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Stimulant medications (e.g., amphetamines) are often used to treat patients with hypersomnia. These drugs help prevent patients from falling asleep during work and social activities.

Patients may also lessen the impact hypersomnia has on their lives by making certain lifestyle and dietary changes. Avoiding consumption of alcohol and caffeine may help reduce symptoms of hypersomnia. Patients are generally advised to avoid night-shift work and to limit daytime naps to 45 minutes or less. However, patients with hypersomnia may continue to require above-average levels of sleep, even with treatment and lifestyle changes.

Other treatments may be recommended if a medical condition or other cause is found to be responsible for a patient’s symptoms. For example, patients diagnosed with sleep apnea may be advised to wear a special mask at night so that air can be continuously delivered to keep the airways open, helping to alleviate a patient’s symptoms. Patients whose hypersomnia is caused by the use of certain medications or drugs may find their symptoms go away after discontinuation of the substance causing the hypersomnia.

There is no known way to prevent primary hypersomnia (in which a cause is not identified). Preventing secondary hypersomnia (in which a cause is identified) involves taking steps to prevent its cause. For example, losing weight may help prevent sleep disorders such as hypersomnia in patients who are obese.