Shafaqna Health:An epilepsy drug may help prevent the temporary cessation of breathing in patients with sleep apnoea, according to new research.
Obstructive sleep apnoea is a common condition affecting about one in 20 people, as noted by the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence in England. Patients often snore loudly, experience interrupted breathing during sleep, and may wake up multiple times throughout the night. This not only leads to fatigue but also raises the risk of high blood pressure, stroke, heart disease, and type 2 diabetes.
An international study has found that an epilepsy medication is linked to a significant reduction in sleep apnoea symptoms.
The research, presented at the European Respiratory Society Congress in Vienna, Austria, suggests alternative options for patients who cannot tolerate mechanical breathing aids like continuous positive airway pressure (Cpap) machines.
Prof. Jan Hedner, from Sahlgrenska University Hospital and the University of Gothenburg in Sweden, explained: “The standard treatment for obstructive sleep apnoea is a machine that blows air through a face mask to keep the airways open. Unfortunately, many people struggle to use these machines over the long term, so there is a need for alternative treatments.”
The researchers conducted a randomised controlled trial involving nearly 300 patients with obstructive sleep apnoea in Belgium, the Czech Republic, France, Germany, and Spain, who did not use Cpap machines. Participants were divided into four groups and given one of three doses of sulthiame or a placebo.
The study monitored patients’ breathing, oxygen levels, heart rhythm, eye movements, and brain and muscle activity during sleep at the beginning, after four weeks, and after 12 weeks.
Results showed that after 12 weeks, those taking sulthiame experienced up to 50% fewer instances of stopped breathing and had higher oxygen levels in their blood during sleep, with the most significant effects observed at the highest doses of the drug.
Hedner stated that the findings suggest sulthiame could be an effective treatment for sleep apnoea, and called for a larger study to confirm the beneficial respiratory effects on a broader group of patients.
Erika Radford, head of health advice at Asthma + Lung UK, described the findings as a crucial step toward moving from breathing equipment used during sleep to a drug-based treatment. “This potential alternative to the current main treatment would make it easier for people to manage their condition,” she said.
Dr. Sriram Iyer, a consultant respiratory and sleep physician and president-elect of the Royal Society of Medicine’s sleep medicine section, commented: “This is an important study highlighting that drug therapy for sleep apnoea is not far from becoming a reality.”
He noted that further studies are needed to evaluate long-term benefits, potential side effects, and identify which patients might benefit most from this treatment. However, he emphasized that it is “vitally important not to forget that sleep apnoea is, in most cases, linked to obesity, and addressing this should be the priority.”