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A new scientific review has shown that weight loss drugs, led by "tirzepatide," commercially known as "Mounjaro," may help some people with obstructive sleep apnea get rid of the disorder and snoring, or significantly alleviate its symptoms.
Obstructive sleep apnea is one of the most common sleep disorders, causing breathing to stop and start repeatedly throughout the night, often accompanied by loud snoring, according to the British newspaper "Daily Mail".
Researchers from the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center reviewed the results of studies examining the relationship between weight loss drugs and obstructive sleep apnea, including two trials involving 469 patients suffering from moderate to severe cases of the disorder who were receiving "tirzepatide".
The results showed that patients lost about one-fifth of their body weight, coinciding with a significant improvement in sleep apnea symptoms.
Participants recorded more than 20 fewer apnea episodes per hour, indicating improved breathing during sleep and reduced snoring.
Furthermore, obstructive sleep apnea went into complete remission in 42 to 50 percent of patients who received "tirzepatide," a rate about three times higher than that recorded among those who took a placebo.
The review results were published in the journal "JAMA Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery," and researchers suggest that weight loss is the primary factor behind this improvement.
It is known that being overweight can exacerbate obstructive sleep apnea, as fat accumulation around the neck can narrow the airway, increasing the likelihood of obstruction during sleep, and excess weight also makes it harder for the lungs to expand.
However, the researchers emphasized that weight loss drugs should not be considered a substitute for "CPAP" devices, especially for those with severe cases.
These devices work by pumping a continuous flow of air through a mask to help keep the airway open during sleep.
There are also still questions about whether sleep apnea symptoms might return after stopping weight loss drugs, given the commonality of weight regain after discontinuing "GLP-1" treatments.
US health authorities approved the use of "tirzepatide" in December 2024 to treat obstructive sleep apnea in obese adults, while the drug is not yet licensed for this purpose in Britain.
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