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Idiopathic Hypersomnia (IH) is a type of rare sleep disorder. Individuals with IH feel excessively sleepy during the day. A person with IH feels sleepy even after getting a full night’s sleep. A person with IH also has difficulty waking up after sleeping. The difficulty in waking up happens even when an individual with idiopathic hypersomnia just had a nap. People with this sleep disorder also don’t find naps refreshing. This can affect a patient’s productivity at work.
The excessive sleepiness associated with this condition can strike anytime. It can strike even when a patient is active. These include instances when the person is performing activities like working or driving a motor vehicle. This makes idiopathic hypersomnia a potentially dangerous disorder.
What causes idiopathic hypersomnia?
The exact cause of idiopathic hypersomnia is unknown. In some cases doctors found an over-production of a small molecule that mimics the effects of an anesthetic or a sleeping pill.
The exact composition of this molecule is unknown. However, this molecule interacts with y-aminobutyric acid (GABA). GABA is a principal player in the brain mechanisms that control and promote sleep. This molecule enhances the sleep-inducing actions of GABA.
What are the symptoms of Idiopathic Hypersomnia?
Symptoms of idiopathic hypersomnia include:
- Chronic excessive daytime sleepiness
- Unrefreshing sleep that lasts 9 hours or more during a 24-hour period
- Difficulty waking up
- Non-refreshing daytime naps
- Headaches
- Problems with memory, concentration, and attention
There are also less-common symptoms of idiopathic hypersomnia. These include:
- Short sleep latency
- Reynaud’s disease
- Excessive sweating
- Sleep paralysis
- Sleep-related hallucinations
How is idiopathic hypersomnia treated?
The treatment for idiopathic hypersomnia is not for the disorder itself. The treatment targets excessive daytime sleepiness instead. There are no FDA-approved treatments for this disorder. Doctors often prescribe off-label use of medications for narcolepsy. These include:
- Wakefulness-promoting medications. These include armodafinil and modafinil
- Traditional psychostimulants. Examples are amphetamines, methylphenidate, and their derivatives.
The information on this website is not intended to replace a one-on-one relationship with a qualified health care professional and is not intended as medical advice. Read our full medical disclaimer.