What medications should you avoid for obstructive sleep apnea?

Many medications can make sleep apnea worse, including:
  • Barbiturates.
  • Benzodiazepines.
  • Some beta-blockers.
  • Opioids.
  • Sildenafil (an erectile dysfunction drug)
  • Testosterone.
  • Drugs that cause you to gain weight.


What worsens obstructive sleep apnea?

Having family members with sleep apnea might increase your risk. Use of alcohol, sedatives or tranquilizers. These substances relax the muscles in your throat, which can worsen obstructive sleep apnea.

What are the 2 major risk factors for obstructive sleep apnea?

The major risk factors for obstructive sleep apnea are obesity, a family history of snoring or apnea, and being male.


Can you take Tylenol with sleep apnea?

Sleep Apnea Sufferers Should Also Avoid Common Over-the-Counter Sleep Aids. Over the counter sleep aids such as Benadryl, Tylenol-PM, and Advil-PM can exacerbate untreated sleep apnea, also due to the heightened muscle relaxation effect they induce.

Can antidepressants make sleep apnea worse?

Each physician should also be aware that some antidepressants may worsen or induce primary sleep disorders like restless legs syndrome, sleep bruxism, REM sleep behavior disorder, nightmares, and sleep apnea, which may result from an antidepressant-induced weight gain.


A potential solution for those struggling with sleep apnea - Nebraska Medicine



Do any medications cause sleep apnea?

Certain medications, notably antihistamines, benzodiazepines, barbiturates, and opiates, can impact your natural sleeping cycle and breathing, increasing your risk for developing sleep apnea or worsening the condition if you have it.

What is the newest treatment for sleep apnea?

For years, the most common treatment for millions of people with sleep apnea involved wearing a continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) mask. That is, until the U.S. Food and Drug Administration recently approved a new, maskless treatment option -- the Inspire upper airway stimulation device.

What should you not do if you have sleep apnea?

Avoiding alcohol, losing weight (if you are overweight/obese), and stopping smoking may alleviate your OSA symptoms. Mild-to-moderate OSA may be reversed by a weight loss of at least 15%. Some people also find that avoiding back sleeping is helpful.


Does Benadryl help with sleep apnea?

Unfortunately, mixing certain medications can either help or hurt your sleep apnea symptoms. You can doze off using OTC sleeping pills, like Advil PM or Benadryl, but they can also increase your risk of sleep apnea complications. Even if you have mild sleep apnea, the medications cause your mind and body to relax.

Can I take melatonin with sleep apnea?

Should I Take Melatonin To Help My Sleep Apnea? No. Obstructive Sleep Apnea is caused following the relaxation of throat muscles, which obstruct airway flow while a sufferer is asleep. Too much melatonin will actually increase this relaxation and potentially put a patient at risk.

What is the number one cause of sleep apnea?

In adults, the most common cause of obstructive sleep apnea is excess weight and obesity, which is associated with the soft tissue of the mouth and throat. During sleep, when throat and tongue muscles are more relaxed, this soft tissue can cause the airway to become blocked.


What is the most best treatment for patients with obstructive sleep apnea?

Continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) remains the primary treatment for most adults with obstructive sleep apnea, however some patients don't accept or cannot tolerate it, or have primarily correctable upper airway anatomic problems that can be causing the obstruction.

What is the best way to sleep with obstructive sleep apnea?

Snoring and sleep apnea: Obstructive sleep apnea causes the airways to collapse during sleep, leading to pauses in breathing. It often goes hand-in-hand with snoring. Positioning yourself on your side or stomach can help the airways stay open to reduce snoring and alleviate mild apnea, Salas says.

Can you reverse obstructive sleep apnea?

While there is no cure for sleep apnea, studies show that certain lifestyle factors can reverse or make your sleep apnea less intense. Other treatment or surgical options can also reverse the condition. Sleep apnea happens when your upper airway muscles relax while you sleep. This causes you to not get enough air.


Does obstructive sleep apnea ever go away?

In general, obstructive sleep apnea is a chronic condition that does not go away on its own. This is especially true if you are an adult, as your anatomy tends to remain fixed from adolescence onwards. There are numerous factors that can cause obstructive sleep apnea, many of which relate to a person's anatomy.

Can you recover from obstructive sleep apnea?

Does sleep apnea go away? The answer is no, although it is a common question among people with a sleep apnea diagnosis. While there is no cure for this chronic condition, there are treatments and lifestyle changes that can reduce your sleep apnea symptoms.

Is there a natural way to deal with sleep apnea?

Healthful lifestyle changes

In addition to lifestyle changes that promote weight loss, other health changes could help a person reduce the symptoms of sleep apnea. Some examples of healthful lifestyle changes include: refraining from smoking, which can lead to swelling in the upper airways, resulting in sleep apnea.


Are bananas good for sleep apnea?

Bananas. Although bananas are a great source of fiber and potassium, if you have sleep apnea, they're not the best snack choice. They increase mucus production in your mouth and throat, which can make your breathing problems associated with sleep apnea even worse.

Can sleep apnea be caused by sinus problems?

Sinus and nasal problems often contribute to snoring and sleep apnea, but they are often overlooked and left untreated.

Does sleeping with head elevated help sleep apnea?

Head-of-bed elevation (HOBE) has been shown to effectively reduce OSA severity in small studies [13, 14].


Does sleep apnea get worse as you age?

The prevalence of sleep apnoea increases with age, although the severity of the disorder, as well as the morbidity and mortality associated with it, may actually decrease in the elderly. A decline in cognitive functioning in older adults with sleep apnoea may resemble dementia.

What two factors contribute to the side effects of sleep apnea?

What raises the risk of central sleep apnea?
  • Age: As you get older, normal changes in how your brain controls breathing during sleep may raise your risk of sleep apnea.
  • Family history and genetics: Your genes can affect how your brain controls your breathing during sleep.


What is the gold standard treatment for sleep apnea?

The current "gold standard" treatment for OSA is continuous positive air pressure (CPAP), which pneumatically stabilizes the upper airways.


What is the best alternative to a CPAP machine?

5 Sleep Apnea Treatment Options
  1. Oral Appliances. Just as there are dental professionals who specialize in orthodontics or dental implants, there are also those who can help with sleep apnea. ...
  2. Oral Surgery. In some cases, genetics can be the cause of sleep apnea. ...
  3. Weight Loss. ...
  4. Positional Therapy. ...
  5. Inspire Therapy.


What is the new alternative to a CPAP machine?

Inspire is an alternative to CPAP that works inside your body while you sleep. It's a small device placed during a same-day, outpatient procedure. When you're ready for bed, simply click the remote to turn Inspire on. While you sleep, Inspire opens your airway, allowing you to breathe normally and sleep peacefully.