cataplexy.Pillen S, Pizza F, Dhondt K, Scammell TE, Overeem S.Cataplexy and Its mimics: clinical recognition and management.Curr Treat Options Neurol.2017;19(6):23. doi:10.1007/s11940-017-0459-0Lima FCB, do Nascimento Junior EB, Teixeira SS, Coelho FM, Oliveira GDP.Thinking outside the box: cataplexy without narcolepsy.Sleep Med.2019;61:118-121. doi:10.1016/j.sleep.2019.03.006National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke.Narcolepsy.Dauvilliers Y, Lecendreux M, Lammers GJ, et al.Safety and efficacy of pitolisant in children aged 6 years or older with narcolepsy with or without cataplexy: a double-blind, randomised, placebo-controlled trial.Lancet Neurol.2023;22(4):303-311. doi:10.1016/S1474-4422(23)00036-4
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
Sleep Foundation.Cataplexy.Pillen S, Pizza F, Dhondt K, Scammell TE, Overeem S.Cataplexy and Its mimics: clinical recognition and management.Curr Treat Options Neurol.2017;19(6):23. doi:10.1007/s11940-017-0459-0Lima FCB, do Nascimento Junior EB, Teixeira SS, Coelho FM, Oliveira GDP.Thinking outside the box: cataplexy without narcolepsy.Sleep Med.2019;61:118-121. doi:10.1016/j.sleep.2019.03.006National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke.Narcolepsy.Dauvilliers Y, Lecendreux M, Lammers GJ, et al.Safety and efficacy of pitolisant in children aged 6 years or older with narcolepsy with or without cataplexy: a double-blind, randomised, placebo-controlled trial.Lancet Neurol.2023;22(4):303-311. doi:10.1016/S1474-4422(23)00036-4
Sleep Foundation.Cataplexy.
Pillen S, Pizza F, Dhondt K, Scammell TE, Overeem S.Cataplexy and Its mimics: clinical recognition and management.Curr Treat Options Neurol.2017;19(6):23. doi:10.1007/s11940-017-0459-0
Lima FCB, do Nascimento Junior EB, Teixeira SS, Coelho FM, Oliveira GDP.Thinking outside the box: cataplexy without narcolepsy.Sleep Med.2019;61:118-121. doi:10.1016/j.sleep.2019.03.006
National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke.Narcolepsy.
Dauvilliers Y, Lecendreux M, Lammers GJ, et al.Safety and efficacy of pitolisant in children aged 6 years or older with narcolepsy with or without cataplexy: a double-blind, randomised, placebo-controlled trial.Lancet Neurol.2023;22(4):303-311. doi:10.1016/S1474-4422(23)00036-4
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