Sleep apnea: a repurposed drug reduced breathing pauses in a clinical trial

A randomized trial of 298 people reported that higher doses of the repurposed drug sulthiame roughly halved breathing pauses in moderate to severe sleep apnea, and the results were published in The Lancet.

Researchers report that the repurposed drug sulthiame reduced breathing problems in people with moderate to severe sleep apnea. The result comes from a randomized clinical trial conducted in Germany. The trial compared different doses of sulthiame with a placebo. The findings were published in The Lancet. Key findings: - The trial enrolled 298 people with moderate to severe sleep apnea. - About 25 percent of participants received a placebo while others received varying doses of sulthiame. - Participants taking higher doses experienced nearly 50 percent fewer pauses in breathing and showed improved oxygen levels during sleep. - The study was published in The Lancet, and Jan Hedner said larger and longer studies are needed to confirm sustained effect and safety for broader groups. Summary: If confirmed in larger and longer trials, the reported effect could offer an alternative for people who find continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) devices uncomfortable. Further research is planned or needed to determine whether the benefit is sustained over time and to assess safety across wider patient groups.