Treatment with APAP may result in many of the same side effects as CPAP treatment. These include nasal stuffiness, dry mouth, or a sore throat upon awakening. However, some people find that APAP is less likely to cause discomfort from the flow of pressurized air into the mask.
APAP devices are also known as auto-CPAPs, and they may be used as an initial treatment for people with obstructive sleep apnea that do not have other breathing disorders or difficulties. BiPAP machines are generally not first prescribed for obstructive sleep apnea. Instead, BiPAP therapy is often tried when a person with OSA cannot tolerate CPAP or APAP treatment.