EX-99.906CERT

          CERTIFICATION PURSUANT TO SECTION 906 OF THE SARBANES OXLEY ACT


I, Clifford E. Lai,  Principal  Executive  Officer of THE HYPERION  TOTAL RETURN
FUND, INC. (the "Fund"), certify that:

1.   The N-CSR of the Fund (the "Report")  fully complies with the  requirements
     of Section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934; and

2.   The information  contained in the Report fairly  presents,  in all material
     respects, the financial condition and results of operations of the Fund.

Dated:  February 6, 2004
                                       /s/ Clifford E. Lai
                                           -----------------------------------
                                           Clifford E. Lai
                                           Principal Executive Officer
                                           THE HYPERION TOTAL RETURN FUND, INC.

A signed  original of this written  statement  required by Section 906, or other
document authenticating, acknowledging, or otherwise adopting the signature that
appears in typed form within the  electronic  version of this written  statement
required by Section  906, has been  provided to THE HYPERION  TOTAL RETURN FUND,
INC. and will be retained by THE HYPERION TOTAL RETURN FUND,  INC. and furnished
to the Securities and Exchange Commission or its staff upon request.







         CERTIFICATION PURSUANT TO SECTION 906 OF THE SARBANES OXLEY ACT


I, Thomas F. Doodian,  Treasurer and Principal Financial Officer of THE HYPERION
TOTAL RETURN FUND, INC. (the "Fund"), certify that:

1.   The N-CSR of the Fund (the "Report")  fully complies with the  requirements
     of Section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934; and

2.   The information  contained in the Report fairly  presents,  in all material
     respects, the financial condition and results of operations of the Fund.

Dated:  February 6, 2004
                                  /s/ Thomas F. Doodian
                                      ---------------------------------------
                                      Thomas F. Doodian
                                      Treasurer and Principal Financial Officer
                                      THE HYPERION TOTAL RETURN FUND, INC.



A signed  original of this written  statement  required by Section 906, or other
document authenticating, acknowledging, or otherwise adopting the signature that
appears in typed form within the  electronic  version of this written  statement
required by Section  906, has been  provided to THE HYPERION  TOTAL RETURN FUND,
INC. and will be retained by THE HYPERION TOTAL RETURN FUND,  INC. and furnished
to the Securities and Exchange Commission or its staff upon request.