Sulthiame Shows Promise as New Treatment for Obstructive Sleep Apnea

A European clinical trial has indicated that the medication sulthiame may assist individuals with obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) in improving nocturnal breathing and overall sleep quality. The University of Gothenburg was involved in the study, which suggests a potential drug treatment for patients who have difficulty with existing breathing mask therapies.

The findings, published in The Lancet, involved 298 participants with moderate to severe sleep apnea. The trial was double-blind and conducted across four European countries.

Participants were divided, with one quarter receiving a placebo and the remainder treated with varying doses of sulthiame.

Key Findings

Patients administered higher doses of sulthiame experienced up to a 47 percent reduction in breathing interruptions during sleep compared to the placebo group. Additionally, these patients demonstrated improved oxygen saturation levels overnight.

Sulthiame's mechanism of action appears to involve stabilizing the body's control of breathing and enhancing respiratory drive. This process helps reduce the likelihood of the upper airway collapsing during sleep, which is the primary cause of OSA. The majority of side effects reported during the trial were characterized as mild and temporary.

Expert Statement and Background

Jan Hedner, senior professor of pulmonary medicine at the Sahlgrenska Academy, University of Gothenburg, a lead researcher in the study, noted that the results indicate sleep apnea can be influenced pharmacologically. He added that researchers anticipate larger and longer studies to assess sustained effects and safety across broader patient groups. Ludger Grote and Kaj Stenlöf from the University of Gothenburg also contributed to the research.

Obstructive sleep apnea occurs when the upper airway repeatedly collapses during sleep, leading to temporary breathing cessation, reduced oxygen levels, and disturbed sleep. Untreated, OSA increases the risk of conditions such as high blood pressure, cardiovascular disease, stroke, and type 2 diabetes.

Currently, no medication directly treats the underlying cause of sleep apnea. The standard therapy, continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP), uses a mask to maintain an open airway. While effective, up to half of patients discontinue CPAP use within a year due to discomfort or interference with sleep.

Sulthiame is an existing drug previously approved for a form of childhood epilepsy. Researchers are now exploring its potential as a pharmacological treatment for sleep apnea.