Idiopathic hypersomnia

Idiopathic hypersomnia is a sleep disorder in which a person is excessively sleepy ( hypersomnia ) during the day and has great difficulty being awakened from sleep. Idiopathic means there is not a clear cause.

Causes

This condition is similar to narcolepsy in that you are extremely sleepy. It is different from narcolepsy because idiopathic hypersomnia does not usually involve suddenly falling asleep (sleep attacks) or losing muscle control due to strong emotions (cataplexy). Also, unlike narcolepsy, naps in idiopathic hypersomnia are usually not refreshing.

Narcolepsy

Narcolepsy is a nervous system problem that causes extreme sleepiness and attacks of daytime sleep.

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Symptoms

Symptoms often develop slowly during the teens or young adulthood. They include:

• Daytime naps that do not relieve drowsiness
• Difficulty waking from a long sleep -- may feel confused or disoriented (''sleep drunkenness'')
• Increased need for sleep during the day -- even while at work, or during a meal or conversation
• Increased sleep time -- up to 14 to 18 hours a day

Other symptoms may include:

• Anxiety
• Feeling irritated
• Loss of appetite
• Low energy
• Restlessness
• Slow thinking or speech
• Trouble remembering

Exams and Tests

The health care provider will ask about your sleep history. The usual approach is to consider other potential causes of excessive daytime sleepiness.

Other sleep disorders that may cause daytime sleepiness include:

• Narcolepsy
• Obstructive sleep apnea

  Obstructive sleep apnea

  Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is a problem in which your breathing pauses during sleep. This occurs because of narrowed or blocked airways.

  

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• Restless leg syndrome

  Restless leg syndrome

  Restless legs syndrome (RLS) is a nervous system problem that causes you to feel an unstoppable urge to get up and pace or walk. You feel uncomforta...

  

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Other causes of excessive sleepiness include:

• Depression

  Depression

  Depression may be described as feeling sad, blue, unhappy, miserable, or down in the dumps. Most of us feel this way at one time or another for shor...

  

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• Certain medicines
• Drug and alcohol use
• Low thyroid function

  Low thyroid function

  Hypothyroidism is a condition in which the thyroid gland does not make enough thyroid hormone. This condition is often called underactive thyroid....

  

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• Previous head injury

Tests that may be ordered include:

• Multiple-sleep latency test (a test to see how long it takes you to fall asleep during a daytime nap)
• Sleep study (polysomnography, to identify other sleep disorders)

A mental health evaluation for depression may also be done.

Treatment

Your provider will likely prescribe stimulant medicines such as amphetamine, methylphenidate, and modafinil. These drugs may not work as well for this condition as they do for narcolepsy.

Lifestyle changes that can help ease symptoms and prevent injury include:

• Avoid alcohol and medicines that can make the condition worse
• Avoid operating motor vehicles or using dangerous equipment
• Avoid working at night or social activities that delay your bedtime