BACKGROUND: The treatment of choice for moderate to severe @entity27 ( @entity27 ) is continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) via a mask during sleep. However this is not tolerated by all @entity1 and its role in mild @entity27 is not proven. Drug therapy has been proposed as an alternative to CPAP in some @entity1 with mild to moderate @entity25 . The mechanisms by which drugs might reduce @entity27 include; a reduction in the proportion of rapid eye movement (REM) sleep (during which apnoeas tend to be more frequent), an increase in ventilatory drive or an increase in upper airway muscle tone during sleep. OBJECTIVES: To determine the efficacy of drug therapies in the treatment of @entity25 . SEARCH STRATEGY: Searches were carried out on the Cochrane Airways Group RCT Register. Additional hand searching was performed as relevant. SELECTION CRITERIA: Double blind, randomised placebo controlled trials were included, involving @entity1 with @entity27 . Trials were excluded if continuous positive airways pressure, mandibular devices or @entity26 therapy were used. No restriction was placed upon publication language or trial duration. DATA COLLECTION AND ANALYSIS: A total of 51 references were identified by electronic searches. 42 studies were retrieved for selection and 9 trials were included in the review. The results for 91 @entity1 were available. No response for further information was forthcoming from the study authors. Results were expressed as (WMD) and 95% Confidence Intervals (95% CI) MAIN RESULTS: Only @entity3791 reduced the Hypopnoea Index (1 crossover trial of 9 @entity1 , Weighted Mean Difference -24; 95%Confidence Intervals (95% CI): -4, -44). However there was no symptomatic response and the drug was poorly tolerated. @entity6700 led to a symptomatic improvement (improved vs not improved) in two out of three crossover trials (13 @entity1 , Peto Odds Ratio 29.2; 95%CI 2.8, 301.1) but there was no change in the apnoea frequency. No beneficial effects were found for medroxy @entity1420 , @entity1338 , @entity5633 , @entity3416 , @entity2544 or @entity69224 . REVIEWER'S CONCLUSIONS: The data available do not support the use of drugs as a therapy for @entity27 . Although the studies examined had limitations there was little to justify further trials of these particular drugs.

Drug treatments for XXXX .

@entity1 :: ('9606', 'Species') :: ['patients'] @entity6700 :: ('MESH:D011530', 'Chemical') :: ['Protriptyline'] @entity2544 :: ('MESH:D013806', 'Chemical') :: ['theophylline'] @entity5633 :: ('MESH:D002065', 'Chemical') :: ['buspirone'] @entity3416 :: ('MESH:D000628', 'Chemical') :: ['aminophylline'] @entity1420 :: ('MESH:D011374', 'Chemical') :: ['progesterone'] @entity3791 :: ('MESH:D000086', 'Chemical') :: ['acetazolamide'] @entity26 :: ('MESH:D010100', 'Chemical') :: ['oxygen'] @entity27 :: ('MESH:D020181', 'Disease') :: ['obstructive sleep apnoea', 'confirmed obstructive sleep apnoea', 'OSA'] @entity69224 :: ('MESH:C055163', 'Chemical') :: ['sabeluzole'] @entity1338 :: ('MESH:D003000', 'Chemical') :: ['clonidine'] @entity25 :: ('MESH:D012893', 'Disease') :: ['sleep apnoea']
@entity27 :: (MESH:D020181,Disease) :: ['obstructive sleep apnoea']
