Drowsiness

Alternative names:

hypersomnia; sleepiness (during the day); somnolence

Definition:

Feeing abnormally sleepy or drowsy; often with a strong tendency to actually fall asleep in inappropriate situations or at inappropriate times.

Considerations:

Excessive daytime sleepiness (without a known cause) suggests the presence of a significant sleep disorder and is different from fatigue.

Depression, anxiety, stress, and boredom are commonly thought to cause excessive sleepiness, but in fact these conditions cause fatigue and apathy.

Common causes:

• self-imposed short sleep time
• medications (tranquilizers, sleeping pills, antihistamines)
• sleep disorders (such as sleep apnea syndrome and narcolepsy)

Note: There may be other causes of hypersomnia. This list is not all inclusive, and the causes are not presented in order of likelihood. The causes of this symptom can include unlikely diseases and medications. Furthermore, the causes may vary based on age and gender of the affected person, as well as on the specific characteristics of the symptom such as location, quality, time course, aggravating factors, relieving factors, and associated complaints. Use the Symptom Analysis option to explore the possible explanations for hypersomnia, occurring alone or in combination with other problems.