A new study presented at the European Respiratory Society meeting in Vienna suggests that the popular epilepsy drug Sultiamé may reduce major obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) symptoms Patients who took Sultiamé experienced a decrease in the number of times they stopped breathing during sleep Blood oxygen levels also increased

The researchers behind the trial claim that Sultiamé could be a game changer for people with obstructive sleep apnea who cannot tolerate the use of continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) machines

Sleep apnea is one of the most common sleep disorders in the world, and according to statistics released by the National Council of Aging, approximately 39 million Americans have already been diagnosed

People with OSA snore loudly and stop breathing temporarily during sleep, which can lead to multiple awakenings during the night and extreme fatigue during the day Sleep apnea may also increase the risk of high blood pressure, stroke, heart disease, and type 2 diabetes

The clinical trial was a double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled study of 298 patients diagnosed with obstructive sleep apnea All patients were treated in 28 different medical centers in Spain, Francis, Germany, Belgium, and the Czech Republic None of the patients tolerated the use of CPAP devices, a common treatment for obstructive sleep apnea

Patients were evaluated at the beginning of the study with polysomnography (a test used to diagnose sleep disorders) and then at intervals of 4 and 12 weeks Participants were divided into four groups:

Sultiamet targets the respiratory system by first inhibiting an enzyme called carbonic anhydrase and then stimulating muscles in the upper airway Stimulation of the muscles of the upper airway during sleep is a key feature of other new OSA therapies, including sublingual nerve stimulation implants These devices detect breathing and send electrical impulses to stimulate the nerves that move the tongue to open the airway while the patient is asleep

Study participants who took Sultiamet experienced fewer respiratory pauses during sleep and increased blood oxygen levels

Respiratory pauses were 178% less frequent in patients on the lowest dose of Sultiamet, 348% less frequent in patients on the middle dose, and 399% less frequent in patients on the highest dose OSA patients who typically felt sleepy during the day reported less fatigue after taking Sultiamet

Patients with obstructive sleep apnea showed visible improvement in two key symptoms after taking Sultiamet daily: stopping breathing at night and feeling sleepy during the day

According to lead investigator Professor Jan Hedner of Sahlgrenska University Hospital and University of Gothenburg, Sweden, “The average blood oxygen levels of the patients were also improved by the treatment This suggests that Sultiamet may be an effective treatment for OSA, especially for patients who find that existing mechanical treatment methods are not available”

Side effects such as headache, fatigue, and nausea have been reported as mild or moderate Prof Hedner added, “Sultiamet is already marketed for the treatment of pediatric epilepsy, but we need to conduct a phase III trial in a larger number of OSA patients to confirm the drug's beneficial effects on the respiratory tract” [The standard treatment for obstructive sleep apnea is to sleep with a CPAP (continuous positive airway pressure) machine, which delivers air through a mask to open the airway Unfortunately, many people find it difficult to use such machines for long periods of time, so alternative treatments need to be found” 0]

Professor Sofia Siza, director of the ERS General Assembly on Sleep-Disordered Breathing, said that while there are a variety of treatments available, a tailored approach is needed She said, “Diagnosis and treatment of obstructive sleep apnea is essential because it increases the risk of serious health problems such as hypertension, heart disease, and metabolic diseases

“There are treatments available, but they do not work for everyone, so we need more ways to treat the disease based on individualized diagnostic and therapeutic approaches”