Study Suggests Epilepsy Drug Sulthiame May Help Treat Sleep Apnea

Follow Drugslib on

By HealthDay Staff HealthDay Reporter

Medically reviewed by Judith Stewart, BPharm. Last updated on March 12, 2026.

via HealthDay

THURSDAY, March 12, 2026 — A drug used in Europe to treat epilepsy may help people with obstructive sleep apnea breathe more easily during sleep, according to a new clinical trial.

Researchers found that the medication sulthiame reduced breathing interruptions and improved oxygen levels overnight in people with moderate to severe sleep apnea.

The findings were published recently in the journal The Lancet.

The study included 298 adults with sleep apnea from four European countries. One-quarter of them received a placebo, while the rest were given different doses of sulthiame.

Neither the participants nor the researchers knew who received the real drug.

People who received higher doses of sulthiame had up to 47% fewer breathing interruptions during sleep compared with those taking a placebo. They also showed better oxygen levels overnight, researchers reported.

The drug appears to help by improving the body’s control of breathing. This may reduce the odds of the airway collapsing during sleep, which is the main cause of obstructive sleep apnea.

Most side effects reported in the study were mild and temporary.

Lead researcher Jan Hedner, a senior professor of pulmonary medicine at the University of Gothenburg in Sweden, said the findings could open the door to new treatment options.

"We have been working on this treatment strategy for a long time, and the results show that sleep apnea can indeed be influenced pharmacologically," he said.

"We now look forward to larger and longer studies to determine whether the effect is sustained over time and whether the treatment is safe for broader patient groups," Hedner added.

Obstructive sleep apnea occurs when the upper airway repeatedly collapses during sleep, causing pauses in breathing and drops in oxygen levels.

These interruptions can disturb sleep throughout the night.

Over time, untreated sleep apnea increases the risk of serious health problems such as high blood pressure, heart disease, stroke and type 2 diabetes.

The most common treatment today is continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP). This device uses a mask to keep the airway open during sleep.

Although CPAP works well, many patients struggle to use it.

Studies show that up to half of patients stop using CPAP within a year, often because the mask feels uncomfortable or disrupts sleep.

Sulthiame has already been approved in some countries as a treatment for childhood epilepsy. Researchers are now studying whether it could also become the first medication that directly treats sleep apnea.

The drug is considered an investigational drug in the U.S. and Canada.

Sources

  • University of Gothenburg, news release, March 11, 2026

    • Disclaimer: Statistical data in medical articles provide general trends and do not pertain to individuals. Individual factors can vary greatly. Always seek personalized medical advice for individual healthcare decisions.

    Source: HealthDay

    Posted : 2026-03-13 01:48

    Read more

    Disclaimer

    Every effort has been made to ensure that the information provided by Drugslib.com is accurate, up-to-date, and complete, but no guarantee is made to that effect. Drug information contained herein may be time sensitive. Drugslib.com information has been compiled for use by healthcare practitioners and consumers in the United States and therefore Drugslib.com does not warrant that uses outside of the United States are appropriate, unless specifically indicated otherwise. Drugslib.com's drug information does not endorse drugs, diagnose patients or recommend therapy. Drugslib.com's drug information is an informational resource designed to assist licensed healthcare practitioners in caring for their patients and/or to serve consumers viewing this service as a supplement to, and not a substitute for, the expertise, skill, knowledge and judgment of healthcare practitioners.

    The absence of a warning for a given drug or drug combination in no way should be construed to indicate that the drug or drug combination is safe, effective or appropriate for any given patient. Drugslib.com does not assume any responsibility for any aspect of healthcare administered with the aid of information Drugslib.com provides. The information contained herein is not intended to cover all possible uses, directions, precautions, warnings, drug interactions, allergic reactions, or adverse effects. If you have questions about the drugs you are taking, check with your doctor, nurse or pharmacist.

    Popular Keywords