Overview

The Effects of Trazodone on Sleep Apnea Severity

Status:
Completed
Trial end date:
2014-12-01
Target enrollment:
0
Participant gender:
All
Summary
In Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), the upper airway closes over and over again during sleep. This leads to disrupted sleep (waking up during the night), daytime sleepiness, and an increased risk for developing high blood pressure. Currently, the best treatment for obstructive sleep apnea is sleeping with a mask that continuously blows air into the nose (i.e. Continuous positive airway pressure [CPAP] treatment). While CPAP treatment stops the upper airway from closing in most people, many people have difficulty sleeping with the mask in place and therefore do not use the CPAP treatment. This research study is being conducted to learn whether using a sedative will improve OSA severity by altering some of the traits that are responsible for the disorder.
Phase:
N/A
Accepts Healthy Volunteers?
No
Details
Lead Sponsor:
Brigham and Women's Hospital
Collaborator:
National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI)
Treatments:
Trazodone
Criteria
Inclusion Criteria for OSA Patients:

- OSA (elevated AHI).

- Age range 18-70 years.

Exclusion Criteria:

- Any known cardiac (apart from treated hypertension), pulmonary (including asthma),
renal, neurologic (including epilepsy), neuromuscular, or hepatic disease.

- Susceptible to stomach ulcers.

- Pregnant women.

- History of hypersensitivity to Afrin, Lidocaine, trazodone and/or donepezil.

- History of bleeding diathesis and/or gastrointestinal bleeding.

- Use of any medications that may affect sleep or breathing.

- A psychiatric disorder, other than mild depression; e.g. schizophrenia, bipolar
disorder, major depression, panic or anxiety disorders.

- Substantial cigarette (>5/day), alcohol (>3oz/day) or use of illicit drugs.

- More than 10 cups of beverages with caffeine (coffee, tea, soda/pop) per day.

- Desaturations to below 70% lasting greater than 10 seconds in duration per event on
polysomnography.