What is it? This condition causes you to feel an excessive level of sleepiness. It results from the abuse of alcohol, street drugs, or even properly prescribed drugs from your doctor. People with this problem usually abuse sleeping pills, or sedatives, and also alcohol.
This condition causes you to feel an excessive level of sleepiness. It results from the abuse of alcohol, street drugs, or even properly prescribed drugs from your doctor. People with this problem usually abuse sleeping pills, or sedatives, and also alcohol.
Who gets it? Only people who use drugs or alcohol can get this problem. People with this problem tend to abuse drugs or alcohol in excessive amounts. This abuse often occurs on a daily basis.
Only people who use drugs or alcohol can get this problem. People with this problem tend to abuse drugs or alcohol in excessive amounts. This abuse often occurs on a daily basis.
How do I know if I have it? Do you suffer from severe daytime sleepiness, excessive napping or excessive sleep at night? Are you using or have you recently stopped using drugs, medications or alcohol? If you answered yes to these questions, then you might have hypersomnia due to drug or substance. It is also important to know if there is something else that is causing your sleep problem. It may be a result of one of the following: Another sleep disorder A medical condition A mental health disorder
If you answered yes to these questions, then you might have hypersomnia due to drug or substance.
It is also important to know if there is something else that is causing your sleep problem. It may be a result of one of the following:
Do I need to see a sleep specialist? Your primary care doctor should be able to tell if you have a sleep problem due to drugs and alcohol. But first you must give a complete factual history to the doctor. A sleep specialist is unlikely to be needed. He or she may become involved if another sleep disorder is a suspected cause of your sleepiness. Symptoms that would point to another sleep disorder include the following: Snoring Gasping for breath while asleep Making choking sounds during sleep Kicking while asleep
Your primary care doctor should be able to tell if you have a sleep problem due to drugs and alcohol. But first you must give a complete factual history to the doctor. A sleep specialist is unlikely to be needed. He or she may become involved if another sleep disorder is a suspected cause of your sleepiness. Symptoms that would point to another sleep disorder include the following:
What will the doctor need to know? The doctor really needs to know the truth. The doctor needs a complete history of your drug or substance use. You must not hide how often you abuse drugs or alcohol. You must also reveal the amounts of drugs or alcohol that you use. Only with this complete history can the doctor determine if drugs and alcohol are causing your sleep problems.
The doctor really needs to know the truth. The doctor needs a complete history of your drug or substance use. You must not hide how often you abuse drugs or alcohol. You must also reveal the amounts of drugs or alcohol that you use. Only with this complete history can the doctor determine if drugs and alcohol are causing your sleep problems.
Will I need to take any tests? Usually a complete history is all that is needed to diagnose this problem. It is unlikely that an overnight sleep study or other testing will be necessary. A sleep study is likely to be performed if you have symptoms such as choking, kicking or snoring. The doctor might need to do blood and urine testing to check for abused substances in your bloodstream. These tests should not be needed if you describe no drug or alcohol abuse in your medical history.
Usually a complete history is all that is needed to diagnose this problem. It is unlikely that an overnight sleep study or other testing will be necessary. A sleep study is likely to be performed if you have symptoms such as choking, kicking or snoring. The doctor might need to do blood and urine testing to check for abused substances in your bloodstream. These tests should not be needed if you describe no drug or alcohol abuse in your medical history.
How is it treated? Drug and alcohol abuse is treated most often by refraining completely from using the substance. This can be very hard to do after years of substance abuse. But this drastic step is needed when the substance abuse causes daytime symptoms. Your doctor can provide you with extra help to make this change in your life. Attending a support group will also help you avoid using these substances. By David A. Kristo, MD Updated January 11, 2006
Drug and alcohol abuse is treated most often by refraining completely from using the substance. This can be very hard to do after years of substance abuse. But this drastic step is needed when the substance abuse causes daytime symptoms. Your doctor can provide you with extra help to make this change in your life. Attending a support group will also help you avoid using these substances. By David A. Kristo, MD Updated January 11, 2006
