Somnolence

Somnolence is a state of drowsiness, an inclination toward sleep, or a condition of sleeping for abnormally long amounts of time. It is associated with a variety of both medical conditions and medications. Individuals experiencing somnolence may also be prone to microsleeps.

Conditions (causing or otherwise associated):

Advanced sleep phase syndrome (ASPS)
Atypical depression (AD)
Brain tumor
Bruxism
Cerebral hypoxia
Clinical depression
Delayed sleep phase syndrome (DSPS)
Dysautonomia
Encephalitis
Hydrocephalus
Hypothermia
Hypothyroidism
Increased intracranial pressure
Insomnia
Intracranial hemorrhage
Lyme disease
Myelofibrosis with myeloid metaplasia
Narcolepsy
Paget's disease
Seasonal affective disorder (SAD)
Sleep apnea
Sleep deprivation
Starvation
Stroke
Traumatic brain injury

Medication causes:

Not every medication in the following list will cause somnolence in every patient, and in some cases it may be only certain types of the medication.

Antidepressants
Analgesics
Antihistamines
Antipsocotics
Dopamine agonists for Parkinson's disease treatment
HIV medications
Hypertension medications
Hypnotics
Tranquilizers
Other medications affecting the central nervous system (CNS)

Diagnosis

Diagnosis of somnolence is made by a doctor or medical professional. One method of determining the level of excessive daytime sleepiness (EDS) is the Epworth sleepiness scale.

Treatment

Treatment for somnolence is normally symptomatic. Stimulant medications may be prescribed, commonly one such as modafinil, however the specific options may depend upon the location, the doctor prescribing, and the individual's case. Avoiding alcohol, caffeine, and working or staying up late into the night may also be beneficial in treatment or prevention of worse symptoms.

See also:

Dyssomnia
Fatigue
Hypersomnia
Insomnia
Microsleep
Radiation somnolence syndrome
Somnolence syndrome
Stupor

Synonyms and other key terms:

Drowsiness
Sleepiness

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Undiag - Undiagnosed Symptoms and Diseases

Somnolence