What causes a person to sleep too much?

Sleeping too much or having excessive sleepiness during the day can occur due to several conditions, including narcolepsy, sleep apnea, restless leg syndrome and depression. A person’s lifestyle can also influence sleeping habits; the use of specific medications, little to no physical activity and obesity can all cause excessive sleepiness.

Narcolepsy is a sleep disorder that causes daylight sleeping and cataplexy, which is a short period of time where the body losses control of the muscles. The body can become weak or collapse with fatigue, notes WebMD. Antidepressants, stimulants and sodium oxybate are prescribed to help with the effects of narcolepsy.