The first treatment for obstructive sleep apnea has been approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA).
On December 20, the FDA announced that it has approved Eli Lilly’s Zepbound (tirzepatide) for the treatment of moderate to severe obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) in obese adults.
The FDA noted that the drug should be combined with a reduced-calorie diet and increased physical activity.
Some sleep apnea patients see improvement with new breathing tool
Sally Seymour, M.D., director of the division of pulmonology, allergy, and critical care at the FDA’s Center for Drug Evaluation and Research in Washington, D.C., praised the approval in a statement.
Happy and healthy senior man sleeping deeply on his left side without snoring (St. Petersburg)
“Today’s approval provides the first drug treatment option for certain patients with obstructive sleep apnea,” Seymour wrote. “This is a huge step forward for patients with obstructive sleep apnea.”
According to the FDA, OSA occurs when the upper airway becomes obstructed, causing a person to stop breathing during sleep. This condition is common in people who are overweight or obese.
Left untreated, sleep apnea poses ‘devastating’ risks to people’s lives, including heart problems, experts say
Similar to semaglutide treatments such as Ozempic and Wegovy, Zepbound activates receptors for hormones secreted by the intestines (GLP-1 and GIP), reducing appetite and food intake.
Approximately 30 million people in the United States suffer from sleep apnea
Studies have shown that Zepbound “also improves OSA” by reducing weight, the FDA noted.
In a 52-week study, participants treated with Zepbound experienced a “statistically significant and clinically meaningful reduction in apneas or hypopneas,” with the majority of participants in remission or “no symptoms.” Achieved “resolution”.
Zepbound has been shown in studies to improve obstructive sleep apnea by reducing weight. (St. Petersburg)
The FDA said patients treated with Zepbound also reported significant weight loss.
This medication can cause side effects such as nausea, diarrhea, vomiting, constipation, stomach discomfort or pain, injection site reactions, fatigue, allergic reactions (usually fever or rash), belching, hair loss, and gastroesophageal reflux disease. It is reported that there is a sex.
Do women need more sleep than me? Here’s what the experts say
Zepbound causes thyroid C-cell tumors in rats, but it is unknown whether it causes these tumors in humans, so it should not be used in patients with a personal or family history of medullary thyroid cancer or multiple endocrine tumor syndrome 2 It should not be used in patients with F.D.A.
The agency recommends all OSA patients consult their doctor before taking Zepbound and monitor for complications.
One sleep expert said the FDA’s approval is “a promising advance for the millions of people who suffer from this disease.” (St. Petersburg)
Dr. Wendy Troxell, a senior behavioral specialist at the Rand Corporation, a licensed clinical psychologist in Utah, and a sleep expert, said the FDA’s approval is “promising for the millions of people who suffer from this condition.” “This is a significant step forward.”
“Zepbound has been shown to promote weight loss and reduce apnea.”
About 30 million people in the United States suffer from sleep apnea, Troxell told FOX News Digital.
Positive airway pressure therapy (PAP), the most common treatment for sleep apnea, is “very effective” in treating the condition, but up to 50% of patients are “non-adherent,” he said. said.
Click here to sign up for our health newsletter
“Zepbound has been shown to promote weight loss and reduce apnea,” Troxel said.
“For obese people with moderate to severe sleep apnea, this new treatment option could be an important alternative treatment or It can be an adjunctive treatment.”
The FDA warned in a news release that people with a history of severe allergic reactions to tirzepatide should not use Zepbound. (St. Petersburg)
Dr. Troxell said that treatment for sleep apnea is “not only important to the health and well-being of patients, but given that loud snoring and gasping for air are the main causes, it is important to seek treatment for sleep apnea.” It’s also important for bed partners, who are often the “hidden victims” of sleep apnea, he added. I have symptoms,” she said.
For more health articles, visit www.foxnews.com/health.
Dr. William Lu, medical director of Dream Health in San Francisco, told Fox News Digital that obesity and sleep apnea are “two of the most common health conditions affecting Americans today.” he said.
“We need to continue to emphasize changing the diet and health habits of many people, but this is a great start.”
“And they are closely related,” he said. “For patients who are eligible and have no contraindications, tirzepatide has the potential to be the next generation of drugs that can help people lose weight, reduce the severity of sleep apnea, and improve their overall health. there is.”
CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP
“We need to continue to emphasize changing the diet and health habits of many people, but this is a great start.”
Lu said getting tested for sleep apnea is “very important for your health” and can even be a requirement for getting drug coverage.
Fox News Digital has reached out to Eli Lilly for comment.
