Hypersomnia is defined as the excessive amount of sleepiness and is characterized by recurring episodes of excessive daytime sleepiness (EDS) or prolonged nighttime sleep. Individuals with this disorder tend to sleep repeatedly during the day, often at inappropriate or unexpected times and in the middle of waking activities such as at work, while eating, while talking to someone or while walking. They sleep for two to five minutes and then wake refreshed.

Characteristics of Hypersomnia:

Individuals with this disorder tend to sleep at unexpected and inappropriate times, often between waking activities.

They often nap to get relief from the symptoms of sleepiness.

Individuals with this disorder have difficulty in waking from a long sleep and may fee bewildered.

Sleepiness is accompanied by irritability, decreased energy levels, restlessness, slow speech, slow thinking, hallucinations, loss of appetite, hallucinations, difficulty in recalling things and the inability to function in social, work and family surroundings.

Hypersomnia may occur with other sleep disorders such as narcolepsy or sleep apnea, dysfunction of the autoimmune system or drug alcohol abuse.

Causes of Hypersomnia:

It may occur because of various physical problems such as a tumor, head trauma, injury to the central nervous system etc. It can also be the outcome of certain medications or withdrawal from drugs. Certain medical conditions such as multiple sclerosis, chronic fatigue, depression, epilepsy and obesity may also contribute to the development of this disorder.

Genetic Factors: These include heredity, brain damage and disorders such as clinical depression, uremia and fibromyalgia.

Other disorders: Hypersomnia may result along with or as a consequence of other sleep disorders such as narcolepsy and sleep apnea.

Diagnosis of Hypersomnia:

To meet the diagnostic criteria for this disorder an adult must sleep for more than 10 hours per day on a regular basis for at least two weeks or must feel compelled to nap repeatedly during the day.

Treatment of Hypersomnia:

Medications: To treat this disorder medication such as amphetamine, methylphenidate and modafinil are prescribed. Other drugs include antidepressants, monoamine oxide inhibitors, levodopa, clinidine and bromocriptine.