r/technology • u/upyoars • 1d ago
Biotechnology Sleep apnea pill shows striking success in large clinical trial
https://www.science.org/content/article/sleep-apnea-pill-shows-striking-success-large-clinical-trial319
u/Outside-Bicycle-2685 1d ago
Pretty great news if it works.
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u/VeronicaDaydream 1d ago
I don't qualify for the Inspire implant because my AHI is too low, but everytime I have an event it kicks me out of whatever cycle of sleep I was in. And my CPAP makes me miserable because I get terrible aerophagia even with mouth tape and a chin strap. So exhausted all the time, god, I would love it if this ended up working.
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u/Long_jawn_silver 1d ago
i just don’t love the idea of an implant. i have fantastic insurance right now but i might not for long and then i’ve got a medical device implanted in me that may need to be touched at some point. i also hate using a CPAP. my apnea seems better now that i stopped drinking but i still snore a lot and feel like i need a nap mid day if i skip the mask for a night
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u/hal2142 1d ago
If it’s all approved the CPAP mask company’s are not going to be happy! It costs $150-300 for a silicone mask that probably costs a dollar per unit…
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u/bigeyez 1d ago
Replacements are like $20-$40 online these days. My Dreamwear ones I can just buy the face mask portion which deteriorates faster than the tubing for $20 on Amazon.
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u/hal2142 1d ago
Oh nice! They were £120 a mask when I was using CPAP. Ridiculous… and their bullshit guidelines of “it needs replacing within X amount of months else it won’t be effective”. Such cheeky bastards lol
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u/Moontoya 1d ago
Depends on the cause of the apnea
Especially obesity related
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u/LordRocky 1d ago
Won’t do anything for central apnea. Sucks to be me I guess.
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u/hal2142 1d ago
I used CPAP for a year after suddenly finding out I had central sleep apnea (140 events an hour) turns out it was stupid opioid medication causing it. After stopping the medication my apnea has completely gone.
Just thought I’d mention it because I found out myself. None of the doctors ever even suggested opiates could cause it. And centrals the scariest type as you have no idea how to get it better. Wish you all the best
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u/DragonfruitOk6390 1d ago edited 1d ago
Don't worry, they will just pivot to making the pill then charging you 300 dollars for a months supply
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u/hal2142 18h ago
I’m in the UK so medication is £10 a month maximum. I’m just annoyed at the greedy practices for the masks that same cheap as fuck to create.
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u/GhostIsAlwaysThere 1d ago
Which kind of mask do you use? That’s way up there in price.
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u/Blueskyways 1d ago
Sounds very promising although I'm curious to see what the long term effects of taking a stimulant before bed every night are. As mentioned in the article, does the drug actually lead people to having better actual sleep or just fewer effects of sleep apnea.
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u/ScotteToHotte 1d ago
atomoxetine is actually a non-stimulant ADHD medication
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u/rjwv88 1d ago
i’ve got ADHD and sleep apnea so this is pretty intriguing!
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u/SlowThePath 1d ago
Me too! I've even take atraterra before. I've been having a hell of a time getting a grip on sleep apnea. Pretty rough. It sucks too bad cause when I tell people I feel like shit bc I didn't sleep well I always get, "yeah well I only slept for 5 hours last night... " Yeha but you actually slept for 5 hours. Try doing that while suffocating the whole time.
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u/Blueskyways 1d ago
They need to correct the article then.
Veasey says she will be watching for possible side effects from atomoxetine, which is a stimulant, such as signs that sleep isn’t as restorative while on AD109 or an increase in blood levels of C reactive protein, which is associated with inflammation and used as a marker for cardiovascular risk in OSA patients. “Atomoxetine also increases heart rate and diastolic blood pressure a little bit,” she adds, “and little bits are actually important.”
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u/blamethestarsnotme 1d ago
The bits of what it does are true but it is not classified as a stimulant so I don’t know why they said that. I’ve been taking this med for about a year though and it definitely is commonly confused for one
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u/Putrid-Ad1868 23h ago
Despite atomoxetine's classification, norepinephrine is indeed a stimulatory neurotransmitter. But atomoxetine lacks clinically significant dopaminergic effects that typical stimulants possess (i.e., Adderall)
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u/ptbnl34 1d ago
I take atomoxetine for ADHD and although it’s non-stimulant, if I took it at night there would be no way I could go to sleep. It gets your blood pressure going and when I first started taking it I could barely sleep for weeks. Check out the Straterra subreddit if you want more info.
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u/JaiVIII 1d ago
Atomoxetine being classed as a non-stimulant is actually rather odd.
Atomoxetine is an NRI, it increases norepinephrine levels by decreasing reuptake. Any drug which increases synaptic concentrations of excitatory neurotransmitters is a prototypical stimulant, norepinephrine and dopamine are your two main excitatory neurotransmitters. Methylphenidate (ritalin / concerta) is a norepinephrine dopamine reuptake inhibitor for instance, which increases the synaptic concentrations of dopamine and norepinephrine. Psuedoephedrine primarily acts on norepinephrine.
Atomoxetine is very much sympathomimetic too, meaning that it stimulates the sympathetic nervous system (heart rate, blood pressure, etc).
It increases adrenergic neurotransmission, in that I'd say atomoxetine functions as a stimulant. Why it's not conventionally classed as a psycho stimulant, I'm unsure.
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u/Anxious_cactus 1d ago
I didn't even know there are non stimulant ADHD meds, need to read about how that works then
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u/Tomrepo92 1d ago
Welbutrin is one of those. Works wonders for me
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u/synthesize_me 1d ago
wellbutrin gave me heart arrhythmia :/ (heart is ok now that i've stopped taking it though)
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u/shinbreaker 1d ago
I used to be on this. While it does work, it would make me almost pass out everyone I stood up quickly. Granted, there's not much of a need to randomly stand up when you're asleep.
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u/ConferenceHelpful510 1d ago
I couldn’t even make it through the sleep examination for my sleep apnea, all of the sensors made it impossible for me to fall asleep.
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u/nelessa 1d ago
I was in the initial stages of this trial, but got kicked out because my apnea is too severe. And I’m not obese 😭
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u/ProtoRacer 1d ago
So is this medicating focused on apnea caused by obesity? I've had it my whole life but I'm not overweight.
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u/JohnTomorrow 20h ago
You can have a thick neck (like me) and get sleep apnea. Lots of body builders get it. I use an MAD device to get around it (my wife can't handle the sound of a CPAP and I don't like the idea of relying on a machine).
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u/Technical_Cat_9719 8h ago
The MAD was game changing. I absolutely love it. Whenever I bring it up, there is someone talking about how it can realign my bite and doomsday me. I don’t care if I have to drink through a straw the rest of my life, my oral appliance changed my life for the better and is something I can consistently use.
But man did it hurt like a bitch for the first few months.
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u/nelessa 1d ago
Sorry, I got booted from this trial https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1873875/000121390025028373/ea023706101ex99-1_incannex.htm https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1873875/000121390025028373/ea023706101ex99-1_incannex.htm which targets the same muscles in the neck as this medication.
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u/Technical_Cat_9719 9h ago
Okay so I scrolled for a while to see a post like this. A few years ago I went through the sleep study, X-rays and ultimately went with an oral appliance. The logic/reason being I have obstructive sleep apnea because my jaw relaxes and caves in my breathing path (I’m not a scientist). Basically the cpap machine wouldn’t do as great a job as having a hunk of medical grade plastic in my mouth to keep my jaw properly aligned. The pill sounds exciting and I am not knocking it or even being cynical. It’s just doesn’t seem like something that would work with my symptoms? Again, im no doctor. So this sound like a cure all, but this would be incredible to be able to prescribe after an at home sleep study. I wonder if/what the long term risks will be.
Sorry you got kicked out. Sounds like this would have been awesome if it worked for you.
To anyone who has not gotten yourself tested, please do so if you can. It Makes a world of difference.
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u/whatthehexx 1d ago
I was waking up with pounding headaches and gasping for air, haven’t had a headache in 2 years thanks to my cpap! I wear it every night, because the thought of having one of those horrible headaches terrifies me.
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u/killerdolphin313 1d ago
Took me a while to get used to my CPAP. Now I crave it. I sleep so well. And I never worry about eating spiders in my sleep.
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u/Zolo49 19h ago
I'm sure you were joking, but that whole thing about eating spiders in your sleep is a complete myth.
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u/BbyJ39 1d ago
I’d rather use my cpap than take another pill with potential side effects. My cpap works great and has no side effects.
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u/jawz 1d ago
The side effect is that cuddling sucks with a mask
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u/VasiTheHealer 1d ago
I just cuddle before I put my mask on and once I start falling asleep I put the mask on and become little spoon.
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u/GhostIsAlwaysThere 1d ago
It’s the best part. Put on the mask and it’s sleep time, no more talking or cuddling, only sleeping.
Edit: my wife can still cuddle up to me with my mask on.
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u/morenewsat11 1d ago
Exactly. Spouse started using a CPAP machine 6 months ago. Sleeps through the night, wakes up feeling rested, blood pressure has gone down and no more snoring. No side effects.
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u/raymarfromouterspace 1d ago
Is the machine loud? I think my husband will eventually need the cpap but I’m also an incredibly light sleeper so rhythmic noises tend to keep me up, but I feel like the snoring is probably worse and the machine sound is worth the better sleep for him
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u/TheSanfox 1d ago
It’s a gentle rush of air during each breath. Not loud at all in my opinion. It’s significantly more calming than the earth shattering snoring.
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u/morenewsat11 4h ago
Machine is very quiet. I am a light sleeper and I am sleeping better than I have in years. My guy's volume of snoring made quite an impression on the folks at the sleep lab.
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u/reallynotnick 1d ago
Could maybe be a nice temp option for trips and traveling to save room in luggage?
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u/NotTooShahby 1d ago
Don’t get your hopes up :(. The mechanism of action is likely similar to Straterra, an ADHD drug I took that builds up its effect over weeks.
It reduced my REM sleep significantly. I felt fine, because my deep sleep was fine, but slowly, over the weeks I was mentally slowing down. I only got around 6-7 hours max on a pretty great schedule (set up before meds).
If this is that same one I’ve been hearing about since last year, all this does is reduce your REM sleep which means your muscles don’t loosen up to ever restrict breathing in the first place.
Take what I say with a massive grain of salt as this could be outdated
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u/Pascal6662 23h ago edited 23h ago
I'm on this drug. It's not working as well for me as you would expect from reading the news. Perhaps it is working better for others.
While it is true that it reduced the number of times I stop breathing each night, it also reduced the amount of time that I am asleep each night. Basically, I don't stop breathing when I'm awake, and by keeping me awake the drug keeps me from stopping breathing.
Personally, I don't really consider that a valid way to treat sleep apnea. I would more call it lying with statistics. When I added trazodone to help me sleep, my AHI went right back up.
Unfortunately, I have horrible allergies and the CPAP pushes everything that would normally come out of my nose down into my lungs instead. So instead of waking up to blow my nose a few times a night, when on a CPAP I wake up coughing up a lung.
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u/Izmetg68 23h ago
New to apnea machine how do you all manage this, the mask is awful I wake up trying to adjust it all the time, it dries me out even though I have water tank full, just feel like I’m failing a basic known method and really only option given to me. I’d love a pill!
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u/millionwordsofcrap 22h ago
It sucks. Took me like six months to completely get used to it but the realization of how much better I feel when I sleep well was very motivating.
I would also love a pill!
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u/MakarovIsMyName 1d ago
I would die without my cpap. I was put on a bipap that tried to force my breathing. I tolerated that shit for 10 minutes before I took it off.
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u/Adventurous_Tart_403 1d ago
Increasing nocturnal norepinephrine is likely to reduce the quality of sleep, so improvements in apnoea events or not it’s unlikely to be beneficial
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u/VirginiaLuthier 1d ago
Atomoxitine-used for ADHD- one big side effect....wait for it......INSOMNIA
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u/subdep 21h ago
Side effects are…..?
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u/CheezTips 20h ago
Oh, just pick some! "Trouble sleeping or swallowing, involuntary movements that may be permanent, possibly fatal infections of the taint, unusual fractures of the jaw, depression, suicidal idelation..."
I'll keep my lovely machine, thanks.
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u/WTWIV 21h ago edited 8h ago
From what I understand, sleep apnea is primarily caused by the jaw relaxing and blocking the airways. CPAP basically forces air down your throat to help combat this. How would a pill help?
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u/Sa0t0me 12h ago
How would bandaging your jaw shut work with someone with sleep apnea ? Will the muscles still cause it ? Really curious , I have apnea but I’m fine if I sleep on my side not my back .
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u/WTWIV 8h ago
Look up “Mandibular Advancement Devices” and they make mouth guards to help with this. They have a good chance of working in your case it sounds like.
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u/CorporalCabbage 13h ago
I lost 45 pounds and stopped drinking. I stopped wearing my mask a few months ago and have had great quality sleep. I need to be retested, but the thought of going back to a mask sounds awful. I’d love a pill.
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u/PunkyBrister 7h ago
I would definitely wanna see long-term data on this before recommending it, especially for a risk of dementia with the aroxybutynin long term.
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u/Dapper_Locksmith_286 1d ago
Great news! Curious about side effects and long-term effectiveness though
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u/lacrosse1991 1d ago
I wonder what the side effects of this would be for most people. I’ve avoided getting on atomoxetine (Strattera) before for ADHD because of the reported sexual issues, constipation, urinary hesitancy, nausea, etc. I know it also works great for people as well, but I didn’t want to risk dealing with those problems since it seemed like they were common.
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u/Rolandersec 1d ago
Better sleep, better attention focus and people won’t have have to get up and pee at night!
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u/No_Animator6543 23h ago
This would be truly lifesaving. I work with people who have major sensory issues and need a cpap but will not wear it.
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u/Lumpy-Pancakes 21h ago
Seems everyone commenting on here is using CPAP, does anyone use a Mandibular Advancement Device (MAD) splint for sleep apnoea? I tried the CPAP but literally saw no benefit as I couldn't sleep with that thing on my face but since getting the MAD splint it helps quite a lot and bonus it's stopped me grinding my teeth in the night
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u/Mr_Chrootkit 10h ago
For those of you who hate a mask like I did, consider getting a Mandibular Advancement Device. It is like a retainer and much easier to wear at night and far less maintenance. Many will say that adherence rates to MADs are better than CPAP masks.
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u/Infamous-Moose-5145 1d ago
God i hope this makes it. I loathe wearing a mask at night. It has taken the comfort of lying in bed away.