Sue Clasen struggled with managing her sleep apnea for years, unable to find a comfortable CPAP mask that allowed her to sleep through the night. However, after starting to take Ozempic in February 2023 for weight loss, she noticed a significant improvement in her sleep apnea symptoms – she stopped snoring and no longer needed to nap during the day. This marked a transformative change for her, as the worst of her sleep apnea symptoms vanished.
Recent clinical trials have shown promising results for tirzepatide, a medication in the same class as Ozempic, in treating obstructive sleep apnea in people with obesity. Tirzepatide significantly improved symptoms of obstructive sleep apnea, leading to fewer breathing interruptions during sleep. If approved by the FDA, tirzepatide would be the first drug specifically cleared to treat sleep apnea, providing patients with another option for managing their condition.
Obstructive sleep apnea affects millions of adults in the U.S., causing interruptions in breathing during sleep and preventing them from fully resting. In people with obesity, the condition is often due to a buildup of fatty tissue in the tongue, neck, and upper airway. If left untreated, sleep apnea can increase the risk of various health issues, including heart failure, diabetes, high blood pressure, and neurodegenerative diseases.
While CPAP machines are the standard treatment for sleep apnea, some patients are reluctant to use them due to concerns about comfort and sleep quality. Other treatment options, such as oral appliances and surgical implants, are available but may be less popular. Weight loss is often recommended for patients with obesity to improve sleep apnea symptoms, but it can be challenging for many individuals.
The recent studies on tirzepatide have sparked interest among sleep specialists, as the drug showed promising results in improving sleep apnea symptoms in people with obesity. Patients who took tirzepatide experienced fewer breathing interruptions during sleep compared to those on a placebo, whether they were using CPAP machines or not. While researchers are still exploring the drug’s effects on less severe cases of sleep apnea and non-obese individuals, the results suggest a potential new treatment option for patients.
For patients like Sue Clasen and Denise Cohen, who found relief from their sleep apnea symptoms with weight-loss drugs like Ozempic, the impact has been life-changing. They were able to stop using CPAP machines and noticed significant improvements in their sleep quality. As research continues to explore the benefits of weight-loss drugs in managing sleep apnea, more patients may have access to alternative treatments that can improve their quality of life and overall health.
