Could a Sleep Apnea Pill Replace Your CPAP Machine? New Research Is Promising
Find out how the oral pill works and when it might be available in the U.S.
If you’ve been diagnosed with sleep apnea, you likely already know that a continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) device is considered the gold-standard treatment. And while that’s true, it can sometimes be cumbersome to wear and may trigger side effects like dry mouth or nasal congestion if it’s not fitted properly. If that sounds familiar, there’s hope on the horizon. Researchers found that a new sleep apnea pill may dramatically reduce breathing pauses overnight. Keep reading to learn more about how it works and when it might be available.
What is sleep apnea?
“Sleep apnea is an issue where breathing continuously stops and starts during sleep,” explains Raj Dasgupta, MD, Chief Medical Advisor for Sleepopolis. “These pauses in breathing can be shorter or longer and can often last several seconds to a minute. They may happen dozens or even hundreds of times per night.”
Dr. Dasgupta explains that obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), the most common type, occurs when throat muscles relax too much during sleep, causing the airway to become partially blocked or collapse. Obesity and aging are two big triggers for OSA. A less common form, central sleep apnea, happens when the brain doesn’t send appropriate signals to the muscles that control breathing.
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Research on a new sleep apnea pill showed impressive results
If wearing a CPAP has held you back from pursuing sleep apnea treatment, a new study on an oral pill called sultiame offers genuine hope. Dr. Dasgupta says sultiame is a medication used to treat seizures and is primarily prescribed for epilepsy in Europe, Australia and Japan.
But there may be big benefits for people with obstructive sleep apnea. In a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study published in The Lancet, those with moderate to severe obstructive sleep apnea who took sultiame pills every day for 15 weeks saw their condition improve and experienced up to 47 percent fewer pauses in breathing during sleep. The pills also raised their overall oxygen levels while sleeping, making it promising potential treatment for sleep apnea.
Dr. Dasgupta explains that sultiame works by slightly increasing acidity levels in the blood, which stimulates breathing and helps keep the airway from collapsing during sleep.
When will the new sleep apnea pill be available?
Wile other countries use sultiame to treat epilepsy, the medication has yet to get the greenlight in the U.S. “At this time, there is no publicly-available timeline for [the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA)] approval of sultiame for obstructive sleep apnea,” explains Dr. Dasgupta. “Additional clinical trials and regulatory review are needed before it could be prescribed in the United States for this indication.”
Still, Dr. Dasgupta says that while this shift in sleep apnea treatment won’t happen immediately, the research points to a future where oral medications could assist or even become an alternative to CPAP machines.
How OSA is currently treated
As noted above, “The gold standard of treatment for obstructive sleep apnea is continuous positive airway pressure therapy,” explains Sudha Tallavajhula, MD, sleep medicine physician at UTHealth Houston. “This consists of a device and mask interface which relies on generating pressured air to open up the upper airway. The technology is several decades old and highly effective when used correctly.”
While we wait for new treatments like sultiame to become available in the U.S., there are simple strategies you can try at home to help manage sleep apnea, in addition to wearing a CPAP if your doctor advises it.
Some at-home strategies may help manage the condition include:
- Weight loss
- Avoiding alcohol or sedatives before bed
- Sleeping on your side or stomach
- Using oral appliances designed for sleep apnea
Think you may have sleep apnea?
Because sleep apnea occurs while you’re asleep, you or your partner may be the first to notice something is off. Dr. Dasgupta says common sleep apnea symptoms include:
- Noticeable daytime sleepiness
- Difficulty concentrating
- Irritability
- Morning headaches
- Nighttime sweating
- Restless sleep
- Frequent or loud snoring
- Pauses in breathing
- Gasping or choking during sleep
If you think you have sleep apnea, Dr. Dasgupta says the first step is to consult a sleep specialist to create a treatment plan tailored to you.
The future of sleep apnea treatment
Sleep apnea can significantly impact your quality of life, but you don’t have to face it alone. Whether you’re struggling with using a CPAP or just beginning to explore treatment options, you can work with your doctor to come up with a solution that fits your lifestyle.. And with promising research like the sultiame study, the future of sleep apnea treatment is looking brighter—and possibly simpler—than ever.
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