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Narcolepsy

Important
It is possible that the main title of the report Narcolepsy is not the name you expected. Please check the synonyms listing to find the alternate name(s) and disorder subdivision(s) covered by this report.

Synonyms

Gelineau's Syndrome
Paroxysmal Sleep
Sleep Epilepsy
Narcoleptic syndrome

Disorder Subdivisions

None

General Discussion

Narcolepsy is a rare disorder characterized by chronic, excessive attacks of drowsiness during the day, sudden extreme muscle weakness (cataplexy), hallucinations, paralysis while sleeping, and disrupted sleep during the night. Attacks of drowsiness may persist only a few minutes or last for hours, and may vary in frequency from a few incidents to several during a single day. Although the exact cause of narcolepsy is not known, many researchers suspect that genetic factors play a role in the development of the disorder.
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Resources

National Sleep Foundation
1522 K Street
Suite 500
Washington, D.C. 20005
Tel: (202)347-3471
Fax: (202)347-3472
Email: nsf@sleepfoundation.org
Internet: http://www.sleepfoundation.org

Narcolepsy Network, Inc.
79 Main Street
North Kingstown, RI 02852
USA
Tel: 4016672523
Fax: 4016336567
Tel: 8882926522
Email: narnet@narcolepsynetwork.org
Internet: http://www.narcolepsynetwork.org

American Sleep Disorders Association
1610 14th Street NW
Suite 300
Rochester, MN 55901
Tel: (507)287-6006
Fax: (507)287-6008
Email: asda@millcomm.com

Center for Research in Sleep Disorders
1275 East Kemper Rd.
Cincinnati, OH 45246
Tel: (513)671-3101
Fax: (513)671-4159
TDD: (311)111-6111
Email: ggaz@tristatesleep.com

Narcolepsy Institute
Montefiore Medical Center
111 East 210th Street
Bronx, NY 10467
Tel: (718)920-6799
Fax: (718)654-9580
Email: MGoswami@NarcolepsyInstitute.org
Internet: http://www.narcolepsyinstitute.org

National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS)
31 Center Drive
8A07
Bethesda, MD 20892-2540
Tel: (301)496-5751
Fax: (301)402-2186
Tel: (800)352-9424
Email: braininfo@ninds.nih.gov
Internet: http://www.ninds.nih.gov/

Medic Alert Foundation International
2323 Colorado Avenue
Turlock, CA 95382
USA
Tel: 2096692401
Fax: 2096692456
Tel: 8004325378
Email: Inquiries@medicalert.org
Internet: http://www.medicalert.org

Center for Narcolepsy Research
College of Nursing (M/C 802)
The University of Illinois at Chicago
845 South Damen Avenue
Room 215
Chicago, IL 60612-7350
Tel: (312)996-5176
Fax: (312)996-7008
Email: narcolep@listserve.uic.edu
Internet: http://www.uic.edu/depts/cnr/cnrright.htm

For a Complete Report:

This is an abstract of a report from the National Organization for Rare Disorders, Inc. ® (NORD). A copy of the complete report can be obtained for a small fee by visiting the NORD website. The complete report contains additional information including symptoms, causes, affected population, related disorders, standard and investigational treatments (if available), and references from medical literature. For a full-text version of this topic, see http://www.rarediseases.org/search/rdblist.html

The information provided in this report is not intended for diagnostic purposes. It is provided for informational purposes only. NORD recommends that affected individuals seek the advice or counsel of their own personal physicians.

It is possible that the title of this topic is not the name you selected. Please check the Synonyms listing to find the alternate name(s) and Disorder Subdivision(s) covered by this report.

This disease entry is based upon medical information available through the date at the end of the topic. Since NORD's resources are limited, it is not possible to keep every entry in the Rare Disease Database completely current and accurate. Please check with the agencies listed in the Resources section for the most current information about this disorder.

For additional information and assistance about rare disorders, please contact the National Organization for Rare Disorders at P.O. Box 1968, Danbury, CT 06813-1968; phone (203) 744-0100; web site www.rarediseases.org or email orphan@rarediseases.org

Last Updated: 5/29/2008
Copyright 1986, 1988, 1990, 1993, 1994, 1996, 1997, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2002, 2003, 2005 National Organization for Rare Disorders, Inc.

WebMD Medical Reference from the National Organization of Rare Disorders

Last Updated: May 29, 2008

This information is not intended to replace the advice of a doctor. Healthwise disclaims any liability for the decisions you make based on this information.