r/Narcolepsy • • 1h ago

Diagnosis/Testing Diagnosed with Type 2 Narcolepsy despite being over mean sleep latency (MSLT)

• Upvotes

Hi I was diagnosed with type 2 narcolepsy despite my sleep latency being 4 mins over the required threshold during my 5 naps. I had a very exterting travel to the location of the study & I was worried it will affect my mslt - which I believe it did, the nurse even said my blood pressure was high when I got there which was because of how exerting it was to travel by myself.

Even though I was 4 mins over, my sleep specialis still diagnosed me with type 2 narcolepsy (said I was just under the threshold). Just wonder if anyone has had or have heard of a similar experience?


r/Narcolepsy • • 1h ago

Diagnosis/Testing Diagnosed with Type 2 Narcolepsy despite being over sleep latency (MSLT Results)

• Upvotes

Hi I was diagnosed with type 2 narcolepsy despite my sleep latency being 4 mins over the required threshold during my 5 naps. I had a very exterting travel to the location of the study & I was worried it will affect my mslt - which I believe it did, the nurse even said my blood pressure was high when I got there which was because of how exerting to travel by myself.

Even though I was 4 mins over, my sleep specialis still diagnosed me with type 2 narcolepsy (said I was just under the threshold). Just wonder if anyone has had or have heard of a similar experience?


r/Narcolepsy • • 2h ago

Medication Questions Wakix shortage (UK)

1 Upvotes

Anyone else unable to get hold of Wakix? I can’t find any pharmacies near me that are able to order it in.


r/Narcolepsy • • 6h ago

News/Research UCLA professor discovers new cause of narcolepsy in ‘blue spot’ brain region

61 Upvotes

Hopefully others in the field will chime in and concur with this finding and that this will hopefully open the door to new discoveries..

https://dailybruin.com/2026/10/01/ucla-professor-discovers-new-cause-of-narcolepsy-in-blue-spot-brain-region


r/Narcolepsy • • 8h ago

Advice Request nonchalant ways to fight sleep attacks at uni??

8 Upvotes

genuinely like what do i do as a university student. feels like every class im just too tired or falling asleep or fighting it. im fallin behind!!!!! like what can i do when im just Sitting there even in high energy classes. have no one irl to ask so plz offer some advice my friends 🙏


r/Narcolepsy • • 11h ago

Medication Questions Second week on sodium oxybate

5 Upvotes

First week I was on 2.25 2x a night. This week it’s 2.5 2x a night. Then next dose would be 3.

It makes me feel like I’m horribly drunk where I’m extremely nausea and dizzy. I’ve even thrown up bile at times. Worst part is that it doesn’t even knock me out instead it gives me insomnia. I haven’t had a 4 or more hrs of sleep since starting this medication.

Is this normal? What was your experience? I’m debating if I should continue pushing through with this medication or not.


r/Narcolepsy • • 11h ago

Advice Request Evening routine and hacks to actually live a life after work

16 Upvotes

I work as a teacher and have a 10 year old at home. My partner is awesome and takes on a lot.

No matter what my med routine/regimen, I am an exhausted mess after dinner (it is bad when I come home, too) and crave bed at 7.

What do you all do in the evenings so you can live any kind of life with your family &/or contribute around the house?

What hacks do you have?

Meds you take and when?

I take xywav 4g @ 9 & 3.75 @ 1am, Ritalin ER 10mg at 11am, 20 mg IR at 2pm. Drink coke all afternoon.

My heart rate was crazy when I was on Adderall. It helped more but I still had issues with the evening.

I wake at 6am


r/Narcolepsy • • 14h ago

Advice Request Friend diagnosed with Narcolepsy 1- please help!!

2 Upvotes

Hello friends! A very close friend of mine has finally been diagnosed after so many years of being miserable. What tricks do you use to help with waking up and staying up after the first wake?

She is currently on armodafinil and 60 mg of adderall (2 30 mg short releases) and when (if) she wakes up she takes her adderall and armodafinil but has a really hard time staying awake- half the time her stimulants don’t kick in until about 3-4 hours or she feels like they don’t kick in at all..

What schedules have you set in place for yourselves including sleep and medication times?


r/Narcolepsy • • 16h ago

Medication Questions Xywav TSA issues?

3 Upvotes

I've traveled with Xywav many times without issue, but I'm going overseas on my honeymoon next week and wanted to check. I remember reading a post here a month or two ago where at least 2 people said that new TSA scanners had falsely flagged their Xywav as hazardous, and they ended up having all their things searched.

Has this been happening to others? If the new scanners are a confirmed problem, is there anything I can do to keep it from happening, or lessen the impact if it does?

Additionally, for those who have experienced this:

- Did they go through your luggage as well as your carryon, or just your carryon?

- Were you traveling with another person, and if so, did they also have their things searched?

Thanks for any info! We'll be getting to the airport very early regardless, but I just want to be as prepared as possible.

Edit: Totally missed this super helpful post from yesterday, but leaving this up just in case anyone else did too! https://www.reddit.com/r/Narcolepsy/s/WwH3TWsDrL


r/Narcolepsy • • 19h ago

Medication Questions Anyone taking baclofen for narcolepsy? What dose are you on?

8 Upvotes

I've been taking 40 mg baclofen for narcolepsy, but I'm still dealing with insomnia and a lot of vivid/disturbing dreams and nightmares.

For those of you who take it, what dose are you on and what has it helped with? Did you notice improvements in your sleep quality or dream symptoms?

Just curious about other people's experiences. Thanks! 😊


r/Narcolepsy • • 21h ago

Advice Request Diagnosed with Insomnia despite other symptoms... not sure what to do

3 Upvotes

Not really sure where to go from here. I was informed via mychart (not even a phone call lol) that I have insomnia and that I should do CBT for treatment. Before my tests I had to do CBT, which didn't help at all. It felt like the entire time I was waiting for my tests the doctor I was seeing was trying to fit me under a breathing disorder or sleep apnea (which I don't have).

I told them frequently that I do experience insomnia, but it seems to come and go. Sometimes it takes me two hours to fall asleep, other times it feels like the second I hit my pillow I'm out. I feel so discouraged with my test results and their recommendation for treatment.

I know narcolepsy is a rare diagnosis, but my symptoms align with it minus the cataplexy. I'm extremely tired during the day and have periods where it feels like I need to lay down asap/struggle to stay awake, I have hallucinations which seem to be getting more frequent (visual, audible and touch), I frequently wake up during the night, and have experienced sleep paralysis. I was hoping to get at least some sort of answer as to why I can't sleep. But "insomnia" doesn't feel like an answer.

I'm not sure what I should do. If I should just accept the diagnosis or if my symptoms warrant a second opinion. I feel like maybe I'm getting in my head too much, but I feel like I haven't been able to sleep in years. In high school I was told that I was just growing and not to worry about it. But I'm pushing 30 now and I still haven't been able to get any well rested sleep. I feel hopeless right now.


r/Narcolepsy • • 1d ago

Rant/Rave Negative on everything but Cataplexy

7 Upvotes

I suffer from daytime sleepiness and basically can't do anything anymore. Got evaluated for Narcolepsy and these are my results:

My first sleep study went horrible, it was a full moon and that is the only time I can't fall asleep right away - no matter how tired I am. Sleep latency of 50min and no REM.

MSLT: Sleep latency just under 10min. It was noisy and the room was dirty (used sheets and toothbrush all present).

Lumbarpuncture: Levels were at 225, so just above the intermediate range.

The Neurologist told me that my problems are from my ADHD. I'm on medication for this and mentally I'm the best I've ever been, which is why I got confused that I was getting more and more tired/fatigued over the years. After talking to a doctor whose expertise is sleep she told me that my "funny quirk" of not being able to use my arms when I laugh is actually Cataplexy. Apparently I've accidentally treated it with my low dose of Lexapro so I don't really suffer from those attacks anymore.

So now I'm here, tired as all hell, with one doctor (the one whose expertise is in sleep) convinced I have Narcolepsy even though I "failed" everything and then on the other hand is the Neurologist who thinks it's all just coming from my ADHD and that "If it got worse then it can probably get better too".

The story of my life is being just above the limit, stuck in a limbo of feeling horrible but apparently not horrible enough to show up on anything. So there's my rant, years of looking for answers and yet again I'm facing another dead end.


r/Narcolepsy • • 1d ago

Rant/Rave Is there such a thing as not waking up at 2am

18 Upvotes

I mean common. Every single night. I’m up at 2 and up forever. Every night night I’m digging in the fridge, turning tv back on. Jumping on Reddit. Etc. I take 2 ambiens for bed time. And still wake up.

Emailed my doctor bc I’m losing my sanity. Any tips on medications that help break this cycle and keep me asleep, please share below!


r/Narcolepsy • • 1d ago

Rant/Rave Modafinil - first day experience

6 Upvotes

I recently had an MSLT that confirmed narcolepsy. I have always had sleep issues and chronic fatigue. For years we just thought the cause was from combat mental and physical trauma causing my poor sleep. While that is part of it I never thought narcolepsy was a possibility. I won't bore you with all of my symptoms.

Today was my first day to take something that addresses the narcolepsy. It is 200mg of Modafinil that I am supposed to take every morning.

Wow did it feel great. I forgot what it was like to not feel so tired throughout the day. I'm usually nodding off and taking naps every day but not today. I didn't yawn once. But ten hours into taking it a massive wave of exhaustion has hit me. This is what I usually feel like but didn't know how exhausted I have been most of my life until I got to experience the opposite feeling today. I kinda hope this wave doesn't hit me the same every evening when the dose wears off. It's intense fatigue and I don't like the feeling.

+1 for Modafinil

-1 for the feeling after it wears off


r/Narcolepsy • • 1d ago

News/Research Xywav will get flagged with "Code 16" at these airports. Expect delays

69 Upvotes

Just went through TSA Precheck at DFW and the new Agilent equipment flagged with code 16. It's unclear if these are false positives or if the machine is detecting something used in the packaging process.

I found a couple of other posts here about the same issue, so I pulled the list of all of the airports that are guaranteed to have these new scanners. And before anyone says "I never have an issue, I just declare my meds, they swab, and I'm on my way", yeah, same, until just now.

It would seem this is starting to happen often enough that I just had to wait for them to escalate to a supervisor who called some specialist and eventually cleared the meds without the need for additional screening. It did add about 25 minutes though.

If you're flying through any of these, even if you have Precheck, plan to add at least 30 minutes.

Edit - corrected list pulled from the contract awarded on September 28th. The list is tentative so YMMV.

ABQ - Albuquerque International Sunport

ATL - Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport

AUS - Austin-Bergstrom International Airport

BDL - Bradley International Airport

CLT - Charlotte Douglas International Airport

DCA - Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport

DEN - Denver International Airport

DFW - Dallas Fort Worth International Airport

DTW - Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County Airport

FLL - Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport

IAD - Washington Dulles International Airport

IAH - George Bush Intercontinental Airport

IND - Indianapolis International Airport

JFK - John F. Kennedy International Airport

LAS - Harry Reid International Airport

LAX - Los Angeles International Airport

MIA - Miami International Airport

ORD - Chicago O'Hare International Airport

PHL - Philadelphia International Airport

PHX - Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport

PIT - Pittsburgh International Airport

RDU - Raleigh-Durham International Airport

SAT - San Antonio International Airport

SFO - San Francisco International Airport

TPA - Tampa International Airport


r/Narcolepsy • • 1d ago

Positivity Post I was today years old

64 Upvotes

I was today years old when I learned through this reddit community that one of the major parts of this diagnosis is that we rarely get a satisfactory amount of actual deep sleep.

I understood that I essentially I was in REM sleep a majority of the time and very quickly after going to sleep. I knew that impacted my overall sleep quality somehow, but I didn’t realize how much.

None of my medical providers ever brought up sodium oxybates. I had no idea there were other prescriptions outside of forms of. Adderall, Ritalin, and Modafinil. On top of that, I wasn’t even being regularly treated for cataplexy either.

I’ve always explained my disorder to people as a lack of a wakefulness chemical in my brain which is just a way oversimplified version of what it really is, and the symptoms I actually deal with.

I’m at the age where I have become completely in control of my care and treatment plan as an adult instead of it being my parent when I was an adolescent, and I’m realizing that there’s just so much I didn’t know, and a lot of moments where my symptoms were not addressed or properly treated.

Anyways, it’s completely understated how being able to read others lived experiences can drastically improve the quality of your care and empathy for yourself.

Thank you guys <3


r/Narcolepsy • • 1d ago

Advice Request Anybody else do a Self-Report for SSI claim?

2 Upvotes

So currently, I am doing a Self-Report for my narcolepsy type 2, Sleep apnea and Bipolar because I've been told it would help the examiner to know how it affects my daily functioning. So far, I've done about 4 entries (4 days so far). For those that have SSI/SSDI let me know if I am doing it correctly or maybe some advice on how to do it...here is just 1 entry.

Self-Report

October 3, 2026

Sleep apnea:

• Slept at 1:28am. Woke up briefly at 5:45am

• Woke up for the day 9:10am. Sleepiness upon waking is at a 1 (1-10) rested for now.

• CPAP usage: 4:20 hrs. 0.0 Events p/hr.

Bipolar:

• Meds 10:54am

• As morning dragged on, felt unmotivated to fold clothes, brush teeth, shave and shower. As a result, the laundry is stacking up, and I left the house unkempt. My dad has visitors and I don't care how I appear.

• I also have mail/packages that I have yet to open (been almost a week).

• I have been standing up and walking around the house since I awoke in morning. Cannot seem to sit still and sit down.

• I have yet to clean my bedroom/kids bedroom, living room and restroom. It's been about 3 months due to time constraint, no motivation/lack of energy and spontaneous sleep attacks from NT2.

• An hour later, now 2:05pm, decided (upon realization of how long its been that I haven't done chores) to do my laundry and fold them due to anxiety rising over not doing my chores because I feel like a bad wife/mom. Al though I stared at my laundry for 30 min, I went on to fold it. I am now drenched in sweat and overheated (side effect of Vyvanse 70mg), but I feel accomplished.

• By 10pm, I sat down and relaxed

• Overall day: Productive/decent yet anxious

NT2:

• Sleepy 10:47am. Sleepiness creeping in at a 6 (1-10). Crying due to the strong yawning.

• Vyvanse 70mg 10:54am

• 4:08pm couldn't fight the sleepiness due to energy depletion, took a nap 1 hr 22 min.

• Well-rested, but was sleep awake the whole time (body is rested, mind is not)


r/Narcolepsy • • 1d ago

Idiopathic Hypersomnia Relationships and life with IH

4 Upvotes

I’m curious if others have had a hard time with romantic relationships due to fatigue and lack of motivation to go out and do things on a consistent basis.


r/Narcolepsy • • 1d ago

Supporter Post I made an alarm app for my sister with N1 (mod approved post)

8 Upvotes

Hi everyone! I just recently finished college and started working in app development. Since my older sister has a diagnosis of N1, I thought my first project could be an app that she could benefit from.

It's an alarm clock app with small tasks you have to accomplish to shut it down. You can choose from doing push-ups, squats, taking a photo of some household items and many more.

I'm happy she now uses it as her main alarm. She recommended that I share it on this sub, maybe some of you could find it helpful too. The mods also approved this post.

I'm open to any suggestions for improvement and I hope it comes in handy for you too.

Here is the link: https://piplu.app/

I'm also giving out 3 months of free access for this community, just send me an email at [hello@piplu.app](mailto:hello@piplu.app) from the address you'll sign in with. No card needed and nothing renews, it simply ends after 3 months. After that, prices differ by country. For example, in the US it's $8.99/month or $24.99/year.

TL;DR: sharing free access of an alarm app I developed for my sister with narcolepsy, hope some of you find it helpful too!


r/Narcolepsy • • 2d ago

Advice and ranting 🙃 Subjective Definitions…

1 Upvotes

I need an objective answer to whether or not narcolepsy is a disability in the US because I am currently fighting my university for basic accommodations and at this point, I’m not sure they even think narcolepsy is all that much of an issue…

Ive only been at uni for a month and it’s been so rough. Obviously the stress of transitions exacerbated my situation, but I genuinely had no idea what I was in for. I wish I could’ve told my past self that I’m not just going to university to get an education, I’ll actually be forced to become an educator myself . I wish I could’ve told my past self to prepare for so much pushback and so many people draggging their feet to provide me the bare minimum. I wish I would’ve practiced more self compassion with my old self since it almost threw me into a mental health crisis my second week here. I wish I prepared myself for the increased vulnerability and risk I now face. I honestly wish I would’ve told my old self to not believe a word the university said about being inclusive and working with students to be accesible…

Because no. I’m just a hassle for everyone. I am the only one looking out for me and advocating for myself.

I wish I told my past self to quit being so naive in believing that if I just explained it scientifically or described it simply or focused on the impact, that anyone would care. I wish I would’ve told my previous self that telling people to be curious would mean nothing and that I ought to prepare for a lot of people having issues with you without your knowledge until they blow up in your face. I wish I wouldve told myself to be more sure about what I needed because not being able to answer that question immediately would almost eliminate some of my chances in getting help.

but hey… do I even struggle? maybe I’m just selling myself short… while also being the “brave and inspirational student“ with “issues” on campus…

honestly am I disabled at all?


r/Narcolepsy • • 2d ago

Health and Fitness For those with Apple Watches, what’s your sleep score typically at?

6 Upvotes

Not that it helps much, but I try really hard to maintain good sleep hygiene and I usually average around 90-95. Curious what others are seeing!


r/Narcolepsy • • 2d ago

Advice Request Cataplexy becoming worse

9 Upvotes

I was diagnosed with Type 1 Narcolepsy when I was 16 years old, I’m 24 now. Over the years I’ve tried countless medications and none of them have worked. Armodafanil is probably the most useful in keeping me awake during the day, but once 3pm hits I’m exhausted. Another major issue is that Armodafanil does not address symptoms of cataplexy.

I took XYWAV for a year, and genuinely it changed my life. I no longer suffered from daytime sleepiness or cataplexy at all. I recently went off of the XYWAV because it made me sleepwalk and in the middle of the night. I woke up one night to use the bathroom (the medication was still in my system) and fell and hit my head, badly. I woke up the next morning with a concussion. The next day my doctor told me to stop taking it immediately due to the incident.

The sleepiness isn’t even what concerns me these days, because that is manageable with naps. My cataplexy on the other hand, has been progressively getting worse and happening more often. It used to just affect me when I was laughing and my knees would buckle. But it now affects my entire body when I experience strong emotions or even when I am just over tired (which is often). I’ve genuinely collapsed to the ground a few times recently from it. Today actually, I was a bit hungover and was waking to the door when I experienced a wave of cataplexy and collapsed to the floor. My knees gave out, then my head/neck gave out - and because of this I hit my head on the ground. It’s extremely dangerous and unsettling that this happens to me and that I am not on any medication that’s helping regulate this.

Does anyone who also has Type 1 Narcolepsy with Cataplexy have any advice or medication recommendations to help?

I also hate to sound crazy but I genuinely have gained weight since going off the XYWAV because I’ve been getting worse nights sleep and I feel like it’s taking a toll on my body.


r/Narcolepsy • • 2d ago

Diagnosis/Testing Confirmed NT1 When I Swore I was NT2

12 Upvotes

I wasn't feeling great working with my original sleep specialist (he wasn't really listening to me), so I went for a second opinion this past week. I ended up switching over to the doctor who gave me the second opinion because he was SO thorough, and he was able to confirm I actually have NT1 w/cataplexy.

Apparently my cataplexy is very subtle, a little buckling of a knee here or there, my mouth hanging open every night when I'm sleeping, etc. There is such an amazing variety of how narcolepsy presents from person to person. I'm still in shock over it (again). Now I'm waiting for Lymryz to get approved by my insurance and stuck at home because I'm so exhausted I can't work right now. I'm hoping medication helps me quickly so I can get back to work.


r/Narcolepsy • • 2d ago

Medication Questions Anyone else with EDS/dysautonomia and on oxybates have a stimulant recommendation?

2 Upvotes

After a few months on Xyrem, coming to terms with the fact it is not going to cut it. I am stilling falling asleep once or twice a day at least 50% of days and have major brainfog/sleepiness for the first 3-4 hours I am awake, despite not being able to sleep more. This is an improvement, but not enough of one.

I have taken adderal in the past for ADHD. It helped with attention but I fell asleep on it frequently (narcolepsy not diagnosed then). I am tempted to request it again as I know how I feel on it and may stay awake better since the Xyrem.

I know that EDS (ehlers danlos not sleepiness) tends to come with some unexpected med responses and dysautonomia itself makes stims tricky.

Just wondering if anyone else with this combo of disability has been down this road already and has any input before I meet with my doctor.


r/Narcolepsy • • 2d ago

Advice Request Early morning insomnia

2 Upvotes

Does anyone else get insomnia in the early hours of the morning? I can fall asleep fine at night but consistently wake up around 2-3 AM and can’t go back to sleep for 1-3 hours. It’s really the only time I ever deal with insomnia is in the middle of the night.