April 29, 2024

Researchers Discover the Best Treatment for Excessive Daytime Sleepiness

A brand-new study shows that solriamfetol is the most efficient treatment for daytime drowsiness in sleep apnea clients, along with the standard positive respiratory tract pressure mask treatment. The study outcomes are based on a thorough evaluation of 14 scientific trials.
Researchers Dena Zeraatkar and Tyler Pitre from McMaster University have actually found that solriamfetol is the most effective treatment for extreme daytime sleepiness (EDS) in people struggling with obstructive sleep apnea (OSA).
The basic treatment for OSA is a positive respiratory tract pressure (PAP) mask, which employs pressurized air to assist lung air passages throughout sleep. With this treatment, there are those who continue to sustain EDS. These people may find relief from their signs through making use of anti-fatigue medication.
Zeraatkar and Pitre recently released their lead to the journal Annals of Internal Medicine.

Dena Zeraatkar. Credit: McMaster University
” The most important thing that people with OSA should do is use their PAP machine, however if they are still sleepy there are alternatives in the form of medications that can decrease their tiredness,” stated first author Tyler Pitre, a resident doctor in internal medicine at McMaster University and incoming respirology fellow at the University of Toronto.
Tyler Pitre. Credit: McMaster University
” Fifteen to 30 percent of people in North America have a medical diagnosis of OSA and the prevalence might be much greater as numerous others are undiagnosed. Many individuals have symptoms as the condition is extremely associated with obesity, which affects a large and increasing variety of people in Canada, the United States, and other high-income nations,” he said.
” Among those patients, many will have EDS, which affects their lifestyle, making them less productive and likewise putting them at danger of other psychological concerns. Improving this circumstance is of paramount importance to physicians.”
Pitre stated that OSA impacts almost one billion individuals internationally, leaving many of them at danger of EDS.
Zeraatkar and Pitre made their findings by carrying out a methodical review of 14 clinical trials of anti-fatigue medications including 3,085 people, as well as analyzing data from MEDLINE, CENTRAL, EMBASE, and ClinicalTrials.gov in a specific network meta-analysis. They conducted their research from October 2022 to January 2023.
Senior author Zeraatkar stated that while solriamfetol is likely the best medication for EDS, the drugs armodafinil– modafinil and pitolisant are also reliable in fighting fatigue.
Solriamfetol can likewise raise blood pressure, specifically dangerous for people with OSA, as a number of them also have cardiovascular concerns.
” It would be fascinating to see how efficient these anti-fatigue medications will be for treating related health problems such as chronic tiredness syndrome and long COVID, now that we understand they work for a comparable condition,” stated Zeraatkar, an assistant teacher of the Department of Anesthesia.
Reference: “Comparative Efficacy and Safety of Wakefulness-Promoting Agents for Excessive Daytime Sleepiness in Patients With Obstructive Sleep Apnea– A Systematic Review and Network Meta-analysis” by Tyler Pitre, MD, MA, Jasmine Mah, MD, MSc, Sarah Roberts, BHSc, Kairavi Desai, BMSc, Yusing Gu, MD, Clodagh Ryan, MD, Ph.D., Jason W. Busse, DC, Ph.D. and Dena Zeraatkar, Ph.D., May 2023, Annals of Internal Medicine.DOI: 10.7326/ M22-3473.