Using Medication for Sleep Apnea
Sleep apnea is a condition that is characterized by temporary breathing interruptions during sleep. It is a very common disorder, one that affects millions of people worldwide and one that certainly can be very frightening. Sufferers of this condition experience pauses in their breathing while they are sleeping but they may not even notice it at all.
There are a few different types of sleep apnea that one may experience, one of the most common being obstructive sleep apnea. The reason that obstructive sleep apnea occurs is because during sleep enough air is not able to get into the lungs through the mouth and nose. As a result of this, the amount of oxygen in the blood tends to drop significantly and a pause in breathing occurs, usually signified by a loud snort or choking sound.
What To Do
There are a few different treatment methods that are available for this condition, but medication for sleep apnea has proven to be very effective. Because of this is now one of the most popular treatments. When it comes to using medication for sleep apnea, there are a few different options you can choose from.
Modafinil is the most commonly used medication for sleep apnea, and it is a pill that should be taken once a day to help decrease sleepiness during the day. It works by affecting certain chemicals in the brain and as a result helps to improve alertness and memory. There are a few side effects that may be experienced as a result of taking this medication for sleep apnea which you are going to want to be aware of before starting on the drug. This includes headache, nausea, nervousness and anxiety, upset stomach, diarrhea, dizziness, and back pain. If you experience any of these symptoms you should speak to your doctor as soon as possible and stop taking the medication.
Keep in mind that although this is a very commonly used treatment, doctors will usually not recommend the use of medication for sleep apnea until other methods of treatment have been tried to no avail. But you still need to go to the doctor first.
Although sleep apnea is definitely a frightening condition, it is not usually dangerous and so you should not be worried if you or someone you love is suffering from it. Just make sure that you work together with your doctor so that you can relieve your condition as much as possible and feel your best.
