Epilepsy treatment, sleep apnea treatment?

A new clinical trial study has shown that an epilepsy treatment taken in pill form is effective in treating sleep apnea. This is based on the research results from researchers at the Sahlgrenska School of Medicine, University of Gothenburg, Sweden, and was announced at the annual meeting of the European Respiratory Society (ERS) held in Vienna, Austria on the 10th (local time), as reported by the health and medical webzine ‘Health Day’.

The drug being tested is Sultiame, an antiepileptic drug. It is a drug that calms seizures by increasing the blood concentration of the existing anticonvulsant called phenytoin. This drug stabilizes the respiratory system by inhibiting an enzyme called carbonic anhydrase, which stimulates the upper airway muscles.

People with obstructive sleep apnea often snore loudly and then suddenly stop breathing for a long time or wake up. This not only causes fatigue, but can also increase the risk of high blood pressure, stroke, heart disease, and type 2 diabetes. For treatment, a continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) machine is worn, but many people are reluctant to wear it because it is uncomfortable.

A research team led by Professor Jan Hedner (respiratory medicine) of the Salgessonka University School of Medicine conducted a randomized controlled clinical trial with about 300 patients with obstructive sleep apnea who were not using continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) in Belgium, the Czech Republic, France, Germany, and Spain.

Patients were divided into four groups, three-quarters of whom received various doses of Sultiam, and the remaining quarter received a placebo. At the beginning of the study, and after four and 12 weeks, the patients’ breathing, oxygen levels, heart rate, eye movements, and brain and muscle activity during sleep were measured.

After 12 weeks, those who took Sultiam experienced a 40 to 50 percent reduction in the number of times they stopped breathing during sleep and increased blood oxygen levels. These effects were most pronounced at the highest dose of Sultiam.

Patients taking Sultiam also reported less daytime sleepiness, the researchers found. “This suggests that Sultiam could be an effective treatment for obstructive sleep apnea,” Hedner said, “especially in patients who cannot use conventional mechanical treatments such as continuous positive airway pressure.”

Side effects included moderate stabbing headaches, fatigue and nausea. Professor Hedner noted that further clinical trials are needed to confirm these benefits before Sultiam can be widely adopted as a treatment for sleep apnea.