cataplexy

[kat-uh-plek-see]

noun

1. Pathology.,  a condition characterized by sudden, brief attacks of muscle weakness sometimes causing the body to fall helplessly, that is usually triggered by strong emotion: often associated with narcolepsy.

cataplexy

/ ˈkætəˌplɛksɪ /

noun

1. sudden temporary paralysis, brought on by severe shock

2. a state of complete absence of movement assumed by animals while shamming death

Other Word Forms

• cataplectic adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of cataplexy¹

1880–85; < German Kataplexie < Greek katáplēxis (with suffix probably by analogy with Apoplexie apoplexy ) fixation (of the eyes), equivalent to kataplēk- (variant stem of kataplḗssein to strike down) + -sis -sis

Word History and Origins

Origin of cataplexy¹

C19: from Greek kataplēxis amazement, from kataplēssein to strike down (with amazement), confound, from kata- down + plēssein to strike

Example Sentences

A lawyer who had taken GHB for narcolepsy for 19 years testified that his cataplexy “disappeared almost overnight,” with no side effects.

From Seattle Times

The advisory committee recommended the agency approve Xyrem for narcolepsy with cataplexy, which it did in 2002.

From Seattle Times

A century later, it was sold as a dietary supplement in the United States, and academic researchers began reporting that it greatly improved the nighttime sleep of people with narcolepsy and curbed their daytime sleep attacks, called cataplexy.

From Seattle Times

She suffered injuries in the fire, and also has pre-existing neurological conditions, including narcolepsy and cataplexy, which cause her to collapse when experiencing strong emotions.

From BBC

Could this be a rare disease known as cataplexy?

From New York Times