Treating Sleep Apnea with Weight Loss Drug

New study finds Weight Loss Drug Tirzepatide used in Zepbound has the potential to be the first pharmaceutical treatment for Sleep Apnea, as it significantly reduces the apnea-hypopnea (AHI) in patients.

The study titled “Tirzepatide for the Treatment of Obstructive Sleep Apnea and Obesity” was published in the prestigious New England Journal of Medicine as well as presented at  the 84th Scientific Sessions of the American Diabetes Association, Orlando, FL, June 21-24, 2024.

Tirzepatide, the active ingredient in the weight-loss drug Zepbound*, demonstrated a reduction in the severity of sleep apnea, weight, blood pressure, and other health measures in patients with obesity who used the medication for a year.

Headquartered in Indianapolis, Eli Lilly and Co, the manufacturer of the drug that funded the research, has requested FDA approval to expand the drug's use for treating moderate to severe sleep apnea.

The newly published research, involved nearly 496 individuals diagnosed with obesity and sleep apnea. Half of the participants used a CPAP machine, which delivers oxygen through a mask to keep airways open during sleep. The other half consisted of individuals for whom the CPAP machine had either failed or was not tolerated.

The study found that patients in both groups who received weekly tirzepatide injections reduced the number of episodes per hour where their breathing slowed or stopped completely during sleep by approximately 50% to nearly 60%, compared to about 10% in those who received a placebo. Additionally, up to half of the patients taking tirzepatide reduced their apnea episodes enough to potentially resolve the disorder, compared with up to 16% of those using the placebo, according to the research.

On average, patients who took tirzepatide lost between 18% and 20% of their body weight and showed improvements in blood pressure and a condition where blood oxygen levels drop during sleep. The study also found that patients reported better sleep and fewer sleep disturbances.

Weight loss has long been recommended to reduce the severity of sleep apnea. It aids by increasing lung capacity, decreasing fat in the airways, and enhancing oxygen utilization. While diet and exercise can facilitate weight loss and lessen the disorder's impact, the ongoing obesity epidemic in the U.S. underscores the difficulty many individuals encounter in losing weight.