Learn about Kleine-Levin syndrome, a disorder characterized by recurring episodes of excessive sleep (up to 20 hours per day). Associated symptoms include ...Kleine-LevinSyndromeCenterCausesofFatigueSlideshowPicturesSleepQuiz:TestYourMedicalIQSleepSlideshow:FoodsThatHelporHarmYourSleepPatientComments:Kleine-LevinSyndrome-SymptomsPatientComments:Kleine-LevinSyndrome-TreatmentPatientComments:Kleine-LevinSyndrome-ExperienceFindalocalSleepSpecialistinyourtownWhatisKleine-Levinsyndrome?WhatarethesymptomsofKleine-Levinsyndrome?IsthereanytreatmentforKleine-Levinsyndrome?WhatistheprognosisforKleine-Levinsyndrome?WhatresearchisbeingdoneonKleine-Levinsyndrome?ClinicaltrialsonKleine-LevinsyndromeFormoreinformationWhatisKleine-Levinsyndrome?Kleine-Levinsyndromeisararedisorderthatprimarilyaffectsadolescentmales(approximately70percentofthosewithKleine-Levinsyndromearemale).WhatarethesymptomsofKleine-Levinsyndrome?ReadersComments1ShareYourStoryItischaracterizedbyrecurringbutreversibleperiodsofexcessivesleep(upto20hoursperday).Symptomsoccuras"episodes,"typicallylastingafewdaystoafewweeks.Episodeonsetisoftenabrupt,andmaybeassociatedwithflu-likesymptoms.Excessivefoodintake,irritability,childishness,disorientation,hallucinations,andanabnormallyuninhibitedsexdrivemaybeobservedduringepisodes.Moodcanbedepressedasaconsequence,butnotacause,ofthedisorder.Affectedindividualsarecompletelynormalbetweenepisodes,althoughtheymaynotbeabletorememberafterwardseverythingthathappenedduringtheepisode.Itmaybeweeksormorebeforesymptomsreappear.Symptomsmayberelatedtomalfunctionofthehypothalamusandthalamus,partsofthebrainthatgovernappetiteandsleep.IsthereanytreatmentforKleine-Levinsyndrome?ReadersComments1ShareYourStoryThereisnodefinitivetreatmentforKleine-Levinsyndromeandwatchfulwaitingathome,ratherthanpharmacotherapy,ismostoftenadvised.Stimulantpills,includingamphetamines,methylphenidate,andmodafinil,areusedtotreatsleepinessbutmayincreaseirritabilityandwillnotimprovecognitiveabnormalities.Becauseofsimilar