If you live with sleep apnea or sleep next to someone who does, you may wonder if there’s a pill that could make it go away.
There are no medications to treat obstructive sleep apnea but those most helpful for treating OSA are the medications that help with weight loss--the leading risk factor for OSA.
Right now, the most common way to treat this sleep disorder is a CPAP (continuous positive airway pressure) machine. Wearing this face mask while you sleep helps keep your airway open and prevents dangerous pauses in your breathing.
CPAP machines can be extremely helpful, but not everyone likes using them. There are other options such as an auto-CPAP which automatically adjusts the pressure while you're sleeping. Bilevel positive airway pressure (BPAP) units provide more pressure when you inhale and less when you exhale. Yet another option is wearing an oral appliance designed to keep your throat open. While a CPAP is more reliable and effective than oral appliances, oral appliances might be easier to use.
While there’s no drug yet that can replace a CPAP -- or cure sleep apnea -- some medications help relieve symptoms of sleep apnea or other conditions that often arise alongside it.
These are some of the medications that might help:
Stimulants. Stimulants like modafinil (Provigil) and armodafinil (Nuvigil) can help reduce daytime sleepiness, a common side effect of sleep apnea.
Weight loss drugs. People who are overweight or obese are more likely to have sleep apnea. Extra weight adds pressure to your upper airway and your chest wall. If you’ve tried a weight loss program and your BMI is 27 or higher, your doctor may prescribe an anti-obesity drug. It’s unclear how much these types of drugs help. Lifestyle changes like getting more exercise and watching what you eat are still key to weight loss.
Hormones. Aging raises your risk for sleep apnea. For women, a drop in the female hormone estrogen could play a part, too.
Allergy and asthma drugs. Getting your allergies under control can help improve mild sleep apnea.
Nasal decongestants. A nasal decongestant before bed could help keep your nasal passages open. Ask your doctor which product to use and how long it’s safe to use them. These types of drugs are often best for short-term use.
Acetazolamide (AZT). Some early studies show that this drug, which is already used for other conditions like glaucoma and epilepsy, may help sleep apnea. AZT causes you to breathe more deeply, so you take in larger amounts of oxygen. It could help your CPAP work better, too.
But, because it can cause side effects, interfere with other drugs, and make some health problems, like liver and kidney disease, worse, it won’t be right for everyone.
Medications That Don't Help
Many medications can make sleep apnea worse, including:
- Barbiturates
- Benzodiazepines
- Some beta-blockers
- Opioids
- Sildenafil (an erectile dysfunction drug)
- Testosterone
- Drugs that cause you to gain weight