If you find that drowsiness is an obstacle to your meditation, you may be interested in the article Waking Up from the Hindrance of Sloth and Torpor. In it, Bodhipaksa (whose brief biography can be found at the bottom of the page) discusses the Buddha's own advice on dealing with sloth and torpor. If you don't have time to read Bodhipaksa's helpful commentary in the article, here are the excerpted words that the Buddha used in his discussion with Moggallana, a disciple who was caught nodding during meditation. Notice that in the end (which is not exactly the end, as you can see in the full Capala Sutra), the Buddha simply recommends that unshakeable tiredness calls for a nap.
As he was sitting there, the Blessed One said to Ven. Maha Moggallana, "Are you nodding, Moggallana? Are you nodding?"
"Yes, lord."
"Well then, Moggallana, whatever perception you have in mind when drowsiness descends on you, don't attend to that perception, don't pursue it. It's possible that by doing this you will shake off your drowsiness.
"But if by doing this you don't shake off your drowsiness, then recall to your awareness the Dhamma as you have heard & memorized it, re-examine it & ponder it over in your mind. It's possible that by doing this you will shake off your drowsiness.
"But if by doing this you don't shake off your drowsiness, then repeat aloud in detail the Dhamma as you have heard & memorized it. It's possible that by doing this you will shake off your drowsiness.
"But if by doing this you don't shake off your drowsiness, then pull both your earlobes and rub your limbs with your hands. It's possible that by doing this you will shake off your drowsiness.
"But if by doing this you don't shake off your drowsiness, then get up from your seat and, after washing your eyes out with water, look around in all directions and upward to the major stars & constellations. It's possible that by doing this you will shake off your drowsiness.
"But if by doing this you don't shake off your drowsiness, then attend to the perception of light, resolve on the perception of daytime, [dwelling] by night as by day, and by day as by night. By means of an awareness thus open & unhampered, develop a brightened mind. It's possible that by doing this you will shake off your drowsiness.
"But if by doing this you don't shake off your drowsiness, then — percipient of what lies in front & behind — set a distance to meditate walking back & forth, your senses inwardly immersed, your mind not straying outwards. It's possible that by doing this you will shake off your drowsiness.
"But if by doing this you don't shake off your drowsiness, then — reclining on your right side — take up the lion's posture, one foot placed on top of the other, mindful, alert, with your mind set on getting up. As soon as you wake up, get up quickly, with the thought, 'I won't stay indulging in the pleasure of lying down, the pleasure of reclining, the pleasure of drowsiness.' That is how you should train yourself._____________________________________________________________
"Waking Up from the Hindrance of Sloth and Torpor." Wildmind Buddhist Meditation, 06 December 2011, http://www.wildmind.org/blogs/on-practice/waking-up-from-the-hindrance-of-sloth-and-torpor. Retrieved on 2 February 2012.
"Capala (Pacala) Sutta: Nodding" (AN 7.58), translated from the Pali by Thanissaro Bhikkhu. Access to Insight, 22 November 2010, http://www.accesstoinsight.org/tipitaka/an/an07/an07.058.than.html . Retrieved on 2 February 2012.
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