Somnolence (alternatively "sleepiness" or "drowsiness") is a state of strong desire for sleep, or sleeping for unusually long periods (compare hypersomnia). It has distinct meanings and causes. It can refer to the usual state preceding falling asleep, the condition of being in a drowsy state due to circadian rhythm disorders, or a symptom of other health problems. It can be accompanied by lethargy, weakness, and lack of mental agility.
Somnolence is often viewed as a symptom rather than a disorder by itself. However, the concept of somnolence recurring at certain times for certain reasons constitutes various disorders, such as excessive daytime sleepiness, shift work sleep disorder, and others; and there are medical codes for somnolence as viewed as a disorder.
Sleepiness can be dangerous when performing tasks that require constant concentration, such as driving a vehicle. When a person is sufficiently fatigued, microsleeps may be experienced.
The word "somnolence" is derived from the Latin "somnus" meaning "sleep."
Circadian rhythm ("biological clock") disorders are a common cause of drowsiness as are a number of other conditions such as sleep apnea, insomnia, and narcolepsy. The body clock disorders are classified as extrinsic (externally caused) or intrinsic. The former type is, for example, shift work sleep disorder, which affects people who work nights or rotating shifts. The intrinsic types include:
Advanced sleep phase disorder (ASPD) – A condition in which patients feel very sleepy and go to bed early in the evening and wake up very early in the morning
Delayed sleep phase disorder (DSPD) – Faulty timing of sleep, peak period of alertness, the core body temperature rhythm, hormonal and other daily cycles such that they occur a number of hours late compared to the norm, often misdiagnosed as insomnia
Non-24-hour sleep–wake disorder – A faulty body clock and sleep-wake cycle that usually is longer than (rarely shorter than) the normal 24-hour period causing complaints of insomnia and excessive sleepiness
Irregular sleep–wake rhythm – Numerous naps throughout the 24-hour period, no main nighttime sleep episode and irregularity from day to day
Sleepiness can also be a response to infection. Such somnolence is one of several sickness behaviors or reactions to infection that some theorize evolved to promote recovery by conserving energy while the body fights the infection using fever and other means. Other causes include:
Hypothyroidism – The body doesn't produce enough hormones that control how cells use energy
Hypermagnesaemia
Low blood sodium – Hyponatremia
Hypercalcemia – Too much calcium in the blood
Meningitis
Head Injury
Concussion – A mild traumatic brain injury
Narcolepsy – Disorder of the nervous system
Brain tumor
Skull fractures
Chronic pains
Diabetes
Fibromyalgia
Sleeping sickness – caused by a specific parasite
Mood disorders – Depression, Anxiety, Stress
analgesics – mostly prescribed or illicit opiates such as OxyContin or heroin
anticonvulsants / antiepileptics – such as phenytoin (Dilantin), carbamazepine (Tegretol), Lyrica (pregbalin), Gabapentin
antidepressants – for instance sedating tricyclic antidepressants, and mirtazapine. Somnolence is less common with SSRIs and SNRIs as well as MAOIs.
antihistamines – for instance, diphenhydramine (Benadryl, Nytol) and doxylamine (Unisom-2)
antipsychotics – for example, thioridazine, quetiapine (Seroquel), olanzapine (Zyprexa), risperidone, and ziprasidone (Geodon) but not haloperidol
dopamine agonists used in the treatment of Parkinson's disease – e.g. pergolide, ropinirole and pramipexole.
HIV medications – such as efavirenz
hypertension medications – such as amlodipine
tranquilizers / hypnotics – such as zopiclone (Zimovane), or the benzodiazepines such as diazepam (Valium) or nitrazepam (Mogadon) and the barbiturates, such as amobarbital (Amytal) or secobarbital (Seconal)
other agents impacting the central nervous system in sufficient or toxic doses
A number of diagnostic tests, including the Epworth Sleepiness Scale, are available to help ascertain the seriousness and likely causes of abnormal somnolence.
Somnolence is a symptom, so the treatment will depend on its cause. If the cause is the behavior and life choices of the patient (like working long hours, smoking, mental state), it may help to get plenty of rest and get rid of distractions. It’s also important to investigate what’s causing the problem, such as stress or anxiety, and take steps to reduce the feeling.
Alice in Wonderland syndrome
brain edema
cerebral hypoxia
chronic fatigue syndrome
circadian rhythm sleep disorders
clinical depression, including seasonal affective disorder (SAD)
dehydration
diabetes – ketoacidosis as an example, but not balanced diabetes mellitus
encephalitis – (viral, bacterial or other agents)
encephalopathy – (hepatic, uremic or other causes)
epilepsy – after seizure
fibromyalgia
hydrocephalus
hyperparathyroidism
hypothermia
hypothyroidism
idiopathic hypersomnia
infectious mononucleosis (glandular fever)
intracranial hemorrhage such as due to ruptured aneurysms
increased intracranial pressure; for example, due to brain tumors
lyme disease (borreliosis)
medications
narcolepsy
sickness behavior
sleep apnea
sleep deprivation
starvation
stroke
traumatic brain injury
African trypanosomiasis ("sleeping sickness")
