Many of us experience sluggishness and lethargy in the afternoon. obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), the problem is even more serious.
Fortunately, researchers have now identified a drug that might work. No, not in espresso form.
excessive daytime sleepiness For OSA patients (EDS) can have a severe impact on their daily lives. This means that we often have an overwhelming urge to sleep at inappropriate times, such as while driving or eating, and struggle to complete simple tasks.
Positive airway pressure (PAP) masks are standard equipment for OSA patients and help support the lungs with compressed air at night, but they do not always eliminate EDS. As a result, experts are working to identify drugs that may help.
“The most important thing an OSA patient should do is use a PAP device, but if they are still sleepy, there are options in the form of medications that can reduce fatigue.” To tell Tyler Pitre, an internal medicine resident at McMaster University in Canada.
Pitre et al. reviewed 14 previous clinical trials involving 3,085 patients with OSA and EDS and compared the efficacy of three anti-fatigue drugs: solurium fetol, armodafinil-modafiniland Pitrisanto. All three of these were, to varying degrees, more effective than placebo in combating EDS.
Combining data from 14 trials, the research team found that soluriamfetol produced the greatest statistical difference compared to placebo in terms of wakefulness. For armodafinil modafinil and pitrisant, the evidence was less specific, but they “probably improved” some, but not all, alertness after one month of use. The statistics also showed that while side effects can be a problem with armodafinil modafinil and soluliamfetol, patients were more likely to discontinue the former.
Although it is difficult to summarize results across multiple trials, this comparison shows a significant effect of solulium fethol, possibly as a result of elevated levels of solulium fetol. Noradrenaline (preparing the body for action) and dopamine In the brain (which leads to joy and motivation).
The researchers say the pros and cons of solulium fetol deserve further investigation, especially in terms of long-term effects on users, as there is little evidence for long-term use. And it’s not just people with OSA and EDS who might benefit from soluliamfetol and other drugs.
“Now that we know that these anti-fatigue drugs are effective against similar symptoms, we’d like to know how effective these anti-fatigue drugs are in treating chronic fatigue syndrome and related conditions such as long-term COVID-19.” That would be interesting.” To tell Dena Zerathkar, assistant professor of anesthesiology at McMaster University.
However, much is still unknown about long-term COVID-19 and chronic fatigue, and their treatments should ideally address the many underlying causes.
Two of the agents studied are already prescribed for OSA and EDS, and pitrisant is still under US FDA review. Which drugs a doctor prescribes depends on many factors, including the patient’s personal health. However, this is the first time that these treatments have been compared in this way.
Potential side effects can be problematic (for example, soluliamfetol is associated with increased blood pressure), so caution should be exercised. That said, with one billion people worldwide suffering from her OSA, it is clear that there is an urgent need to find better treatments.
“With 15 to 30 percent of people diagnosed with OSA in North America, and many others undiagnosed, the prevalence could be even higher.” To tell Pitre.
“This condition is so closely linked to obesity that many people have it, and more and more people are suffering from obesity in Canada, the United States and other high-income countries.”
This research Annals of Internal Medicine.
