DrowsinessSymptoms, Doctors, Treatments, Advances & More
Learn About Drowsiness
Drowsiness refers to feeling more sleepy than normal during the day. People who are drowsy may fall asleep when they do not want to or at times which can lead to safety concerns.
Sleepiness - during the day; Hypersomnia; Somnolence
Excessive daytime sleepiness (without a known cause) may be a sign of a sleep disorder.
Depression, anxiety, stress, and boredom can all contribute to excessive sleepiness. However, these conditions more often cause fatigue and apathy.
Drowsiness may be due to the following:
- Long-term (chronic) pain
- Diabetes
- Having to work long hours or different shifts (nights, weekends)
- Insomnia and other problems falling or staying asleep
- Changes in blood sodium levels (hyponatremia or hypernatremia)
- Medicines (tranquilizers, sleeping pills, antihistamines, certain painkillers, some psychiatric medicines)
- Not sleeping long enough
- Sleep disorders (such as sleep apnea and narcolepsy)
- Too much calcium in your blood (hypercalcemia)
- Underactive thyroid (hypothyroidism)
You can relieve drowsiness by treating the cause of the problem. First, determine whether your drowsiness is due to depression, anxiety, boredom, or stress. If you are not sure, talk with your health care provider.
For drowsiness due to medicines, talk to your provider about switching or stopping your medicines. But, do nots stop taking or change your medicine without first talking to your provider.
Do not drive when drowsy.
Your provider will examine you to determine the cause of your drowsiness. You will be asked about your sleep patterns and health. Questions may include:
- How well do you sleep?
- How much do you sleep?
- Do you snore?
- Do you fall asleep during the day when you do not plan to nap (such as when watching TV or reading)? If so, do you awake feeling refreshed? How often does this happen?
- Are you depressed, anxious, stressed, or bored?
- What medicines do you take?
- What have you done to try to relieve the drowsiness? How well did it work?
- What other symptoms do you have?
Tests that may be done include:
- Blood tests (such as a CBC and blood differential, blood sugar level, electrolytes, calcium, and thyroid hormone levels)
- CT or MRI scan of the head
- Electroencephalogram (EEG)
- Sleep studies
- Urine tests (such as a urinalysis)
Treatment depends on the cause of your drowsiness.
Emory Sleep Center
Lynn Trotti is a Sleep Medicine provider practicing medicine in Atlanta, Georgia. She has been practicing medicine for over 23 years. Dr. Trotti is rated as an Elite provider by MediFind in the treatment of Drowsiness. She is also highly rated in 12 other conditions, according to our data. Her clinical expertise encompasses Idiopathic Hypersomnia, Drowsiness, Excessive Daytime Sleepiness, Restless Legs Syndrome, and Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT). Dr. Trotti is board certified in American Board Of Psychiatry And Neurology, 2009.
Cleveland Clinic Main Campus
Nancy Foldvary is a Neurologist practicing medicine in Cleveland, Ohio. She has been practicing medicine for over 42 years. Dr. Foldvary is rated as an Elite provider by MediFind in the treatment of Drowsiness. She is also highly rated in 27 other conditions, according to our data. Her clinical expertise encompasses Narcolepsy, Drowsiness, Obstructive Sleep Apnea, and Idiopathic Hypersomnia. Dr. Foldvary is board certified in American Board Of Psychiatry And Neurology, 2013.
Advanced Respiratory And Sleep Medicine, PLLC
With over 21 years of experience as a licensed physician across North Carolina, South Carolina, and Ohio, I am dedicated to providing top-tier respiratory and sleep care to both adult and pediatric patients. To offer the most comprehensive care possible, I am uniquely board-certified in five specialties: Sleep Medicine, Pulmonary Disease, Critical Care, Internal Medicine, and Pediatrics.My clinical practice is driven by a deep passion for innovation. I hold an MS in Clinical Research from Case Western Reserve University and founded Stern Reach Partners to develop cutting-edge medical technologies. Through this work, I have served as the Principal Investigator on over 100 clinical trials for conditions like narcolepsy, COPD, asthma, and bronchiectasis.In 2010, my wife Asha and I founded Advanced Respiratory and Sleep Medicine, PLLC (ARSM) to bring expert care directly into our local communities. Since then, ARSM has become the trusted choice for referring physicians and area residents alike, and we have proudly treated more than 50,000 patients.I believe high-quality care should be easily accessible. That is why ARSM offers a premier At-Home Sleep Testing program, bypassing the stress and high costs of traditional, overnight hospital lab stays. We provide a highly affordable, insurance-friendly option with hassle-free scheduling and rapid results, fast-tracking your path to a better night's sleep. I look forward to working with you. Visit us at www.makesleepeasy.com. Dr. Stern is rated as an Elite provider by MediFind in the treatment of Drowsiness. He is also highly rated in 5 other conditions, according to our data. His clinical expertise encompasses Drowsiness, Narcolepsy, Excessive Daytime Sleepiness, and Obstructive Sleep Apnea. Dr. Stern is board certified in Sleep Medicine, Pulmonary Diseases, Critical Care Medicine, Internal Medicine, and Pediatrics. Dr. Stern is currently accepting new patients.
Summary: Narcolepsy without cataplexy or Narcolepsy Type 2 (NT2) is a lifelong condition that makes people very sleepy during the day, regardless of how much sleep they get at night. People with NT2 may fall asleep suddenly, have trouble staying awake during the day, or may not be able to sleep well at night. They may have difficulty thinking clearly, paying attention, or remembering things, during the day...
Summary: Narcolepsy is a sleep disorder that disrupts a person's regular sleep-wake cycle. It causes extreme sleepiness during the day (called excessive daytime sleepiness \[EDS\]), where a person may fall asleep without warning. Narcolepsy Type 1 (NT1) is a form of the condition in which people also have sudden, unexpected muscle weakness while staying conscious (called cataplexy). The main aim of this st...
Published Date: July 03, 2025
Published By: Linda J. Vorvick, MD, Clinical Professor Emeritus, Department of Family Medicine, UW Medicine, School of Medicine, University of Washington, Seattle, WA. Also reviewed by David C. Dugdale, MD, Medical Director, Brenda Conaway, Editorial Director, and the A.D.A.M. Editorial team.
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