Hypersomnolence Disorder

About Hypersomnolence Disorder

Hypersomnolence disorder is characterized by excessive sleepiness despite a main sleep period lasting at least seven hours. People may have recurrent periods of sleep or lapses into sleep within the same day, a long main sleep episode that does not feel refreshing, or great difficulty becoming fully awake after waking, sometimes called sleep inertia or sleep drunkenness. The sleepiness occurs frequently over a period of months and causes distress or impairment at work, school or in social life. Assessment typically includes careful evaluation for other causes of sleepiness, such as insufficient sleep, sleep apnea, narcolepsy, medications, substances, and medical or mental health conditions, often with sleep laboratory testing. The condition is related to what sleep specialists call idiopathic hypersomnia. Symptoms often begin in late adolescence or early adulthood. Management can include regular sleep scheduling, addressing safety concerns such as drowsy driving, and wake promoting medication under specialist care.