How to manage daytime sleepiness associated with Parkinson's disease

Excessive daytime sleepiness (EDS) is frequent in Parkinson's disease It should be explored by an Epworth sleepiness scale, a nighttime sleep recording and multiple sleep latency tests EDS can be secondary to disturbed nighttime sleep that should be explored first The main reasons for nighttime sleep disturbances are pain, nycturia, restless legs syndrome, obstructive sleep apnea syndrome and depression. They should be treated step by step EDS can also be secondary to antiparkinsonien dopaminergic treatments that can induce nighttime insomnia and/or daytime sleepiness sometimes with sleep attacks. Treatment modifications and, when indicated, deep brain stimulation can improve these symptoms Furthermore, EDS can be secondary to the disease itself modifying the sleep wake regulation systems: When the treatment of disturbed nighttime sleep and adjustments of the dopaminergic treatments are not sufficient to improve EDS, wake promoting treatments can be used. Their efficacy is variable but new hopeful drugs are coming soon (C) 2010 Published by Elsevier Masson SAS