Role of protriptyline and acetazolamide in the sleep apnea/hypopnea syndrome.

Abstract

The role of drug therapy in the treatment of the sleep apnea/hypopnea syndrome is unclear. In a randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled study, we investigated the value of 14-day therapy with protriptyline (20 mg daily) or acetazolamide (250 mg 4 times per day) on symptoms and on the frequency of apneas, hypopneas, arousals, and 4% desaturations in 10 patients with obstructive sleep apnea/hypopnea syndrome. Overall, protriptyline did not have a significant effect either on symptoms or on any of the above polysomnographic criteria. Acetazolamide reduced the apnea/hypopnea frequency [placebo 50 +/- 26 (SD); acetazolamide 26 +/- 20/h of sleep, p less than 0.03] and tended to decrease the frequency of 4% desaturations (placebo 29 +/- 20; acetazolamide 19 +/- 16/h of sleep, p = 0.06). Despite these physiological improvements, acetazolamide did not significantly improve symptoms and paraesthesiae were common. Contrary to earlier studies, we conclude that protriptyline may have a limited role in the treatment of the sleep apnea syndrome. The reason why acetazolamide produced a physiological, but not a symptomatic, response requires further investigation.

• Authors: K F Whyte, G A Gould, M A Airlie, C M Shapiro, N J Douglas
• Journal: Sleep (Sleep) Vol. 11 Issue 5 Pg. 463-72 (Oct 1988) ISSN: 0161-8105 [Print] United States
• PMID: 3067313 (Publication Type: Clinical Trial, Comparative Study, Journal Article, Randomized Controlled Trial)

Chemical References

• Dibenzocycloheptenes
• Protriptyline
• Acetazolamide

Topics

• Acetazolamide (adverse effects, therapeutic use)
• Adult
• Aged
• Clinical Trials as Topic
• Dibenzocycloheptenes (therapeutic use)
• Double-Blind Method
• Female
• Humans
• Male
• Middle Aged
• Monitoring, Physiologic
• Protriptyline (adverse effects, therapeutic use)
• Sleep Apnea Syndromes (drug therapy)