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Re: Central Apnea - AntiDepres. Caused?

Posted by Sandman on July 20, 2008 at 14:21:59:

In Reply to: Central Apnea - AntiDepres. Caused? posted by dars on July 20, 2008 at 12:20:04:

Actually most ADs SSRI's and SSNRI's (Cymbalta) reduce the severity of sleep apnea by decreasing the amount of REM sleep. The most severe sleep apnea occurs in REM (including central sleep apnea) so it appears to help the airway but it actually doesn't once you factor in less REM sleep. I am not aware of SSRI's or SSNRI's causing central sleep apnea and I do not think they effect muscle tone.

True central apnea is usually due to neurological problems and the best treatment is bi-level PAP.

However, accurate diagnosis of central sleep apnea can be difficult. When scoring a study, if there appears to me no effort and no air flow it is scored a central event. That doesn't mean it was a truly central apnea, it just means the sensors measuring movement didn't pick up movement. Effort can happen without movement. Seen it happen many times. If the sleep lab using endoesophageal pressure to make the diagnosis of central apnea then it can be scored as a true central event, however, sometimes even these events can respond to CPAP.

The easy way of determining if they are central is with CPAP set up with your required pressure. If you still show centrals then there is a strong possibility they you do have central events, if they go away then they just appeared to be central. We used to call it Cpap responders vs cpap non-responders.

Bottom line, my opinion is the anti depressants are not causing central apnea, and it is possible they are not truly central events.

Best wishes,
Sandman

Disclaimer, I am not an MD and my opinions should not be taken as medical advice. If you feel that you need assistance with medications and/or diagnosis, you should seek medical advice from a qualified physician.


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  • Sleep Deprivation due to Sleep Apnea and insufficient sleep are common and can present as insomnia, narcolepsy, or idiopathic hypersomnia. In infants and children sleep problems commonly present themselves as ADD or ADHD.


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