Cataplexy. This sudden loss of muscle tone while a person is awake leads to weakness and a loss of voluntary muscle control. It is often triggered by sudden, strong emotions such as laughter, fear, anger, stress, or excitement. The symptoms of cataplexy may appear weeks or even years after the onset of EDS.
How do you stop cataplexy?
How is cataplexy treated?
- tricyclic antidepressants, such as clomipramine (Anafranil)
- selective serotonin uptake reinhibitors (SSRIs), another type of antidepressant, such as fluoxetine (Prozac) or venlafaxine (Effexor XR)
- sodium oxybate (Xyrem), which can help with both cataplexy and sleepiness during the day.
What emotions trigger cataplexy?
Some symptoms of narcolepsy depend on emotional stimuli; for instance, cataplectic attacks can be triggered by emotional inputs such as laughing, joking, a pleasant surprise, and also anger.
