Narcolepsy is:

• A central nervous system disorder affecting more than 250,000 Americans. Most individuals with the disabling condition are not diagnosed

• Characterized by permanent and severe sleepiness. Other symptoms include dream-like (hypnagogic) hallucinations and momentary muscular paralysis (cataplexy).

• Chronic

• Marked by certain genetic traits

• Medically treatable but not curable. Sleepiness is treated with stimulants. Hallucinations and cataplexy are treated with antidepressants.

• Often socially devastating. Even treated narcoleptic patients report being impaired at work and home and are prone to accidents.

For more information on narcolepsy:

• The Stanford University Center for Narcolepsy Homepage www.hia.com/hia/narcoctr/
• Narcolepsy and Sleep Disorders Newspaper www.narcolepsy.com/
• Young Americans with Narcolepsy www.hep.umn.edu/~tpi-web/YAWN/YAWN.html
• Center for Narcolepsy Research www.uic.edu/depts/cnr/cindex.htm
• The Sleep Well www-leland.stanford.edu/~dement/
• Cure Narcolepsy Now www.cloud9.net/~thorpy/NARCO.HTML

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