I have narcolepsy

If you have been diagnosed with narcolepsy, or doctors or you think that you might have narcolepsy, you will have many questions and concerns.

Narcolepsy is a chronic neurological disorder characterised by excessive daytime sleepiness, often alongside other symptons. It affects around 1 in every 2,500 people (around 30,000 people in the UK).

In most cases of narcolepsy, there is a loss of certain cells in the brain which produce a substance called hypocretin (also called Orexin). These cells are thought to have been lost probably through an autoimmune attack (where the body’s infection defence mechanism attacks the wrong cells). 

You may need help to understand what narcolepsy is, what causes it, how you should go about seeking medical help, and how narcolepsy is diagnosed and treated.

Here you will also find practical advice about living with narcolepsy, including information on the impact of narcolepsy on education and employment, and important issues like driving and your entitlement to benefits.

Please also take the time to learn about us and Narcolepsy UK’s  work, take a look at our latest newsletters and see if you can attend one of our events. We would love you to get involved, and please do become a Registered Member, so that we can keep you informed with all our latest news.

We hope that the resources on this website will help you understand and cope with the condition, but if there is anything more that you need, then do please contact us.