this is the term used for a state of more or less permanent daytime drowsiness (despite lengthy night-time sleep), difficulty in waking, and unrefreshing naps (of up to 3-4 hours), and which has no identifiable cause
idiopathic hypersomnia thought to be less common than narcolepsy
a poorly understood syndrome in which excessive daytime sleepiness occurs despite adequate time asleep and after exclusion of other causes of excessive sleepiness such as hypothalamic disorders
diagnosis
requires thorough assessment in a specialist centre, including use of polysomnography and assessment of sleep latency
in the absence of a clear understanding of the pathogenesis of idiopathic hypersomnia, treatment is based on stimulant medications used in narcolepsy
Pitolisant may in the future become a management option for some patients (2)
Reference:
Drug and Therapeutics Bulletin (2004); 42(7):52-6.
Brown J, Makker KM. An approach to excessive daytime sleepiness in adults. BMJ 2020;368:m1047
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