Researchers from McMaster University report that solriamfetol stands out as the most effective option for managing excessive daytime sleepiness in people with obstructive sleep apnea (OSA). The conclusions come from a study published in Internal Medicine Annuals, which analyzes how well this drug works in real-world settings.
Obstructive sleep apnea affects roughly a billion people worldwide. The condition occurs when airway closures interrupt breathing during sleep. The standard remedy is continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP), a device that delivers a steady stream of pressurized air through a mask to keep the airways open. While CPAP helps many patients by reducing apnea episodes, daytime sleepiness often lingers for others, impacting energy, mood, and daily functioning.
The recent investigation evaluated 14 anti-fatigue trials involving 3,085 participants. The synthesis points to solriamfetol as likely the most effective option for alleviating daytime sleepiness linked to sleep apnea. Other medications such as armodafinil-modafinil and pitolisant also demonstrated meaningful benefits in several studies, but solriamfetol showed the strongest overall signal in the analyzed data.
It is important to note that solriamfetol can raise blood pressure, a consideration that carries greater risk for those with OSA who may already have elevated cardiovascular risk. Clinicians are advised to weigh this potential effect against the sleep-related improvements when discussing treatment choices with patients. In some cases, monitoring blood pressure and adjusting therapy may be necessary to ensure safety and efficacy.