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Acupoint Application Combined with Ear Plaster Therapy for Treating Sleep Disorders with Acute Exacerbation of Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease

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Sleep-disordered breathing with chronic opioid use.

Harry Teichtahl¹, David Wang

¹Faculty of Medicine, Dentistry and Allied Health, The University of Melbourne, Gordon St. Footscray, Victoria, 3011, Australia. harry.teichtahl@wh.org.au

Expert Opinion on Drug Safety

|October 31, 2007

Summary

Chronic opioid use is linked to central sleep apnea, affecting about 30% of users. This review explores opioid effects on breathing control and sleep disorders.

Area of Science:

Pharmacology
Sleep Medicine
Respiratory Physiology

Background:

Chronic opioid use for pain and addiction is widespread.
Opioid prescriptions for methadone and oxycodone have significantly increased.
Opioid-induced respiratory depression and related deaths are a concern.

Purpose of the Study:

To review current knowledge on ventilation control during wakefulness and sleep.
To examine the impact of opioids on respiratory control mechanisms.
To discuss sleep-disordered breathing associated with chronic opioid use.

Main Methods:

Literature review of studies on opioid effects on ventilation and sleep.
Analysis of existing research on opioid-induced central sleep apnea.

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Synthesis of data on prevalence and types of sleep-disordered breathing.

Main Results:

Emerging literature suggests chronic opioid use is associated with central sleep apnea in ~30% of individuals.
Opioids are known to depress respiratory function.
Both periodic and non-periodic breathing abnormalities are observed.

Conclusions:

Chronic opioid use is a significant risk factor for central sleep apnea.
The clinical implications of opioid-induced sleep-disordered breathing require further investigation.
Future research should focus on understanding and managing these sleep abnormalities.