Professor David Carley of the University of Illinois, Chicago, along with Professor Phyllis Zee of Northwestern University, conducted a study to see the benefits of dronabinol in sleep apnea patients. It was found that the use of dronabinol was able to improve sleep quality in sleep apnea patients.
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The study was conducted by dividing sleep apnea patients into three groups. The first group used high doses of dronabinol, the second group used low-dose dronabinol and the third group used placebo.
The study said the first group to use 10 mg of doses of dronabinol for 6 weeks experienced improved sleep quality. Patients claim to rarely wake up at night, not feeling sleepy and lack of sleep during the move and a better mood.
"Currently there is no drug specifically intended to treat sleep apnea, although research in this sector is very important because 22 million people in the US is suffering from sleep apnea," said Prof. Carley, quoted from EurekAlert!
It is not clear what causes dronabinol to have a beneficial effect on sleep apnea patients. Researchers suspect this is caused by the effects of dronabinol that relaxes the airways and digestion so that air can get in and out into the lungs without a hitch.
Sleep apnea is a sleep disorder in the form of sudden breathing cessation during sleep. Symptoms of sleep apnea include snoring, stopping breathing for a moment, often waking up at night to urinate, choking, and choking on sleep.
The CPAP device or Continuous Positive Airway Pressure is the first and most effective non-surgical sleep apnea treatment available for adults today.
CPAP is a tool to breathe oxygen into the nose only or into the nose and mouth. This positive pressure air will prevent the throat closing and relieve symptoms that arise from sleep apnea.