Sleepiness in the day (severe and unexplained)
Signs and symptoms
People with idiopathic hypersomnia struggle to stay awake during the day and are usually compelled to take frequent long naps. These may be prolonged or at inappropriate times such as during a conversation or meal, or even while driving and generally don't provide any relief from the sleepiness.
Most people with idiopathic hypersomnia also sleep for more than 10 hours a night and struggle to wake in the morning, because they feel very drowsy and confused upon waking ("sleep drunkenness"), although some people sleep for a regular amount of time (about eight hours) and are able to wake relatively normally.
The excessive sleepiness may have a negativeimpact on the person's work, relationships and social life, and they may also:
- have mental health problems, such as anxiety or depression
- have low energy
- be restless or agitated
- think or speak slowly
- have trouble remembering things or maintaining concentration
- perform behaviours around the house as if on autopilot
These symptoms often develop during adolescence or in a person's early twenties, although they can occur earlier or later in life.
Medically Reviewed by a doctor on 21 Dec 2018
Introduction
Read about idiopathic hypersomnia, an unexplained condition that causes you to feel very sleepy during the day, despite getting a good night's sleep.
Signs and symptoms
People with idiopathic hypersomnia struggle to stay awake during the day and are usually compelled to take frequent long naps. These may be prolonged or at inappropriate times such as during a convers
What to do
See your GP if you're constantly drowsy during the day and it's affecting your everyday life. They'll want to know about your sleeping habits, how much sleep you get at night, if you wake during the n
Seeing a sleep specialist
A number of tests can be carried out to assess your sleep and help identify any underlying cause. These are usually carried out at a specialist sleep centre. Two of the main tests used are: Polyso
Managingidiopathic hypersomnia
Idiopathic hypersomniadoesn't usually get better by itself. Many people find that the symptoms improve with treatment. Medication There are no medicines specifically designed to treat idiopathic hyp
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