Researchers in the US are trying to come up with a medicine that will stop snoring and treat sleep apnea.
Snoring is something that no one can really control. The moment one steps into dreamland and their body fully relaxes, they start snoring without really being aware of what that does to the person sleeping next to them. Snoring, for sure, has led to many fights and sleepless nights. But what would you say if we tell you that there might be a drug in the making that can be the remedy for snoring?
WHY DO PEOPLE SNORE?
Loud snoring is generally a result of sleep apnea. It is most common in obese people. Sleep Apnea is a disorder which results in snoring and interrupted breathing. When a person sleeps, the muscles in the airway naturally relax but in the case of a person suffering from sleep apnoea, these muscles completely collapse.
As a result, the air is pushed out from a smaller gap in the throat which ultimately leads in snoring. This can also lead to interrupted breathing.
WHAT WILL THE PILL DO?
In 2018, researchers from the Brigham and Women’s Hospital in Boston, US, conducted a study with 20 snorers. They gave them two drugs which showed great improvement in the patients. One of the two medicines was atomoxetine. The drug that has been in use for 20 years is generally given to children who suffer from Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD).
The other drug was oxybutynin. It is given to patients with urinary incontinence. It reduces the spasms in muscles that control the bladder. Both these medicines are known to control the muscles, that is why a combination was given to the people taking part in the study. It showed great improvement as well.
This is why the new medicine which is currently code-named as AD109 is a combination of these two. A US firm is making the drug and a clinical trial is being set up. However, both these drugs are also known to have various side effects and that is why more research is needed on the medication.
