Medical treatment of obstructive sleep apnea.
A variety of treatment options are available for the treatment of obstructive sleep apnea in addition to positive pressure therapy and surgery. These modes of treatment might be employed in patients who cannot tolerate positive pressure therapy despite aggressive measures to improve compliance. These options include weight reduction, sleep hygiene, positional therapy, and oxygen therapy. Some of the options are still experimental and include pharyngeal muscle and hypoglossal nerve stimulators. A variety of pharmacological agents have also been used. The mechanisms by which these drugs improve sleep-disordered breathing include increasing ventilatory drive and upper airway muscle tone, reducing the amount of rapid eye movement (REM) sleep, and enhancing daytime wakefulness.
Qureshi
Asher
A
Department of Pulmonary and Critical Care, St. Francis Hospital and Medical Center, 114 Woodland Street, Hartford, CT 06015, USA. aqureshi@stfranciscare.org
Lee-Chiong
Teofilo L
TL
D000928:Antidepressive Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D045422:Continuous Positive Airway Pressure; D006801:Humans; D008525:Medroxyprogesterone / Q000627:therapeutic use; D010726:Phosphodiesterase Inhibitors / Q000627:therapeutic use; D011187:Posture; D019141:Respiratory System Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D020181:Sleep Apnea, Obstructive / Q000628:therapy*; D013806:Theophylline / Q000627:therapeutic use; D015431:Weight Loss
D000928:Antidepressive Agents; D010726:Phosphodiesterase Inhibitors; D019141:Respiratory System Agents; D013806:Theophylline; D008525:Medroxyprogesterone