Sopite Syndrome Symptoms, Causes, Treatment

Sopite syndrome, also recognized as mild motion sickness syndrome, is a collection of symptoms that may last for hours to days after being exposed to motion stimuli. These symptoms include profound tiredness, exhaustion, apathy, anxiety, restlessness, agitation, lethargy, disinclination for work, sleep difficulties, and diminished involvement in teamwork. 

Yawning is a behavioral indicator of the beginning of sopite syndrome. Sadly, due to the syndrome's ambiguous symptoms and the possibility that it can develop without showing signs of a vegetative state, it is frequently overlooked. Sometimes, the symptoms are minor, making it easy to overlook the illness, while others, such as apathy and anxiety, might cause it to be misdiagnosed for something else.

There is a lack of knowledge about the sopite syndrome, which occurs as a result of motion. The key symptoms of the syndrome include drowsiness and mood swings. The sopite syndrome can happen on its own, without more obvious symptoms like nausea. It can last a long time, even after nausea goes away, and can make some people very sick. 

It is probably a different syndrome from "normal" motion sickness or everyday exhaustion, and it could be problematic in a variety of scenarios. This condition could be especially harmful in transportation settings where the person's productivity is already being hampered by factors like lack of sleep. It could also be a problem when illnesses like sleep disorders or depression interact with the syndrome and make it hard to figure out what's wrong.

Symptoms

There is a long list of symptoms that are connected with sopite syndrome, including the following:

• Fatigue and yawning
• Lack of energy
• Reduced ability to focus
• Disruptions in sleep
• Midday naps 
• Absence of group activity
• Absence of group activity

If these symptoms, together with nausea, are present, then it is clear that the patient is suffering from motion sickness. Sopite syndrome, however, may be the only noticeable symptom of motion sickness. It is also possible for it to come before nausea, which is typically brought on by heavier motions. Additionally, it may persist even after feeling sick or even when there is no nausea at all.

Causes

Vibrational and visually-induced motion sickness have both been linked to the sopite condition. Motion-induced tiredness may become more pronounced in the presence of other drowsiness-inducing elements like darkness or physical exhaustion. The sopite syndrome can happen even with a small amount of motion, but the effects are usually most noticeable in people who have been exposed to motion for longer periods of time. It can also last for a while after the motion has stopped.

It is believed that the sopite syndrome is a progressive illness. For example, if a person has the flu, a hangover might make the flu symptoms worse. A person who is ordinarily immune to motion sickness could get sick from motion sickness if they simultaneously have symptoms of the flu (or hangover-like symptoms).

Treatment

Many drugs used to treat common symptoms of motion sickness, like nausea, dizziness, etc., have ingredients that can make you feel sleepier. Motion sickness is frequently treated with antihistamines, however these medications have drowsiness and cognitive impairment as adverse effects. Despite the potential for drowsiness, anticholinergics like scopolamine have also shown promise in the fight against motion sickness. These treatments can be used with stimulants to stop nausea and dizziness caused by motion and to keep people from falling asleep.

There is a considerable risk for substance abuse because many stimulants have addictive characteristics. The regular sleep cycle can also be disrupted by some stimulants. Studies have been done on the drug modafinil as a potential treatment for the sopite syndrome. Unlike typical stimulants, modafinil does not appear to have the same negative side effects. Studies on the efficacy of modafinil alone as a treatment for motion sickness are still lacking. However, modafinil appears to work well when combined with anticholinergics like scopolamine.