The most common treatments for sleep apnea include:
In addition to treatments for sleep apnea, it is important to manage other conditions, such as high blood pressure, that often exist along with it.
- Continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP). In this treatment, a nasal device attached to a machine with a blower unit helps keep the airway open. CPAP is the most common treatment used for obstructive sleep apnea.
- Armodafinil and modafinil. These stimulant medications can help relieve sleepiness in people who do not respond well enough to CPAP alone.
- Solriamfetol (Sunosi) this medication can be used to improve wakefulness in people who have excessive sleepiness due to sleep apnea.
- Oral appliance therapy. Devices move the tongue, lower jaw, or soft palate forward, which opens the airway.
- Weight loss. If you are obese, losing weight can decrease risk for sleep apnea by reducing fat deposits in the neck. It also reduces many of the other risks associated with sleep apnea, such as heart disease.
- Surgery. This may be an option if other treatments don’t work.