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Excessive Daytime Sleepiness (EDS)

What is excessive daytime sleepiness (EDS)?

It is a sleep disorder. People who have EDS feel very drowsy during the day and have an overwhelming urge to fall asleep, even after getting enough nighttime sleep. They often doze, nap, or fall asleep in situations where they need or want to be awake and alert. This can be dangerous when driving a car or operating machinery. This disorder is also called hypersomnia or somnolence.

How does it occur?

EDS is not caused by sleep deprivation. If you feel tired or sluggish during the day because you are not getting a normal amount of sleep, you do not have EDS. EDS is usually caused by a physical condition such as:

a tumor, head trauma, or injury to the central nervous system

another sleep disorder such as narcolepsy or sleep apnea

medicines such as tranquilizers and sleeping pills

drug or alcohol abuse

heredity

withdrawal from caffeine, alcohol, or stimulants.

Medical conditions including multiple sclerosis, depression, encephalitis, epilepsy, or obesity may contribute to the disorder. Sometimes there is no known cause.

EDS is most common in teenagers and young adults.

What are the symptoms? Symptoms include:

constant sleepiness

frequent napping

long nighttime sleeping

irritability

mild depression

memory loss

lack of concentration.

People with this disorder may feel frustrated and angry because others think they are lazy or uninterested. Excessive Daytime Sleepiness may cause problems in the workplace and with family and friends.

How is it diagnosed?

If you sleep poorly for a month or more, or if you find sleepiness during the day interferes with normal tasks, see your healthcare provider. You may be asked to visit a sleep center so your sleep can be monitored.

The most common test for EDS is a polysomnogram. This test is not painful. Before you go to sleep, dime-sized sensors are placed on your head and body to record brain waves, muscle activity and movement, heartbeat, and breathing

You may also be given the multiple sleep latency test (MSLT) to see how quickly you fall asleep, a good measure of daytime sleepiness. For the MSLT, you will be asked to take several naps during the test period.

You might also have the maintenance of wakefulness test (MWT). The MWT is similar to an MSLT except that you are asked to stay awake instead of napping during the test.

How is it treated?

Your treatment depends on what is causing the Excessive Daytime Sleepiness. If it is caused by a medical condition, treating the medical condition may take care of the sleep problem. If it is caused by medicines, your dosage or prescription may be adjusted. You may be prescribed stimulant medicine such as methylphenidate (Ritalin), amphetamine/dextroamphetamine (Adderall), or modafinil (Provigil). Lifelong treatment may be needed.

For more information, contact:

National Sleep Foundation 1522 K Street, NW, Suite 500 Washington, DC 20005 (202) 347-3471

Web site: http://www.sleepfoundation.org

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Published by McKesson Corporation.

This content is reviewed periodically and is subject to change as new health information becomes available. The information is intended to inform and educate and is not a replacement for medical evaluation, advice, diagnosis or treatment by a healthcare professional.

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