Narcolepsy without cataplexy

This code identifies a chronic neurological condition characterized by overwhelming daytime sleepiness and irresistible urges to sleep, without the sudden loss of muscle tone triggered by strong emotions (cataplexy). Patients experience fragmented nighttime sleep and often report sleep paralysis or hypnagogic hallucinations.

Assign this code when a patient presents with the classic symptoms of narcolepsy, such as excessive daytime sleepiness, but a thorough clinical evaluation and polysomnography (PSG) with multiple sleep latency testing (MSLT) confirm the absence of cataplexy. Documentation should clearly state the diagnosis of narcolepsy and explicitly rule out cataplexy.

• Ensure documentation differentiates between narcolepsy with and without cataplexy.
• Do not use this code if cataplexy is present; a different code would be appropriate.
• Consider sequencing this code as the primary diagnosis when it is the reason for the encounter.