An epilepsy drug could help prevent symptoms for sleep apnea patients, according to research.
Obstructive sleep apnea is a common breathing problem that affects around one in 20 people, according to the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence in England.
Patients often snore loudly and stop breathing during the night and may wake up several times. This not only causes fatigue, but can also increase the risk of high blood pressure, stroke, heart disease.
Complicated devices, the only current methods
An international study has identified that an epilepsy drug is associated with a significant reduction in sleep apnea symptoms, according to .
The findings demonstrated that there are possible options for those who cannot use mechanical means of breathing, such as CPAP machines.
Professor Jan Hedner, from Sahlgrenska University Hospital and Gothenburg University in Sweden, said: “The standard treatment for is sleeping with a machine that blows air through a face mask to keep the airways open. Unfortunately, many people find these devices difficult to use long-term, so alternative treatments need to be found.”
Researchers conducted a controlled study of nearly 300 obstructive sleep apnea patients from Belgium, the Czech Republic, France, Germany and Spain who were not using the devices. They were divided into four groups and given one of three concentrations of sulthiame or a placebo.
Results, visible after only 12 weeks
The study measured the patients’ breathing, oxygen levels, heart rate, eye movements, as well as brain and muscle activity during sleep, at the start of the study, after four weeks and after 12 weeks.
It found that after 12 weeks, those taking sulthiame had up to 50% fewer instances of their breathing stopping and higher blood oxygen levels during sleep. The effects were most pronounced in the case of .
Hedner explained that the results show that sulthiame could be an effective treatment for the condition, but a larger study is needed to confirm the drug’s beneficial respiratory effects in a larger group of sleep apnea patients.
