The first medicine It has been approved for the treatment of obstructive sleep apnea by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA).
On December 20, the FDA announced that the agency had approved Eli Lilly's Zepbound (tirzepatide) to treat moderate to severe cases. Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) in adults with obesity.
The US Food and Drug Administration noted that the drug should be combined with a low-calorie diet and increased physical activity.
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Sally Seymour, director of the Division of Pulmonary, Allergy, and Critical Care at the FDA's Center for Drug Evaluation and Research in Washington, D.C., praised the approval in an announcement.
A happy, healthy older man sleeps deeply on his left side without snoring (Istock)
“Today’s approval represents the first drug treatment option for some patients with obstructive sleep apnea,” Seymour wrote. “This is a huge step forward for patients with obstructive sleep apnea.”
Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) occurs when the upper airway becomes obstructed and causes a temporary cessation of breathing during sleep, according to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). This condition is more common in people who are Overweight or obesity.
Similar to semaglutide treatments such as Ozempic and Wegovy, Zepbound activates gut-secreted hormone receptors (GLP-1 and GIP). Reduce appetite And eat.
About 30 million people suffer from sleep apnea in the United States
Studies show that by reducing body weight, Zepbound “also improves sleep apnea,” the FDA noted.
In a 52-week study, participants treated with Zepbound experienced a “statistically significant and clinically meaningful reduction in the incidence of apnea or hypopnea,” and a significant proportion of participants achieved remission or “resolution of symptoms.”
Studies have shown that Zepbound improves obstructive sleep apnea by reducing body weight. (Istock)
The FDA reported that patients treated with Zepbound also reported significant reductions in body weight.
The drug reportedly can cause side effects such as nausea, diarrhea, vomiting, constipation, discomfort, pain in the stomach, injection site reactions, fatigue, allergic reactions (usually fever and rash), belching, hair loss, and Gastroesophageal reflux.
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While Zepbound causes thyroid C cell tumors in rats, it is not known whether it causes these tumors in humans, so it should not be used by patients with a personal or family history of medullary thyroid cancer or who have endocrine neoplasia syndrome. Multiple type 2, according to the FDA.
The agency encourages all obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) patients to do so Consultation with a doctor Before taking Zepbound and monitor for any complications.
One sleep expert called the FDA approval “a promising advance for the millions of people with this condition.” (Istock)
Sleep expert Dr. Wendy Troxel, a senior RAND licensed behavioral specialist Clinical psychologist In Utah, the FDA approval was called “a promising advance for the millions of people with this condition.”
“Zepbound promotes weight loss and has been shown to reduce the incidence of apnea.”
About 30 million people suffer from sleep apnea in the United States, Troxel told Fox News Digital.
While the most common treatment for sleep apnea — positive airway pressure (PAP) — is “highly effective” in treating the condition, up to 50% of patients are “non-adherent,” she said.
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“Zepbound promotes weight loss and has been shown to reduce the incidence of apnea,” Troxel noted.
“For obese individuals with moderate to severe sleep apnea, this new treatment option may provide an important alternative or adjunct treatment, especially for those with sleep apnea treatments, such as positive airway pressure.” .
The FDA warned in a press release that people with a history of severe allergic reactions to tirizpatide should not use Zepbound. (Istock)
Troxel added that treating sleep apnea “is critical not only for the patient Health and wellness“But also for their bed partners, who are often the 'hidden victims' of untreated sleep apnea, since loud snoring and gasping for air are the primary symptoms,” she added.
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Obesity and sleep apnea are “two of the most prevalent health conditions affecting Americans today,” Dr. William Lu, medical director of Dream Health in San Francisco, told Fox News Digital.
“We still need to emphasize diet change and healthy habits for many, but this is a great start.”
“And they go hand in hand,” he said. “For patients who qualify and do not have contraindications, tirzepatide has the opportunity to be a generational drug that can help people lose weight, reduce the severity of sleep apnea, and improve public health“.
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“We still need to emphasize diet change and healthy habits for many, but this is a great start.”
Getting tested for sleep apnea is crucial to your health, and can also be a requirement for getting drug coverage, Lu said.
Fox News Digital has reached out to Eli Lilly for comment.
