Sedating medications and apnea events

[Dyssomniac]

After using my machine for two months, I'm usually hitting AHI's under 1.0 most nights. Usually I don't take any medications, and use a neti pot before bed to keep my nose as clear as possible.

Last night, though, I was getting over a cold, my nose was in bad shape and I was concerned I wouldn't sleep well, so I took a 25mg Benadryl at bedtime. Seemed to sleep fine, but I noticed in SleepyHead this morning that my AHI was up to 3.46. Clear airway, flow limitation, RERA and Cheyne Stokes didn't change, but obstructive index was 5x normal, and hypopnea index was twice normal.

I realize that every now and then AHI's will go up and I'm not worried about this, just curious. Is it usual for this to happen with a sedating medication? It makes sense that if you're out more deeply your throat muscles might relax more and events could be generated. When I was first using the machine I used Chlortimetron (which has a milder sedating effect) a few nights for my nose and noticed a similar trend.

[Terry]

It makes sense that if you're out more deeply your throat muscles might relax more and events could be generated. When I was first using the machine I used Chlortimetron (which has a milder sedating effect) a few nights for my nose and noticed a similar trend.

I have no idea about that particular med, but there are certianly all sorts of drugs that make apnea worse including alcohol and various narcotics.

Terry

[Ghost1958]

I would hazard a guess that since OAs are due to tissue relaxing in your airway and falling closed that any med that made you sleepy or sleep more deeply than normal would worsen that tendency.

[Jim Bronson]

I would hazard a guess that since OAs are due to tissue relaxing in your airway and falling closed that any med that made you sleepy or sleep more deeply than normal would worsen that tendency.

OTOH, if a patient's body isn't relaxed, then it's not ready for sleep. If he/she can't relax for some psychological reason, then sleep is difficult. If a med can help the whole body, including the airway, relax, and the CPAP therapy can reduce OA events, then it should help the whole sleep process. For some patients, only a combination of CPAP therapy and the right meds constitute a complete sleep solution.