[Can drug therapy for obstructive sleep apnea be expected after all?]

Area of Science:

• Sleep Medicine
• Pharmacology

Context:

• Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is a prevalent chronic condition affecting sleep quality and overall health.
• Treatment decisions for OSA are based on disorder severity, symptoms like daytime sleepiness, and associated comorbidities.
• Current standard treatments include positive airway pressure therapy and mandibular advancement devices, with surgery as an option for specific cases.

Purpose:

• To review current treatment modalities for obstructive sleep apnea.
• To highlight the emergence of pharmacotherapy, including approved and investigational agents, for OSA management.
• To discuss the future potential of individualized drug therapy based on OSA phenotype.

Summary:

• No specific, universally effective medication for OSA currently exists.
• Tirzepatide is the first approved medication for obese OSA patients, promoting weight reduction and improving breathing disorders.
• Investigational drugs targeting various pathways, including carbonic anhydrase inhibitors, anticholinergics, and others, are under research.

Impact:

• The introduction of tirzepatide marks a significant advancement in pharmacotherapy for a subset of OSA patients.
• Ongoing research into novel medications promises to expand therapeutic options for OSA.
• Future drug therapies will likely be tailored to individual patient phenotypes, enabling more personalized and effective OSA management.