Idiopathic hypersomnia

Diagnosis

To diagnose idiopathic hypersomnia, a healthcare provider will often inquire about the patient’s symptoms and review their personal medical history. Perhaps a physical examination will be included. In order to diagnose their medical condition or rule out other disorders that might be the source of their symptoms, the patient may undergo a number of tests. 

It’s important to talk about the family’s medical history and the medications they use. Idiopathic hypersomnia requires the patient to have extreme sleepiness on a daily basis for a minimum of three months in order to be diagnosed.  

Idiopathic hypersomnia may also be diagnosed with the help of these:  

• Epworth Sleepiness Scale: To ascertain how sleep impacts the patient’s day–to–day functioning, the healthcare provider could ask the patient to rate their level of tiredness using this technique.  
• Sleep diary: They could be asked to keep a sleep journal by the healthcare provider. To help show their sleep habits and quantity, patients should record their daily wake and sleep times in a log.  
• Polysomnogram: Patients spend the night in a sleep facility. During the patient’s sleep, a polysomnogram records their heart rate, respiration patterns, eye and leg movements, brain activity, and oxygen saturation. (1,2)  
• Multiple sleep latency test: Multiple daily naps are provided to the patient, and during these naps, measurements are taken to reveal the different types and stages of sleep the patient experiences. Usually, a polysomnogram is performed the day following this test.  

Treatment  

Idiopathic hypersomnia is a sleep disorder that causes excessive daytime sleepiness even after a full night’s sleep. The cause of idiopathic hypersomnia is unknown, but there are treatments that can help to control symptoms. These treatments may include stimulant medications, such as modafinil, which can help to increase alertness and reduce daytime sleepiness. Other medications that may be prescribed include sodium oxybate, clarithromycin, and methylphenidate. Recently, a drug containing lower–sodium oxybate was approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration for the treatment of idiopathic hypersomnia in adults. In addition to medication, lifestyle changes such as developing a regular nighttime sleep schedule and avoiding alcohol and medications that can affect sleep can also help to manage symptoms.