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In Idiopathic Hypersomnia (IH)

Good sleep outweighs more sleep

Despite sleeping 10 hours or more each night, some patients with IH struggle to get out of bed in the morning. Is nighttime sleep dysfunction the culprit? Or something else? What we do know is that the burden of IH goes far beyond excessive daytime sleepiness.1-3

Learn about the
night
& day connection

Isn't IH just excessive daytime sleepiness (EDS)?

No. It is much more than that. IH is classified in the International Classification of Sleep Disorders, 3rd Edition (ICSD-III), as a central disorder of hypersomnolence with distinct diagnostic criteria and clinical features, including , , cognitive impairment, long unrefreshing naps and prolonged sleep time.4

There are key symptoms to look for when diagnosing and managing IH.4

See 5 key symptoms

What treatments exist for IH?

There is an FDA-approved treatment for IH that may be right for your patients.

Get treatment info

What is IH really like?

Debilitating . Endless exhaustion. A risk to themselves and others. For many, the burden of IH goes far beyond excessive daytime sleepiness () and living daily life can be a struggle.1-3
Understand the burden

Why is IH so difficult to diagnose?

The symptoms of IH are similar to other conditions, including other sleep and psychiatric disorders, causing some patients to go undiagnosed or misdiagnosed for years. But, there are tools and resources that can help you confidently confirm an IH diagnosis.4,5

View diagnostic tools

What causes IH?

Although the exact cause of IH is unknown, several pathophysiological mechanisms have been proposed. Changes in sleep architecture may also be a contributor.6

See potential causes

References:

  1. Trotti LM. Waking up is the hardest thing I do all day: sleep inertia and sleep drunkenness. Sleep Med Rev. 2017;35:76-84.
  2. Vernet C, Leu-Semenescu S, Buzare MA, Arnulf I. Subjective symptoms in idiopathic hypersomnia: beyond excessive sleepiness. J Sleep Res. 2010;19(4):525-534.
  3. Pizza F, Jaussent I, Lopez R, et al. Car crashes and central disorders of hypersomnolence: a French study. PLoS One. 2015;10(6):e0129386.
  4. American Academy of Sleep Medicine. International Classification of Sleep Disorders. 3rd ed. Darien, IL: American Academy of Sleep Medicine; 2014.
  5. Masri TJ, Gonzales CG, Kushida CA. Idiopathic hypersomnia. Sleep Med Clin. 2012;283-289.
  6. Plante DT. Nocturnal sleep architecture in idiopathic hypersomnia: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Sleep Med. 2018;45:17-24.

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