Narcolepsy is a sleep disorder that can make one feel extremely drowsy during the day. Those affected also find it harder to stay awake for longer periods and consequently experience trouble carrying out daily tasks. Narcolepsy can be managed with prescriptions and other remedies, with early treatment helping control symptoms that affect daily routine. So, here are early warning signs of narcolepsy that should prompt one to seek medical intervention:

1. Excessive daytime sleepiness
One of the most visible early warning signs of narcolepsy is feeling excessively sleepy during the day. Further, one may fall asleep without warning anytime and anywhere. For instance, one might be working or talking to their friends and fall asleep out of the blue. They may stay asleep for a few minutes or up to half an hour. While they might feel refreshed when they wake up, the symptoms might return soon after.

2. Automatic behavior
Those with narcolepsy may continue to function even through their episodes of sleep, such as talking or putting away things. However, they may have no memory of performing these tasks once awake. These activities may also be routine activities that one typically carries out while awake. Studies show that about 40% of people with narcolepsy experience episodes of such automatic behavior. Here, one may also act out in their dreams at night by kicking, screaming, and flailing their arms.

3. Changes in sleep
Rapid eye movement (REM) sleep is the period in which most of the dreaming takes place. One usually enters this phase about 60 to 90 minutes after falling asleep. However, those affected by narcolepsy usually progress to REM sleep much sooner. They might enter REM sleep within 15 minutes of going to bed. Moreover, this might occur at any time of the day.

4. Sudden loss of muscle tone
Those with narcolepsy may also experience the sudden loss of muscle tone called cataplexy. Experts indicate that this issue is often triggered by intense emotions, including laughter or excitement. However, some might experience it as a result of fear, surprise, or anger. For example, when one laughs, their head may drop without control, or their knees may suddenly lose strength, making them fall. This brief muscle weakness might last up to a few minutes and cannot be controlled. While some with narcolepsy may experience only one or two episodes of cataplexy a year, others may have several episodes in a day.

5. Sleep paralysis
One may also experience sleep paralysis as an early sign of narcolepsy. Here, one is usually unable to move or speak while falling asleep or upon waking up. The symptom is usually brief and may last from a few seconds to a couple of minutes. This might be a startling symptom, as one might be aware of it happening and can recall it afterward. However, not everyone with the condition experiences sleep paralysis.

6. Hallucinations
When dealing with narcolepsy, one might start to see things that are not real (i.e., they hallucinate). The phenomenon may also develop simultaneously with other symptoms like sleep paralysis. Known as hypnagogic hallucinations, these usually develop as one falls asleep. If these hallucinations develop when one is walking, the phenomenon is known as hypnopompic hallucination. For example, one might feel as if there is a stranger in their bedroom. Here, one may not be completely asleep when they begin hallucinating, which, over time, could affect their mental well-being.

7. Changes in behavior
Mental health issues have been linked to narcolepsy. While the exact relationship remains unclear, studies have shown there is a higher risk of conditions like depression in those with narcolepsy than those without. So, narcolepsy may affect mood, causing changes like irritability. Other commonly associated symptoms include seeming distracted or uninterested in activities that one enjoyed earlier, intense sleepiness, and trouble making decisions.

8. Fatigue
Those with narcolepsy might also experience symptoms like intense fatigue and a lack of energy. As the disorder can disrupt the sleep-wake cycle, one might find it hard to stay awake during the day or even wake up multiple times at night. This might affect their ability to get proper rest and ultimately cause a loss of energy.

If one notices any of these symptoms, they must consult a doctor to seek appropriate treatment.