 | Robb Rose is Director of Marketing Operations at Wesley Rehabilitation Hospital of Wichita. Robb is also a Respiratory Therapist, Boarded Disability Analyst and Adjunct Faculty for Wichita Sate University. He holds a Masters in Human Resources from Webster University. Robb serves on the American Lung Association Regional Council and the American Heart Association Board of Directors. Robb is married and has 2 children. He can be reached at (316) 729-9999 |
Health & Rehabilitation
2004-07-01 09:14:00
About Sleep Apnea treatment
Question: I've read that there are certain medications that can be used for Sleep Apnea. What are they, how can I obtain them, and where?
ANSWER: It's important to look at the entire Sleep Apnea treatment picture. When Sleep Apnea was first reviewed in the Lancet Journal 1981, the medical community paid little attention to it. In fact the only option at that time was an extreme surgical technique. Since then the medical community has realized that Sleep Apnea is at a severe level in this country. Over 100,000 motor vehicle accidents are associated with Sleep Apnea. These accidents lead to 71,000 injuries and 1,500 deaths. Major accidents like Chernobyl, and the Exxon Valdez have been associated with Sleep Apnea and Sleep Deprivation.The "Gold Standard for Sleep Apnea Treatment is CPAP" (i.e continuous positive airway pressure provided by a mask attached to a medical machine). The FDA (i.e. Food and Drug Assoc.) has not approved any medications for the primary treatment of Sleep Apnea.There are numerous studies, which have identified the combined use of CPAP and a class of medications called SSRI's for mild to moderate Sleep Apnea. This class of medications has over 14 medications, each with separate pros and cons. This class includes the most commonly used Prozac, Zoloft, Paxil, etc.. Not all of the 14 SSRI's are equal, and it is important to note that Obstructive Sleep Apnea is just that an obstructive process in the majority of patients. Obstruction is generally a physiological/anatomical issue, and not pharmaceutical treated by and large. Another class of anti-depressants has been studied as well for combined therapy. It is the piperazino-azepine group with Mirtazapine being studied the most.Always see your physician for the diagnosis and treatment of Obstructive Sleep Apnea. Ask questions and be up front as to what your signs and symptoms are. Your physician has more information on this disease process than ever before, with more and more options. Lastly, this disease needs to be treated, as the untreated consequences are severe.
