Many people have tried unsuccessfully to lose weight on their own, and up until recently, they did not have any real options for help without having to undergo surgery. In recent years, GLP-1 weight loss drugs have become available that have proven to help many people lose a significant amount of weight. Some of these medications have been involved in studies looking at additional benefits, like how Zepbound can help sleep apnea.
Today we are going to talk about sleep apnea and how Zephound, which has recently been approved by the FDA for sleep apnea, may eliminate the need for a CPAP machine.
Why Try Medical Weight Loss With Zepbound
Obesity can lead to serious health problems like hypertension, and type 2 diabetes, and in addition to metabolic problems, it can cause another serious issue called obstructive sleep apnea, or OSA. Complications of obesity can strip you of energy and impact your quality of life as well as increase your risk for experiencing a stroke or heart disease.
Losing weight can change your appearance, but more importantly, it can help reduce or even eliminate several different health concerns. Experts have discovered that losing even a small amount of weight (as little as 5%) can significantly improve your health, and fortunately these days we have newer ways to help.
For many people who are over a certain BMI, it is almost impossible to lose weight without some type of medical intervention. Weight loss injections like Zepbound make achieving a healthy weight and maintaining it long-term possible.
What Is OSA (obstructive sleep apnea)?
OSA happens when your airway becomes blocked while you are sleeping, causing several repeated breathing interruptions, which can trigger loud snoring, fatigue during the day, and other health problems that can take their toll on your physical and mental health.
Your body is never able to reach a deep, restful stage of sleep because your body is woken up several times during the night to startle you and restart your breathing. The next day this lack of good sleep can make it hard for you to focus, cause mood swings and memory problems, and make you irritable. If this goes on for too long, it makes it more likely you will experience elevated blood pressure, stroke, heart disease, and insulin resistance, which can result in type 2 diabetes. In very serious cases, OBA can elevate your risk of a sudden cardiac event.
How Does Obstructive Sleep Apnea Happen?
Not every case of OSA is caused by obesity or carrying excess weight. Some of the conditions that can elevate the risks of sleep apnea include;
- It can be a result of certain anatomical features like a narrow airway, a big tongue that can block airflow while you are sleeping, or large tonsils.
- As you age, the muscles in your throat can become weak and lead to OSA. The risks are higher for men than women, although they do increase for women after menopause.
- You can be more at risk for sleep apnea if you have a family history, you are a smoker, or you drink alcohol.
- Taking sedatives can also elevate your risks because they can cause irritation and inflame your airways or cause your throat muscles to relax too much, making it more possible for your airway to collapse.
- If you have allergies or issues with structural nasal congestion, it can make breathing at night more labor intensive.
- Some medical conditions, such as hypothyroidism, polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), or a history of stroke, can elevate your risks of developing sleep apnea.
Zepbound Is Approved By The FDA For Sleep Apnea
The U.S. FDA (Food and Drug Administration) approved Zepbound (tirzepatide) in December 2024 as the first prescription medication that can be used to treat adults with obesity and moderate-to-severe obstructive sleep apnea (OSA). If weight is not determined to be a contributor to the OSA issue, then Zepbound will not be a suitable treatment.
How Can Zepbound Help With Sleep Apnea?
Zepbound was approved in November 2023 as a prescription medication used for treating obesity in adults. It is administered once a week by subcutaneous injection, and the dose starts out very low and gradually increases in strength over a six-month timeframe. It is classified as a GLP-1 agonist medication, which means it copies the GLP-1 and GIP hormones that are made naturally by your body.
The hormones your body makes, like glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) and glucose-dependent insulinotropic polypeptide (GIP), are responsible for controlling your appetite and the speed of your metabolism. Zepbound works with your natural hormones to keep your appetite under control and prevent you from experiencing severe food cravings. It also helps to optimize your metabolism, keeping everything on track and running smoothly so you can lose weight. Carrying extra weight is one of the biggest contributors to obstructive sleep apnea, so reaching and remaining at a stable, healthy weight can significantly lower the severity or even eliminate the issue altogether.
Zepbound Proven To Help Lower Risk For Sleep Apnea
A large medical study (SURMOUNT-OSA) that consisted of 469 adults who were suffering with obstructive sleep apnea and obesity determined that Zepbound was effective in leading many into remission.
The participants in the study were divided into two groups:
- Individuals who were also using PAP therapy (a breathing machine)
- Individuals who were not receiving PAP therapy.
The trial ran for twelve months, and all the participants either took Zepbound (10 or 15 milligrams) or were given a placebo, which is a substance that is inactive and will not affect the final results of the study.
Results Of Zepbound Sleep Apnea Trial Show Significant Promise
The number of times your breathing is interrupted or your breathing becomes very shallow each hour while you are sleeping is measured using the Apnea-Hypopnea Index, or AHI. The more severe the sleep apnea, the higher the AHI number you will have. The results of the study revealed the following:
- The individuals who were not using the breathing machines and were administering weekly Zepbound injections reduced their AHI by 25 events per hour vs. those using the placebo, who only saw a decrease of 5 events per hour.
- The individuals using PAP therapy and Zepbound reduced their AHI by 29 events per hour, compared to a decrease of only 6 for those using the placebo.
After 12 months using Zepbound:
- 42% of those in the group who were not being assisted with breathing machines at night experienced a significant improvement in their sleep apnea, which became very mild or went into total remission, compared to only 16% in the placebo group.
- 50% of the people in the group using a PAP breathing machine reached remission or only experienced mild sleep apnea vs. only 14% of those in the placebo group.
Results For weight loss
- Participants using Zepbound during the year lost an average of 18–20% of their starting body weight, which amounted to about 45 to 50 pounds.
- Individuals taking the placebo lost only around 2% of their starting body weight, which was between 4 and 6 pounds.
The bottom line is that using Zepbound for a year was instrumental in helping the individuals who participated in the study to lose a significant amount of weight. Reducing the amount of excess weight these individuals were carrying had a direct impact on their quality of sleep.
Does Using Zepbound For Sleep Apnea Cause Side Effects?
Zepbound injections assist your natural hormones in doing a better job helping your metabolism function at its best. GLP-1 medications like Zepbound are known for their common gastrointestinal side effects, like nausea, vomiting, constipation, diarrhea, and stomach discomfort. More serious risks are rare but can happen and include pancreatitis, issues with your gallbladder, low blood sugar, kidney issues, and possible thyroid tumors.
Individuals with a family or personal history with medullary thyroid cancer or MEN-2 (multiple endocrine neoplasia syndrome type 2) should not use Zepbound.
Using Zepbound Can Lead To Significant Weight Loss
If you are struggling with your weight, Zepbound (tirzepatide) is a non-surgical medical intervention that can help your efforts count for more.
Dr. Okeefe Simmons at Simmons MD Advanced Weight Loss Solutions can help determine if you are a good candidate for Zepbound. He and his team of professionals are ready to support you every step of the way on your weight loss journey and will give you the guidance, tools, and strategies you need to get control of your weight and improve your health. Conditions like obstructive sleep apnea, high blood pressure, type 2 diabetes, and more can often be improved or even eliminated by losing weight.
Contact Simmons MD Advanced Weight Loss Solutions today to learn more about Zepbound and other proven weight loss strategies that can help you shed pounds and elevate your quality of life. Set up your consultation today!
