Zepbound for Sleep Apnea: A New Alternative to CPAP Therapy
Struggling with CPAP? See how the weight-loss drug Zepbound may help treat sleep apnea and improve your breathing—without the need for a machine.
By Roman Krol, MD, Pulmonologist, Virtua Pulmonology & Sleep Medicine
A continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) machine is often the primary treatment for sleep apnea. But with an uncomfortable mask and hose, people can struggle with their CPAP—sometimes giving it up altogether.
Zepbound, a GLP-1 weight-loss drug, is offering new hope for people who are overweight or obese and living with sleep apnea.
How does weight affect your sleep?
Obesity has become a cardinal driver of sleep apnea. In people carrying excess weight, fat accumulates around the pharynx, a muscular tube in the throat that helps you breathe and digest food. Pharyngeal fat narrows your airway, making breathing more difficult.
In addition, increased abdominal fat can compress the chest wall and diaphragm, reducing your lung capacity and airflow.
If you have a BMI of at least 30 and a moderate-to-severe obstructive sleep apnea diagnosis from a sleep study, Virtua pulmonologists may prescribe the GLP-1 drug Zepbound.
How can Zepbound help with sleep apnea?
Zepbound is the only weight-loss drug approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration to treat sleep apnea. Studies have found that adults with obesity and moderate-to-severe sleep apnea who took Zepbound experienced fewer pauses in breathing, even without a CPAP machine.
Not only will your episodes of sleep apnea diminish, but your blood pressure and cholesterol will improve, you’ll have less acid reflux, and your joints will feel better. This drug has truly helped change the way that we treat sleep apnea.
What if I do need a CPAP?
One of the most challenging parts of CPAP therapy is mask tolerance. It took nine masks to find one that works for me. If your pulmonologist does recommend CPAP therapy, they will find the type of mask that works best for you.
We also may explore additional options for treating sleep apnea, such as nerve stimulators, dental appliances, and surgery.
I tell my patients that every little part of them is important. The quantity and quality of your sleep matters.
If you’re experiencing poor sleep, we can determine which therapy is most effective for you. Know there is hope, not just to get better, but to cure your sleep apnea.
We can help you get better sleep
If better sleep is your goal—and let’s face it, we all could use it—Virtua can help get you there. Virtua Health’s sleep specialists are here to help diagnose and treat sleep disorders. Call 888-847-8823 to make an appointment.
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