Mounjaro’s slimming drug has been approved for the treatment of sleep apnea. How does it work?

Australia last week Administration of therapeutic goods (Tga) approved Mounjaro weighing medicine To treat sleep apnea, a state in which breathing stops and begins many times during sleep.

TGA pointed out that Mounjaro can be used to treat moderate to severe obstructive sleep apnea in adults with obesity (body mass index 30 or more).

. Food and Drug Administration in the United States He approved the same drug for sleep apnea last year.

How do this drug, most often used for weight management and conditions, such as type 2 diabetes, lend a hand people with sleep apnea?

What is sleep apnea?

Obstructive sleep apnea is a widespread sleep disorder that has almost influence 1 billion people all over the world. It is characterized by repetitive respiratory closures during sleep (called “called” “Anpnoeas“). It can be partial or complete closure, which means that breathing can become shallow or stop completely.

In addition to causing fragmentary sleep, the repetitive collapse of the respiratory tract disrupts the flow of oxygen to the body. It will stretch the heart and contribute to increased risk cardiovascular and metabolic complications such as Diabetes, high blood pressure and stroke.

Obesity is one of the key factors of obstructive sleep apnea. ABOUT 80% of people Live with obesity with the condition. In fact, obesity and sleep apnea divide two -way relationshipAs the obesity increases the risk of developing sleep apnea and vice versa.

Obesity increases the risk of sleep apnea by adding fat on the neck, which narrows the respiratory tract and affects breathing during sleep.

In turn, sleep apnea can contribute to weight gain by disrupting hormones regulating hunger (Grelin) and full signals (leptin). Tiredness also contributes, which makes it complex to maintain a hearty weight and easier to gain weight over time, creating incorrect cycle where every condition worsens the second.

Weight loss is a key part Treatment of sleep apnea. Helps reduce the severity of symptoms, and also reduces the risk of heart disease and other health problems that may occur as a result Sleep apnea. However, achieving and maintaining weight loss through lifestyle changes is often complex.

Constant positive respiratory pressure (CPAP) is generally First -line therapy for moderate management to powerful sleep apnea. It provides a constant pressure stream through the mask to maintain an open respiratory tract during sleep, which stabilizes breathing and improves sleep quality.

Despite effective treatment, many people think that the CPAP machine is uncomfortable, unattractive or complex to apply regularly. This may mean that people are not always Take care of it.

Considering a significant man and Economic costs of sleep apnea It is critical to investigate up-to-date prevention and management strategies.

What is Mounjaro and how can people with sleep apnea lend a hand?

Mounjaro is a brand name of the drug called Tirrzepatide. Elsewhere it is about other brands, such as Zepbound.

Tirrzepatide works by Imitating two hormonal receptors In the PepTid-1 intestine similar to glucagon (GLP-1) and insulinotropic polypeptide (GIP).

These two hormones They play a key role in the regulation of our appetite, food consumption and blood sugar levels. GLP-1 and GIP are released naturally in the body when we eat, but by imitating their effects, the tirpatid allows people to feel more complete with smaller meals.

If a person eats less, it can lead to weight loss.

IN Study of 469 people In the case of obesity and moderate to severe obstructive sleep apnea, one year of treatment was associated with a decrease in the severity of sleep apnea. This is compared to a 3% reduction in placebo people.

In addition, evidence indicates that the girl is associated with improvements in A few key health indicatorsincluding reduced systemic inflammation, Increased insulin sensitivity and lower blood pressure. Changes such as these It can improve breathing functions and lend a hand protect against cardiovascular and metabolic complications, which are common results of untreated sleep apnea.

Are there any side effects?

While Mounjaro can be helpful for people with sleep apnea, gastrointestinal and life side effects They are relatively common for this medicine. They can include nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, constipation and loss of appetite. These side effects usually disappear when a person gets used to the medicine.

Some patients also reported Gallbladder problems.

Despite these fears, it is Interest in Mounjaro as a treatment of sleep apnea Because it provides the first pharmaceutical option for a state that traditionally relied on mechanical procedures such as CPAP machines.

To say, it is critical to notice that Mounjaro is indicated for apply in patients with obesity and Not all patients He is overweight or obese with sleep apnea.

In some People with a healthy weightA narrow skeletal structure or upper respiratory tract anatomy, such as a larger cushioned palate (which can reduce the respiratory tract space and augment susceptibility to collapse during sleep), can contribute to obstructive sleep apnea.

In the case of these patients, non -pharmacological treatment options, such as mandible development devices (oral devices that move the lower jaw forward and maintain open respiratory tract) and surgery of the upper respiratory tract, may be needed to effectively manage this condition.

Mounjaro is given as a weekly injection. In Australia, Mounjaro is currently not subsidized as part of the pharmaceutical benefits program and is available only on the basis of a private prescription, and prices start around 395 USD per month. A significant cost of your own pocket will limit access to Mounjaro for many patients.

Approved Mounjaro for the treatment of sleep apnea can offer up-to-date hope to many people. However, taking into account the variety of patients’ presentations and constrained data from gigantic population tests, it is too early to say whether this will transform appetite care in Australia.