Scientists in Europe tested a pill called sulthiame to see if it helps people who have trouble breathing while they sleep. The drug may let them breathe easier and sleep better.
The trial involved 298 adults with moderate to severe sleep apnea. One quarter received a harmless sugar pill, while the others got different amounts of sulthiame. Neither the participants nor the doctors knew who got the real medicine.
Big Drop in Breathing Stops
People who took the higher doses had about 47 % fewer breathing pauses than those on the sugar pill. Their oxygen levels at night also improved.
Sulthiame works by steadying the brain’s signal to breathe and by making the breathing drive stronger. This stops the throat from collapsing, which is the main reason for obstructive sleep apnea. Most side effects were mild and went away quickly.
Professor Jan Hedner from the University of Gothenburg led the research. He said the results feel like a breakthrough and that larger studies are needed to see if the benefits last and are safe for more people.
Other researchers from the same university, Ludger Grote and Kaj Stenlöf, also helped with the work.
Why a New Treatment Is Needed
Obstructive sleep apnea happens when the airway closes repeatedly during sleep. This stops breathing for a few seconds, lowers oxygen, and breaks up sleep. Over time, it can cause high blood pressure, heart disease, stroke, and diabetes.
Today, the main treatment is a CPAP machine that blows air through a mask to keep the airway open. While CPAP works well, many people find the mask uncomfortable and stop using it within a year.
Sulthiame is already approved for a type of childhood epilepsy. Researchers are now testing if the same drug can become a pill‑based option for sleep apnea, giving patients an alternative to masks.