Cannabinoid Drug Might Help with Sleep Apnea Treatment

February 26, 2018

Sleep apnea is currently the second-most prominent sleep disorder in the U.S., affecting about 1 in 5 adults every single night. While there are multiple treatments for the disorder, including CPAP therapy, oral appliance therapy, and corrective surgery, they all have one thing in common: they seek to fix the problem mechanically. However, in a recent clinical trial led by professors from the University of Illinois at Chicago and Northwestern University, they tried to determine if a drug could actually be used effectively for sleep apnea treatment. They decided to use dronabinol, which is made using a synthetic version of THC, the psychoactive ingredient found in cannabis. How did the trial work? What did they discover? Read on to find out.

How the Clinical Trial Worked

The trial involved 73 adult participants who had moderate to severe sleep apnea. They were divided into three distinct groups: one received a low dose of dronabinol, the second received a high dose, and the third took a placebo. They were instructed to take the treatment about an hour before bedtime every night for six weeks. They would then be evaluated based on their sleepiness, wakefulness, as well as their hypopnea index (hypopnea refers to excessively shallow breathing).

Researchers hoped to discover if dronabinol could target the brain and nerves that regulate the upper airway muscles, altering the neurotransmitters in a way that would prevent apnea events.

The Results

The group that received the highest dose reported being the most satisfied with the treatment, and they also showed decreased signs of sleepiness in addition to a lower hypopnea index. Even when compared to CPAP therapy, the drug was shown to reduce sleep apnea symptoms by about 33% more.

While these initial findings are very promising, researchers believe that larger clinical trials are needed before dronabinol becomes available to the general public for sleep apnea treatment. They also advise patients against eating, smoking, or inhaling cannabis products as they will not have the same makeup as the drug, which is just a synthetic form of one specific ingredient.

Overtime, as more research is done, this could eventually lead to a viable drug treatment for obstructive sleep apnea.

What this Means for Patients

From a medical standpoint, this is fantastic news. CPAP therapy is the most commonly prescribed method to treat sleep apnea, but there is one problem: it has a very low adherence rate. That’s because the machine can be very uncomfortable for patients, but if a drug is eventually able to provide the same (or better) results, it could help tremendously. Simply taking a pill every night before bed is much easier than having to wear a loud, noisy machine!

Our practice is very encouraged by this study, and you can be sure we’ll stay on top of the latest findings as they come out.

About the Author

Dr. Kenneth Mogell is a certified sleep dentist who has been serving Boca Raton for over 30 years. At his practice, he’s able to successfully treat obstructive sleep apnea using custom-made oral appliances. If you are currently struggling with sleep apnea or would like an alternative to your CPAP, he’s ready to help you, so contact him today for more information.