Hormonal
Tirzepatide may allow some patients with moderate OSA (AHI 15-30) who are asymptomatic (except for snoring) to discontinue CPAP, as the benefit of CPAP in this subgroup is unclear.
If you have moderate OSA and are not sleepy (only snoring), ask your doctor if you can try tirzepatide alone. Since CPAP's benefit in asymptomatic moderate OSA is unclear, tirzepatide might resolve your OPA without the need for a machine. This requires monitoring and may not be suitable for everyone.
Patients with moderate OSA in the AHI 15–30 range who are asymptomatic except for snoring could be treated with tirzepatide alone and not CPAP since it is not clear that CPAP is beneficial in asymptomatic patients with moderate sleep apnea.
Why this rating
Based on expert opinion and the known efficacy of tirzepatide, but lacks direct RCT evidence for CPAP discontinuation in this specific subgroup.
Source
What will the impact be of use of tirzepatide in patients with obstructive sleep apnea (OSA)?
Allan I Pack et al. · SLEEP · 2025
DOI 10.1093/sleep/zsaf045
More from this paper
- Tirzepatide significantly reduces apnea-hypopnea index (AHI) and resolves obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) in obese patients, with approximately 50% achieving resolution after 52 weeks of treatment.Strong
- Tirzepatide should be used in combination with CPAP for patients with severe OSA, as the drug takes 6-12 months to significantly reduce AHI, leaving patients at risk during the interim.Good
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