Beneficial effect of donepezil on obstructive sleep apnea: a double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trial.

Abstract

INTRODUCTION/OBJECTIVES:

Previous publications have shown beneficial effects of cholinergic medication on obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) in Alzheimer's disease (AD) patients. We hypothesized that cholinergic medication could also improve OSA in non-AD patients. The present study evaluated the effects of donepezil on OSA in non-AD patients.

METHODS:

A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study was conducted. The final sample consisted of 21 male patients with mild to severe OSA and AHI >10 divided into two groups, a donepezil-treated group (n=11) and a placebo-treated group (n=10). The dosage was one tablet/day (5 mg) for the first two weeks and two tablets/day (10 mg) for the last two weeks. Polysomnography and sleepiness evaluations were performed at baseline and after one month of treatment. Groups were compared using two-way ANOVA for repeated measures with treatment-group and treatment-time as the main factors and time-treatment as an interaction effect.

RESULTS:

Considering the effect of the interaction with time-treatment, there was a significant improvement in the obstructive apnea/hypopnea index, desaturation index, percentage of time with O(2) saturation ≤3% lower than baseline, lowest oxygen saturation, and the Epworth Sleepiness Scale (ESS) scores with donepezil treatment (p<0.05). Sleep efficiency significantly decreased (p<0.01).

CONCLUSIONS:

Donepezil treatment improved obstructive sleep apnea index, oxygen saturation, and sleepiness in parallel with a reduction in sleep efficiency. Our findings support the concept that cholinergic transmission may influence breathing regulation in OSA patients.

• Authors: Lucia Sukys-Claudino, Walter Moraes, Christian Guilleminault, Sergio Tufik, Dalva Poyares
• Journal: Sleep medicine (Sleep Med) Vol. 13 Issue 3 Pg. 290-6 (Mar 2012) ISSN: 1878-5506 [Electronic] Netherlands
• PMID: 22281004 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Randomized Controlled Trial, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't)
• Copyright: Copyright © 2011 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Chemical References

• Cholinesterase Inhibitors
• Indans
• Piperidines
• Placebos
• Donepezil
• Oxygen

Topics

• Adult
• Aged
• Cholinesterase Inhibitors (administration & dosage, adverse effects)
• Donepezil
• Double-Blind Method
• Humans
• Indans (administration & dosage, adverse effects)
• Male
• Middle Aged
• Oxygen (blood)
• Piperidines (administration & dosage, adverse effects)
• Placebos
• Polysomnography
• Sleep Apnea, Obstructive (diagnosis, drug therapy)
• Sleep Stages (drug effects)
• Treatment Outcome