IDIOPATHIC HYPERSOMNIA

Overview

Idiopathic hypersomnia is an uncommon sleep disorder that causes you to be very sleepy during the day even after a full night of good sleep. Its cause is unknown. It also often causes difficulty waking up after you've been asleep. If you take a nap, you generally don't feel refreshed and you may wake up confused and disoriented.

​

The need to sleep can strike at any time, including when you're driving a car or working, which makes idiopathic hypersomnia potentially dangerous.

​

The condition often develops gradually. Diagnosing idiopathic hypersomnia requires ruling out more-common sleep disorders. The aim of treatment is to control symptoms with medication.

​

Diagnosis

Your health care provider will review your symptoms and medical history. He will also review your sleep diary and have you do a sleep study.

 

These may also help diagnose idiopathic hypersomnia:

• Epworth Sleepiness Scale. Your health care provider may ask you to rate your sleepiness with this tool to help determine how sleep affects your daily life.

• Sleep diary. Your provider may ask you to keep a sleep diary. You log your daily sleep and wake times to help show your sleep patterns and how much you sleep.

• Polysomnogram. In this test, you stay in a sleep center overnight. A polysomnogram monitors your brain activity, eye movements, leg movements, heart rate, breathing functions and oxygen levels as you sleep.

• Multiple sleep latency test. You are given multiple daytime nap opportunities and during these naps, measurements show the types and stages of sleep you go through. This test is generally conducted the day after a polysomnogram.

 

Treatment

Because the cause of idiopathic hypersomnia isn't known, the treatment is aimed at easing symptoms. Stimulant and wake-promoting medications are usually used.

In addition, your health care provider might recommend that you develop a regular nighttime sleep schedule and avoid alcohol and medications that can affect your sleep.