Idiopathic Hypersomnia
Idiopathic hypersomnia (IH) is a neurological sleep disorder that can affect many aspects of a person's life. Symptoms often begin between adolescence and young adulthood and develop over weeks to months. People with IH have a hard time staying awake and alert during the day (chronic excessive daytime sleepiness, or EDS). They may fall asleep unintentionally or at inappropriate times, interfering with daily functioning. They may also have difficulty waking up from nighttime sleep or daytime naps. Sleeping longer at night does not appear to improve daytime sleepiness. IH is a chronic disorder. Symptoms may remain generally stable over time, or severity may fluctuate over time.
The cause of IH is not known. Some people with IH have other family members with a sleep disorder such as IH or narcolepsy. Currently there is no treatment approved by the FDA specifically for IH, but some people may be helped by medications used to treat other disorders ("off-label") such as narcolepsy. Unlike in narcolepsy, in which scheduled naps may help, daytime naps in people with IH are often long yet unrefreshing. People with IH may experience improvement with medication; however, medications do not work well for all people or may stop working over time.
The cause of IH is not known. Some people with IH have other family members with a sleep disorder such as IH or narcolepsy. Currently there is no treatment approved by the FDA specifically for IH, but some people may be helped by medications used to treat other disorders ("off-label") such as narcolepsy. Unlike in narcolepsy, in which scheduled naps may help, daytime naps in people with IH are often long yet unrefreshing. People with IH may experience improvement with medication; however, medications do not work well for all people or may stop working over time.