Excessive Sleepiness - new drug

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Excessive Sleepiness (ES) Affects Up to Five Percent of Americans

New Drug Being Developed To Combat Symptoms of Sleep Deprivation March

2004 (Newstream)

For most Americans, the 9-5 workday is a distant memory. In fact,

mandatory overtime is nearing record levels, in spite of a recession.

Our 24-7 tiring work culture not only interferes with our family lives

-- it's also interfering with our health. Excessive Sleepiness (ES) is

affecting millions of Americans, despite it being a symptom of serious

disorders that are going undiagnosed and untreated.

It's estimated that ES occurs in up to five percent of the U.S.

population. ES is defined as difficulty in maintaining wakefulness and

an increased likelihood of falling asleep in inappropriate situations,

and it's more than an inconvenience -- it could be a symptom of a

serious medical condition. Excessive sleepiness is the primary symptom

-- and often the most debilitating feature -- associated with

obstructive sleep apnea, shift work sleep disorder and narcolepsy.

Researchers are now testing a new drug that may offer relief to people

suffering from ES. Clinical trials have just begun with the hope that

they will help Americans with these sleep disorders stay awake.

According to the National Sleep Foundation 2000 " Sleep in America "

Survey, 43 percent of respondents reported that ES interferes with their

daily activities, 30 percent reported that it interfered with their

jobs, 25 percent said it interferes with their family duties and 28

percent said it interferes with their social lives.

For more information, go to www.clinicaltrials.gov, Keyword: Excessive

Sleepiness.