Living with Idiopathic Hypersomnia Leaves You Counting Sheep

A persistent feeling of sleepiness can greatly impact your quality of life. In addition to intense daytime sleepiness and excessive periods of sleep at night, this constant feeling of lethargy can lead to anxiety, irritability, decreased energy, loss of appetite, hallucinations and memory loss.

Idiopathic hypersomnia can be dangerous if left untreated. Sufferers can fall asleep during conversations, while at work, and even while driving.

However, there are medications and behavior modifications that can control the symptoms and allow you to enjoy normal activities without the fear of "nodding off."

In this article, we'll show you how to recognize the symptoms of this disorder and explore the treatments available.

Patients suffering from Insomnia often lose the ability to function in family, social and occupational settings. The condition most commonly impacts teenagers, young adults and people who are overweight. This can exacerbate their weight problems, as their excessive sleep patterns means that they will use less energy.

In addition to excessive sleepiness and long nighttime sleeping, symptoms include irritability, mild depression and difficulty concentrating. For this reason, people with hypersomnia should be cautious when driving or operating machinery.

Kleine-Levin syndrome is a form of hypersomnia that features slightly different symptoms. Sufferers may sleep for eighteen or more hours a day and are irritable, uninhibited, and make indiscriminate sexual advances. People with Kleine-Levin syndrome often eat uncontrollably and rapidly gain weight. However, this form of recurrent hypersomnia is very rare.

Recurring Insomnia involves periods of excessive daytime sleepiness that can last from one to many days, and recur over the course of a year or more. With recurring hypersomnia, a person will have prolonged periods where they do not exhibit any signs of the malady. However, persons experiencing idiopathic hypersomnia are affected by it nearly all the time.

There is no known cure for idiopathic hypersomnia, but a combination of lifestyle modifications and medication can help. Reducing your intake of caffeine and alcohol, and adhering to a regular sleep schedule will help reduce somnolence.

In addition to behavioral changes, your doctor may prescribe drugs such as Provigi, Ritalin and various amphetamines to combat daytime sleepiness. However, it's important to closely monitor your reaction to these medications. Nervousness, heart palpitations and addiction are common side effects.

Provigi is a newer stimulant that isn't as addictive as other medications and doesn't produce the highs and lows often associated with other drugs. Amphetamines, while effective, can cause nervousness and heart palpitations in some patients.

Sleep deprivation or excessive sleeping can impact both your health and quality of life, so it's important to see a doctor if you suspect that you are suffering from a sleep disorder. Because idiopathic hypersomnia can have dangerous consequences, it must be treated as soon as possible. A sleep disorder center can give you great medical care and support so that the condition doesn't prevent you from participating in all of the activities that you normally enjoy.