Sleep apnea medical therapy
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Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [1] Associate Editor(s)-in-Chief: Saarah T. Alkhairy, M.D.
Overview
If left untreated, sleep apnea can have serious and life-threatening consequences such heart disease, hypertension, automobile accidents due to excessive daytime sleepiness, and many other ailments. Treatment often starts with behavioral therapy. Medical treatment involves treatment of the underlying cause and somnolence. Medications, such as acetazolamide and oxygen are not routinely used for the treatment of sleep apnea. The most effective treatments help open the airway such as continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) and oral appliances.
Sleep Apnea Medical Therapy
The treatment often starts with behavioral therapy. Many patients are told to lose weight and avoid alcohol, sleeping pills, and othersedatives. These can relax throat muscles, contributing to the collapse of the airway at night.
Possibly owing to changes in pulmonary oxygen stores, sleeping on one's side (as opposed to on one's back) has been found to be helpful for central sleep apnea with Cheyne-Stokes respiration.[1]
Continuous positive airway pressure
- For moderate to severe sleep apnea, CPAP therapy is extremely effective in reducing apneas and less expensive than other treatments
- It 'splints' the patient's airway open during sleep by means of a flow of pressurized air into the throat
- The patient typically wears a plastic facial mask, which is connected by a flexible tube to a small bedside CPAP machine[2]
- The CPAP machine generates the required air pressure to keep the patient's airways open during sleep
- There may be low compliance because patients find it uncomfortable[3]
- One way to ensure CPAP therapy remains comfortable for patients is to ensure the CPAP face mask fits well
- It is not clear that CPAP reduces hypertension or cardiovascular events in patients who do not have somnolence; however, the lack of benefit may be partly due to noncompliance with therapy[4]
Oral appliances
- Mandibular Advancement Splint
- A oral appliance placed by general dentists
- A custom-made mouthpiece that shifts the lower jaw forward and opens the bite slightly, which opens up the airway
- Oral appliance therapy (OAT) is usually successful in patients with mild to moderate obstructive sleep apnea[5]
- OAT is a relatively new treatment option for sleep apnea in the United States, but it is much more common in Canada and Europe
Pharmacological Agents
- Medications to treat any underlying causes
- Medications to treat somnolence
- Modafinil 200-400 mg per day
- Acetazolamide, medroxyprogesterone, fluoxetine, and protriptyline are ventilatory stimulants that are not routinely used[6]
Oxygen Therapy
References
- ↑ Szollosi I, Roebuck T, Thompson B, Naughton MT (2006). "Lateral sleeping position reduces severity of central sleep apnea / Cheyne-Stokes respiration". Sleep. 29 (8): 1045–51. PMID pmid16944673 Check
|pmid=value (help). - ↑ General Information about Sleep Apnea Machines
- ↑ Hsu AA, Lo C (2003). "Continuous positive airway pressure therapy in sleep apnoea". Respirology. 8 (4): 447–54. doi:10.1046/j.1440-1843.2003.00494.x. PMID 14708553. Unknown parameter
|month=ignored (help) - ↑ Barbé F, Durán-Cantolla J, Sánchez-de-la-Torre M; et al. (2012). "Effect of continuous positive airway pressure on the incidence of hypertension and cardiovascular events in nonsleepy patients with obstructive sleep apnea: a randomized controlled trial". JAMA. 307 (20): 2161–8. doi:10.1001/jama.2012.4366. PMID 22618923. Unknown parameter
|month=ignored (help) - ↑ Machado MA, Juliano L, Taga M, de Carvalho LB, do Prado LB, do Prado GF (2007). "Titratable mandibular repositioner appliances for obstructive sleep apnea syndrome: are they an option?". Sleep & Breathing. 11 (4): 225–31. doi:10.1007/s11325-007-0109-y. PMID 17440760. Unknown parameter
|month=ignored (help) - ↑ Hudgel, David W.; Thanakitcharu, Sitthep (1998). "Pharmacologic Treatment of Sleep-disordered Breathing". American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine. 158 (3): 691–699. doi:10.1164/ajrccm.158.3.9802019. ISSN 1073-449X.
- ↑ Mayos M, Hernández Plaza L, Farré A, Mota S, Sanchis J (2001). "[The effect of nocturnal oxygen therapy in patients with sleep apnea syndrome and chronic airflow limitation]". Archivos de Bronconeumología (in Spanish). 37 (2): 65–8. PMID 11181239. Unknown parameter
|month=ignored (help) - ↑ Breitenbücher A, Keller-Wossidlo H, Keller R (1989). "[Transtracheal oxygen therapy in obstructive sleep apnea syndrome]". Schweizerische Medizinische Wochenschrift (in German). 119 (46): 1638–41. PMID 2609134. Unknown parameter
|month=ignored (help)