Empowering people affected by MS to live their best lives

Sleep disorders are very common with multiple sclerosis. It’s important that you address them. Quality sleep promotes overall good health, and a lack of sleep can make some of your MS symptoms worse.Many times, sleep disturbances in MS go undiagnosed and untreated. Talk with your healthcare provider if you experience any of the following:

Difficulty with initiating or maintaining sleep, also known as insomnia
Difficulty with too much sleep, also known as hypersomnia or hypersomnolence
Uncontrollable lapses into sleep, also known as narcolepsy
Sleep related breathing difficulty, including sleep apnea
Abnormal movements during sleep, including restless legs/body syndrome
Abnormal behaviors during sleep, including acting out dreams
Excessive daytime sleepiness

Research shows that more than half of those living with MS have a sleep disorder like sleep apnea or insomnia, with insomnia being the most common. Sleep disorders can be caused by MS symptoms, medications and even the disease itself.

Good quality sleep can be life-changing for people with MS who deal with issues like fatigue, spasticity and cognitive changes.

Assessing Your Sleep

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Reflecting on your sleep is the first step to identifying sleep-related problems or disorders. If you answer yes to any of the following questions, you may not be getting enough good, quality sleep:

Do you feel sleepy, grumpy or “down” during much of the day?
Do you fall asleep as soon as your head hits the pillow?
Do you sleep fewer than 7 hours most nights?
Do you still feel tired even after having 8 hours of sleep or more?

Before your next appointment with your healthcare provider, take this short assessment (page 8). Bring the results with you. This will give your provider the information they need to treat your sleep issues.

short assessment (page 8). Bring the results with you. This will give your provider the information they need to treat your sleep issues. " c-nmssatomrichtext_nmssatomrichtext-host="">

Reflecting on your sleep is the first step to identifying sleep-related problems or disorders. If you answer yes to any of the following questions, you may not be getting enough good, quality sleep:

Do you feel sleepy, grumpy or “down” during much of the day?
Do you fall asleep as soon as your head hits the pillow?
Do you sleep fewer than 7 hours most nights?
Do you still feel tired even after having 8 hours of sleep or more?

Sleep and Multiple Sclerosis

Assessing Your Sleep

Additional Resources