Somnolence (patient information)
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Editor-in-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S.,M.D. [1] Phone:617-632-7753; Associate Editor-In-Chief: Lakshmi Gopalakrishnan, M.B.B.S.
Overview
Drowsiness refers to feeling abnormally sleepy during the day. People who are drowsy may fall asleep in inappropriate situations or at inappropriate times.
What are the symptoms of Somnolence?
- Excessive daytime sleepiness (without a known cause) suggests that you have a significant sleep disorder. It is different from fatigue.
- Depression, anxiety, stress, and boredom can all contribute to excessive sleepiness, but these conditions more typically cause fatigue and apathy.
What causes Somnolence?
- Having to work long hours or different shifts (nights, weekends)
- Medications (tranquilizers, sleeping pills, antihistamines)
- Medical conditions (such as hypothyroidism, hypercalcemia, and hyponatremia/hypernatremia)
- Not sleeping for long enough
- Sleep disorders (such as sleep apnea syndrome and narcolepsy)
When to seek urgent medical care?
Contact your health care provider if you think the cause of your drowsiness is from any of the above conditions.
Diagnosis
- The doctor will examine you to determine the cause of your drowsiness. The doctor will investigate your sleep patterns, and you'll have a psychological profile taken.
- You may be asked the following medical history questions about your drowsiness:
- Sleep pattern:
- How well do you sleep?
- How much do you sleep?
- Do you snore?
- Do you have episodes in which you do not breathe during sleep (sleep apnea)?
- Do you fall asleep during the day when you are not intending to nap (such as when watching TV or reading)?
- If so, do you awake feeling refreshed?
- How often does this happen?
- Other:
- What medications do you take?
- What have you done to try to relieve the drowsiness?
- How well did it work?
- What other symptoms do you have?
- Diagnostic tests that may be performed include:
- Blood tests (such as a CBC and blood differential, electrolytes, and thyroid hormone levels)
- CT scan of the head
- EEG
- Sleep studies
- Urine tests (such as a urinalysis)
- If your health care provider makes a diagnosis related to drowsiness, you may want to note that diagnosis in your personal medical record.
Treatment options
- You can relieve drowsiness by treating the cause of the problem. First, determine whether your fatigue is due to depression, anxiety, boredom, or stress. If you are not sure, talk with your health care provider.
- For drowsiness due to medications, talk to your health care provider about switching or stopping your medications. DO NOT CHANGE MEDICATIONS WITHOUT FIRST TALKING TO YOUR HEALTH CARE PROVIDER.
- Your health care provider can treat hypothyroidism, hypercalcemia, and hypo/hypernatremia.
- For drowsiness due to narcolepsy, your doctor may prescribe stimulants (such as Ritalin).
Where to find medical care for Somnolence?
Directions to Hospitals Treating Somnolence