Hypersomnia: What are the symptoms, etiology and treatment?

What is Hypersomnia? 

Hypersomnia known as hypersomnolence is a sleep-wake disorder. It is marked by excessive daytime sleepiness or excessive time spent on sleep at night. Furthermore, the person with this disorder remains in a drowsy state throughout the day. Despite having constant sleep onslaughts, a person has nonrestorative sleep which can interfere with daytime activities.  

People who suffer from this disorder call fall asleep at any time of the day. For instance, at work, during a meal, while driving, etc. Secondly, they may suffer from extreme fatigue and disorientation when they wake up. Moreover, it may affect the quality of life. It occurs with equal frequency in both males and females.

Disruption in work due to Hypersomnia

Symptoms of Hypersomnia

A person who suffers from hypersomnia might feel sleepy even after having nine hours of sleep without feeling refreshed. Moreover, they may find it hard to awaken fully and regain their energy. In most cases, they feel restless and agitated.  

According to DSM-V, to diagnose hypersomnia a person must have the following symptoms. Symptoms should be present at least three times per week for at least three months:

  •  The prolonged period of sleep lasts for at least 7 hours with one of the following symptoms:
  • Recurrent sleep periods or lapses into sleep within a day.
  • Sleep episode of more than 9 hours per day that is not sufficiently refreshing.
  • Trouble being fully awake from the sleep and feeling of disorientation that lasts for a few minutes to hours.
  • Impairment in important areas of functioning due to excessive sleep i.e cognitive, social, occupational.

The symptoms are not attributable to the physiological effects of drug abuse or medication.

Hypersomnia is not better explained by other sleep-wake disorders i.e narcolepsy, circadian-rhythm sleep, parasomnia.

Other symptoms may include:

  • Headache
  • Loss of appetite 
  • Memory loss
  • Irritability
  • Cognitive impairment

Etiology of Hypersomnia

There can be several possible causes of hypersomnia which include:

  • Exposure to any environmental stress.
  • Alcohol use or drug abuse.
  • Any kind of head trauma or 
  • Genetics
  • Intake of prescribed drugs, for example, antihistamines, sedatives.
  • Major Depressive disorder.
  • Sleep deprivation.
  • Neurological disorders like Parkinson's and Multiple Sclerosis.
  • Obesity

Treatment of Hypersomnia

There are several treatments of hypersomnia depending on the specific cause:

Pharmacological treatment:

Certain drugs can be prescribed by the psychiatrist like Amphetamine, Modaphil, Methylphenidate which can regulate sleep.

Non-Pharmacological treatment:

  • Change in lifestyle for instance avoiding caffeine, alcohol, and certain activities (i.e working late at night, using excessive mobile) before going to bed. Moreover, making a regular sleep schedule may also improve symptoms.
  • Avoiding drugs that can disrupt sleep. 
In conclusion, Hypersomnia is characterized by excessive daytime sleepiness. In addition, a person does not feel refreshed when they wake up. Symptoms can vary from person to person. According to research, it can be treated with prescribed medications and a lifestyle change.

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