cataplexy
noun
cat·a·plexy ˈka-tə-ˌplek-sē 
plural cataplexies ˈka-tə-ˌplek-sēz
: sudden loss of muscle power following a strong emotional stimulus
Example Sentences
Recent Examples on the Web Symptoms such as hallucinations, sleep paralysis, and cataplexy may follow, says Manjamalai Sivaraman, MD, FAASM, a sleep medicine specialist and neurologist at the University of Missouri. 
Sarah Fielding, Health.com, 8 Dec. 2021 Excessive daytime sleepiness and cataplexy can improve after several weeks of regularly taking sodium oxybate. Sarah Fielding, Health.com, 6 Dec. 2021 People with narcolepsy type 2 may experience all the symptoms of narcolepsy except cataplexy—and their symptoms are often less severe, says the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS). Sarah Fielding, Health.com, 8 Dec. 2021 In both cases, more exercise inversely correlated with the degree of sleepiness and frequency of cataplexy episodes experienced. Sarah Fielding, Health.com, 6 Dec. 2021 While some people may have multiple episodes a day, others may only experience cataplexy once or twice a year. Sarah Fielding, Health.com, 3 Dec. 2021 The breakthrough designation for AXS-12 being revoked was for cataplexy as a condition in narcolepsy. Trefis Team, Forbes, 18 Oct. 2021 The breakthrough designation for AXS-12 being revoked was for cataplexy as a condition in narcolepsy. Trefis Team, Forbes, 18 Oct. 2021 Narcolepsy type 2, in which a person experiences general narcolepsy symptoms but does not have cataplexy. Sarah Fielding, Health.com, 3 Nov. 2021 See More
Sarah Fielding, Health.com, 8 Dec. 2021 Excessive daytime sleepiness and cataplexy can improve after several weeks of regularly taking sodium oxybate. Sarah Fielding, Health.com, 6 Dec. 2021 People with narcolepsy type 2 may experience all the symptoms of narcolepsy except cataplexy—and their symptoms are often less severe, says the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS). Sarah Fielding, Health.com, 8 Dec. 2021 In both cases, more exercise inversely correlated with the degree of sleepiness and frequency of cataplexy episodes experienced. Sarah Fielding, Health.com, 6 Dec. 2021 While some people may have multiple episodes a day, others may only experience cataplexy once or twice a year. Sarah Fielding, Health.com, 3 Dec. 2021 The breakthrough designation for AXS-12 being revoked was for cataplexy as a condition in narcolepsy. Trefis Team, Forbes, 18 Oct. 2021 The breakthrough designation for AXS-12 being revoked was for cataplexy as a condition in narcolepsy. Trefis Team, Forbes, 18 Oct. 2021 Narcolepsy type 2, in which a person experiences general narcolepsy symptoms but does not have cataplexy. Sarah Fielding, Health.com, 3 Nov. 2021 See More Word History
Etymology
German Kataplexie, from Greek kataplēxis, from kataplēssein to strike down, terrify, from kata- + plēssein to strike — more at plaint
First Known Use
1883, in the meaning defined above
Medical Definition
cataplexy
noun
cat·a·plexy ˈkat-ə-ˌplek-sē
plural cataplexies -sēz
: a sudden loss of muscle control with retention of clear consciousness that follows a strong emotional stimulus (as elation, surprise, or anger) and is a characteristic symptom of narcolepsy