What Causes Sleepiness and fatigue?
Sleepiness can be dangerous when performing tasks that require constant concentration, such as driving a vehicle. Although patients with this condition often complain of "fatigue," excessive sleepiness is different from fatigue, which is characterized by low energy and the need to rest, but not sleep.
Excessive sleepiness and fatigue are not a disorder in itself--it is a serious symptom that can have many different causes.
- Not enough sleep
- Sleep apnea
- Insomnia
- Restless legs syndrome
- Periodic limb disorder
- Parasomnia
- Narcolepsy
1.Sleep related problems
- Depression
- Brain tumor
- Chronic pain
- Diabetes
- Fibromyalgia
- Head injury
- Hypothyroidism
- Heart disease
- Infection
2.Medically and Mentally related problems
Some of medical and mental conditions can cause daytime sleepiness and fatigue
- Anticonvulsants / antiepileptics: such as phenytoin, carbamazepine, Pregabalin and Gabapentin
- Analgesics: mostly prescribed opiates such as oxycodone and morphine
- Antidepressants: Sedating tricyclic antidepressants, and mirtazapine
- Antihistamines: diphenhydramine (Benadryl) and doxylamine (Unisom-2)
- Antipsychotics: Quetiapine (Seroquel), Olanzapine (Zyprexa), Risperidone, and Geodon
- Hypertension medications- such as amlodipine
- Tranquilizers/ hypnotics- such as the benzodiazepines such as diazepam (Valium), Ambien
3. Medications
Some of medications can cause daytime sleepiness and fatigue.
What are treatments for sleepiness and fatigue?
sleepiness and fatigue are a symptom, so the treatment will depend on its cause. If the cause is the behavior and life choices of the patient (like lack of sleep), it may help to get at least 7 to 8 hours of sleep a day. It is also important to investigate what is causing this symptom.
