Medications for Obstructive Sleep Apnea

Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is a common sleep-related breathing disorder defined by repeated upper airway collapse, intermittent hypoxia, and sleep disruption. Continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) is the gold-standard treatment of moderate-to-severe OSA but is limited by long-term discomfort and inconvenience. Lifestyle changes, such as weight loss, are highly effective, especially for patients with obesity, where decreases in upper airway adiposity are highly correlated with decreases in apnea-hypopnea index. Recent developments of oral drug treatments have introduced the use of glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists, tirzepatide and liraglutide, as new treatments of OSA for patients with obesity. Clinical trials, such as SURMOUNT-OSA and SCALE Sleep Apnea, demonstrate that glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonist--induced weight loss significantly reduces apnea-hypopnea index, suggesting that weight loss is the primary mechanism of improvement in OSA. Other mechanisms of action, such as reduction of inflammation, may contribute to the therapeutic effect. Other new oral treatments, such as atomoxetine and aroxybutynin (AD109), are promising treatments that can work within a few hours and are independent of weight loss and may offer new treatment profiles of nonobese patients or CPAP-intolerant patients. Incorporating these new treatments within practice has the possibility of improving adherence and reducing cardiometabolic complications and may overcome limitations of the treatment with CPAP. Further research will establish longer-term outcomes, optimal patient selection, and possible combinations with other treatments.