
Do you feel sleepy during the day even after getting enough sleep at night? Daytime sleepiness can affect your productivity, work performance, and relationships.
While being tired occasionally isn’t really a big deal, persistence drowsiness can have serious effects on your health. It’s important to be aware of the signs of excessive daytime sleepiness and factors that may be causing it.
What are signs of excessive daytime sleepiness?
Signs of excessive daytime sleepiness include:
- Frequent yawning
- Heavy eyelids
- Powerful urge to doze off
While there are many causes, the most common are sleep deprivation or disorders, although medical and brain conditions may also be the culprit.
Sleepiness caused by sleep deprivation or disorders
Some of the common reasons for excessive daytime sleepiness include:
- Failure to prioritize sleep: Staying up late to watch TV or waking up early even though you haven’t gotten enough sleep can cause drowsiness that accumulates over time. Lack of sleep over an extended period can lead to insufficient sleep syndrome.
- Insomnia: Insomnia is a disorder that can make it difficult to fall asleep or stay asleep for as long as you need or want. It can lead to excessive daytime sleepiness.
- Sleep apnea: Obstructive sleep apnea is a breathing disorder where something that is blocking your air passage during the night disrupts your breathing and thus your sleep.
- Snoring: Snoring has often been linked to poor nighttime sleep quality due to frequent disruption in your sleep cycles.
- Restless leg syndrome: This is a condition that causes a strong urge to move one’s legs or other extremities, disrupting total sleep time and sleep quality.
- Poor sleep quality: Not getting enough sleep is not just about the amount of sleep but also the quality of sleep. People who don’t go through sleep cycles smoothly may not get enough deep sleep and may not wake up feeling refreshed even after sleeping for the recommended number of hours.
- Pain: Pain caused by arthritis, fibromyalgia, or herniated discs can complicate sleep and make a person drowsy during the day.
- Frequent nighttime urination: Also known as nocturia, frequent nighttime urination is when you need to wake up multiple times in the middle of the night to go pee.

SLIDESHOW
Sleep Disorders: Foods That Help Sleep or Keep You Awake See SlideshowSleepiness caused by other medical and brain conditions
Medications, mental health disorders, neurodegenerative diseases, neurodevelopmental disorders, and other health problems can cause daytime drowsiness.
- Medications may include:
- Sedatives
- Antidepressants
- Pain medications
- Antihistamines
- Mental health disorders may include:
- Neurodegenerative diseases may include:
- Dementia
- Parkinson’s disease
- Meningitis
- Encephalitis
- Neurodevelopmental disorders may include:
- Attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD)
- Autism spectrum disorder
- Other medical conditions may include:
- Diabetes
- Hypothyroidism
- Anemia
- Abnormal blood sodium levels
- Electrolyte imbalance
Top Why Do I Feel Sleepy All the Time? Related Articles
Insomnia Slideshow
What is insomnia? Insomnia by definition is trouble falling or staying asleep. Insomnia causes are varied. Learn 10 tips on how to get a good night's sleep and avoid sleep disorders such as insomnia.20 Tips to Beat Insomnia
Good sleep hygiene leads to better sleep. Avoid insomnia and sleep better by minimizing stress, exercising, and taking proper naps. Learn the health benefits of good sleep. Discover how pets, allergies, electronics, and other distractions can rob you of a good night's sleep.Benzodiazepines
Benzodiazepine is the name of a class of drugs in the US. They belong to a class of man-made drugs prescribed to treat anxiety, nervousness, panic attacks, seizures, muscle spasms, and insomnia. Lorazepam (Ativan), alprazolam (Xanax), and diazepam (Valium) are examples of benzodiazepines.Can You Recover from Years of Sleep Deprivation?
Learn what medical treatments can ease symptoms of sleep deprivation and help you recover from years of sleeping badly.Hypnotics (for Sleep) Medications
Hypnotics are sleep medications used to treat different types of insomnia. There are a variety of hypnotic drugs, and they are grouped into five types. Benzodiazepines, nonbenzodiazepines, selective melatonin agonists (these three drug types are classified as sedatives), antidepressants, and an orexin receptor agonist. Some hypnotics can be addictive and may cause withdrawal symptoms if discontinued abruptly.
The side effects of hypnotics depend upon the drug used, but they may include:- Drowsiness
- Hallucinations
- Headache
- Dry mouth
- Nausea
- Rebound insomnia
Other side effects may include:- Diarrhea
- Cough
- Hair loss
- Dry skin
- Upset stomach
- Abnormal dreams
- Fatigue
Hypnotics may have serious side effects and adverse effects, for example:- Abnormal thinking
- Suicidal thinking
- Sleep paralysis
- Anemia
- Sleep driving and other complex behavior
- Exfoliate dermatitis
Hypnotic drugs available over-the-counter (OTC) include diphenhydramine (Benadryl) and doxylamine (Unisom). Natural herbal supplements used for insomnia are melatonin and Valerian.
Do not drink alcohol while taking hypnotic drugs. Stimulants like caffeine or amphetamines reduce the effect of insomnia medications.
Your doctor or other health care professional will recommend the type of hypnotic drug for you depending upon the type of sleep problem you have, your current lifestyle habits, other medications you are taking, and any other medical problems you may have.
REFERENCES:
FDA. "Sleep Disorder (Sedative-Hypnotic) Drug Information." Updated: Jun 13, 2017.
Chawala, J, MD. "Insomnia Medication." Medscape. Updated: Aug 01, 2016.Is Hypersomnolence a Mental Disorder?
Hypersomnolence (hypersomnia) is not a mental disorder. Hypersomnolence is excessive daytime sleepiness despite getting adequate sleep (seven hours) during the night. Hypersomnolence can be caused by various factors, including medical conditions such as sleep apnea, narcolepsy, and restless leg syndrome. It can also be triggered by certain medications, lifestyle factors, sleep disorders, and insufficient sleep.modafinil
Modafinil is a drug prescribed for the treatment of excessive sleepiness associated with narcolepsy, obstructive sleep apnea, and shift work sleep disorder. The most common side effects of modafinil include headache, upper respiratory tract infection, nausea, nervousness, anxiety, and insomnia. Do not take modafinil if pregnant and consult your doctor before taking if breastfeeding.What Are the Signs and Symptoms of Sleep Deprivation?
How do you know if you are deprived of sleep? Learn the signs and symptoms of sleep deprivation.Sleep Disorders
A number of vital tasks carried out during sleep help maintain good health and enable people to function at their best. Sleep needs vary from individual to individual and change throughout your life. The National Institutes of Health recommend about 7-9 hours of sleep each night for older, school-aged children, teens, and most average adults; 10-12 for preschool-aged children; and 16-18 hours for newborns. There are two stages of sleep: 1) REM sleep (rapid-eye movement), and 2) NREM sleep (non-rapid-eye movement).Insomnia Treatment (Sleep Aids and Stimulants)
Insomnia is difficulty in falling or staying asleep, the absence of restful sleep, or poor quality of sleep. Insomnia is a symptom and not a disease. The most common causes of insomnia are medications, psychological conditions, environmental changes, and stressful events. Treatments may include non-drug treatments, over-the-counter medicines, and/or prescription medications.Sleep Apnea
Sleep apnea is defined as a reduction or cessation of breathing during sleep. The three types of sleep apnea are central apnea, obstructive apnea (OSA), and a mixture of central and obstructive apnea. Central sleep apnea is caused by a failure of the brain to activate the muscles of breathing during sleep. OSA is caused by the collapse of the airway during sleep. OSA is diagnosed and evaluated through patient history, physical examination and polysomnography. There are many complications related to obstructive sleep apnea. Treatments are surgical and non-surgical.Sleep Disorders: Insomnia, Sleep Apnea, and More
Learn about the different types of sleep/wake disorders such as insomnia, narcolepsy, and sleep apnea. Explore the symptoms, causes, tests and treatments of sleep disorders.Sleep Quiz
Take our Sleeping Quiz to learn which sleep disorders, causes, and symptoms rule the night. Trouble falling or staying asleep? Find out which medical treatments fight sleep deprivation, apnea, insomnia, and more!Sleep Deprivation
Think you may have sleep deprivation? Whether short term or long term, sleep deprivation can cause trouble. From weight gain to back pain to pimples, sleeplessness can play havoc on your body’s good health. Learn how sleep deprivation causes problems with vision, sex drive, concentration, and various other mental and physical tasks. Discover some tips to fight sleep deprivation as you learn how to spot the symptoms.Why Can't I Sleep Although I'm Tired?
Difficulty falling asleep despite being tired is a sign that the circadian rhythm may be off. It more commonly affects young individuals, and it is seen in people with chronic insomnia. Insomnia is defined as repeated difficulty with sleep initiation, maintenance, consolidation, or quality that occurs despite adequate time and opportunity for sleep and that results in some form of daytime impairment.Xywav (calcium, magnesium, potassium, sodium oxybates)
Xywav is a prescription medicine used to treat the symptoms of narcolepsy in adults and children 7 years of age or older. Serious side effects of Xywav include breathing problems, mental health problems, and sleepwalking.