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Excessive daytime sleepiness (hypersomnia) is a condition where people fall asleep repeatedly during the day.
Excessive daytime sleepiness (hypersomnia) is different from feeling tired all the time.
If you have hypersomnia, you may:
To find out why you're sleeping excessively, a GP might:
Treatment for excessive sleepiness will depend on what's causing it. It may include medicine to help keep you awake.
Sometimes other conditions may be related to excessive sleepiness (hypersomnia). These conditions can have additional symptoms.
| Additional symptoms | Possible cause |
|---|---|
|
Additional symptoms
Feeling the need to sleep anywhere, sometimes without warning |
Possible cause |
|
Additional symptoms
Loud snorting, breathing and snoring at night |
Possible cause |
|
Additional symptoms
An unusual feeling in your legs, particularly at night |
Possible cause |
|
Additional symptoms
Low mood, little interest in things |
Possible cause |
|
Additional symptoms
Mood swings that range from extreme highs (mania) to extreme lows |
Possible cause |
|
Additional symptoms
Problems recovering after physical activity, problems with thinking, memory or concentration |
Possible cause
Myalgic encephalomyelitis or chronic fatigue syndrome (ME/CFS) |
Some medicines, drinking too much alcohol and taking drugs can also cause excessive daytime sleepiness.
Idiopathic hypersomnia is when someone sleeps for long periods and wakes up feeling confused or irritable (known as sleep inertia) and not refreshed.
There's no known cause for idiopathic hypersomnia.
Changing your sleep habits may not cure excessive daytime sleepiness (hypersomnia), but it might help you feel better.
Try to:
It might also help to talk to your family and friends about your excessive daytime sleepiness so they're aware of it.
If you're diagnosed with hypersomnia you'll need to tell the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA) and you may not be able to drive.
Find out about the rules on excessive sleepiness and driving from GOV.UK
