Sleep research led to a new sleep apnea drug • Hacker News Board

Re: Sleep research led to a new sleep apnea drug

#111

Post by nemo44x » Sat, May 23, 2026, 12:41 PM UTC

petesergeant wrote: post #81

gpt5 wrote: post #2

People should be more aware of the symptoms of sleep apneas - the lack of energy during the day, feeling tired, waking up throughout the night, waking up tired/exhausted, etc. People with untreated sleep apnea have multiple folds higher chances to be depressed, unemployed, and have trouble with basic life functions, in addition to the long term health consequences of depriving your brain from Oxygen. I've suggested 4…

> Treatment with CPAP is highly effective in eliminating these symptoms … for those who tolerate it. Numbers are all over the place, but roughly people who start it are only 50% likely to still be using it properly after a year.

I don’t know but I wonder if people that have insomnia or similar difficulty falling asleep (anxiety, etc) struggle with a CPAP. I am fortunate to fall asleep very easily, usually within 3-5 minutes or even faster. And I use a CPAP (nose saddles not a full mask), and prefer it to not using one while sleeping. The way it just opens all passageways is relaxing and I think helps fall asleep even more quickly.

Re: Sleep research led to a new sleep apnea drug

#112

Post by gniv » Sat, May 23, 2026, 12:44 PM UTC

gpt5 wrote: post #2

People should be more aware of the symptoms of sleep apneas - the lack of energy during the day, feeling tired, waking up throughout the night, waking up tired/exhausted, etc. People with untreated sleep apnea have multiple folds higher chances to be depressed, unemployed, and have trouble with basic life functions, in addition to the long term health consequences of depriving your brain from Oxygen. I've suggested 4…

I bought a connected oxymeter (viatom). I wore it overnight on my finger with the phone nearby. The graph on the app shows exact values through the night so you can see how many time oxygen drops and for how long. It's not quite as good as the real thing but should give you an idea, and it's cheap.

Re: Sleep research led to a new sleep apnea drug

#113

Post by voakbasda » Sat, May 23, 2026, 1:27 PM UTC

petesergeant wrote: post #82

patrickdavey wrote: post #23

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I've tried a CPAP machine for 6 weeks and felt no different and gave up. I think I was a 6 on the scale. I wish it had worked though! Currently I've just given up and embracing feeling relatively tired all the time. I've tried side sleeping devices (woody knows backpack) mandibular advancement splints etc. So hard to tell (I find anyway) to get to a definitive answer

Three more things to try if you haven’t, on a “can’t hurt” basis: nightly Avamys spray (might need a scrip depending on where you are), magnesium glycinate before bed, little bits of plastic that go inside the nostril and hold them open.

I just discovered magnesium glycinate provides significant relief for my night sweats. I might have some undiagnosed apnea, but the sweats have been the only apparent symptom (and may be caused by a completely unrelated problem). Taking 400mg before bed seems to have turned off the symptom like a switch. YMMV, of course.

Annoyingly, this symptom had been discussed with numerous doctors for over a decade. I got zero constructive advice from the medical establishment. In most cases, they even showed disinterest and moved on as quickly as possible. Beyond worthless.

On a lark, I fed an AI a two sentence prompt and one follow-up question, and it was able to piece together data and give me the suggestion with solid reasoning behind why it might work. In less than 30 seconds.

Re: Sleep research led to a new sleep apnea drug

#114

Post by antisthenes » Sat, May 23, 2026, 2:04 PM UTC

Shadowmist wrote: post #58

shermantanktop wrote: post #45

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Having been down this path, it’s evident to me that the US has built up a sizable medical equipment industry around CPAP machines and their supplies. The sleep doctors who prescribe them don’t have many alternatives, so it’s the normal treatment they hand out. So it’s not a surprise that a casual mention of sleep quality ended with a CPAP machine rented by the month. It’s kind of what happened to me.

Better to outright buy the machine online, then open it up and disable the modem.

Why in the world does a CPAP machine need a modem?

Re: Sleep research led to a new sleep apnea drug

#115

Post by radial_symmetry » Sat, May 23, 2026, 2:12 PM UTC

gpt5 wrote: post #2

People should be more aware of the symptoms of sleep apneas - the lack of energy during the day, feeling tired, waking up throughout the night, waking up tired/exhausted, etc. People with untreated sleep apnea have multiple folds higher chances to be depressed, unemployed, and have trouble with basic life functions, in addition to the long term health consequences of depriving your brain from Oxygen. I've suggested 4…

100% agree. I can cleanly divide my life into before and after treatment for sleep apnea, I didn't realize I wasn't supposed to feel awful and tired all the time.

Re: Sleep research led to a new sleep apnea drug

#116

Post by jrm4 » Sat, May 23, 2026, 2:19 PM UTC

I often get (perhaps reasonable) pushback for this, but the level to which CPAP equipment and supplies are gatekept by the industry is absurd. They're a fan tube, a mild heating element, and a sensor, and I'm nearly certain that it would be pretty difficult to harm yourself using one "wrong" -- especially as opposed to other medical items and drugs available OTC.

Also, yes, they're pretty cool. I don't love that I seem to need mine right now, but at least I know a guy. :)

Re: Sleep research led to a new sleep apnea drug

#117

Post by xivzgrev » Sat, May 23, 2026, 2:19 PM UTC

gpt5 wrote: post #2

People should be more aware of the symptoms of sleep apneas - the lack of energy during the day, feeling tired, waking up throughout the night, waking up tired/exhausted, etc. People with untreated sleep apnea have multiple folds higher chances to be depressed, unemployed, and have trouble with basic life functions, in addition to the long term health consequences of depriving your brain from Oxygen. I've suggested 4…

Yes the lead is buried in the article.

The drug reduces AHI by 4. It could only cure very mild sleep apnea. Otherwise it seems most useful as an additional treatment with CPAP.

It could also help raise awareness of sleep apnea - try the drug first. Don't see any changes? Ok now try CPAP.

Re: Sleep research led to a new sleep apnea drug

#118

Post by jrm4 » Sat, May 23, 2026, 2:19 PM UTC

petesergeant wrote: post #81

gpt5 wrote: post #2

People should be more aware of the symptoms of sleep apneas - the lack of energy during the day, feeling tired, waking up throughout the night, waking up tired/exhausted, etc. People with untreated sleep apnea have multiple folds higher chances to be depressed, unemployed, and have trouble with basic life functions, in addition to the long term health consequences of depriving your brain from Oxygen. I've suggested 4…

> Treatment with CPAP is highly effective in eliminating these symptoms … for those who tolerate it. Numbers are all over the place, but roughly people who start it are only 50% likely to still be using it properly after a year.

That seems -- quite high actually?

Re: Sleep research led to a new sleep apnea drug

#119

Post by jrm4 » Sat, May 23, 2026, 2:21 PM UTC

kiddz wrote: post #25

I have severe obstructive sleep apnea -- am 6ft and 210. I wear a CPAP and now swear by it. A couple things to help those who try: 1) Make sure you have a CPAP machine with a water tank so the forced air is moist. For me, if the water runs out, that's when I wake up bc my nose dries. 2) Get a spray saline solution for your nose -- not Afrin or drugs (habit inducing) -- just simple and cheap Arm & Hammer Simply Saline…

As for point 3, I've found that the especially silly looking one that works so that the tube "points out of your forehead" eliminates that problem in an even better way.

Re: Sleep research led to a new sleep apnea drug

#120

Post by f17428d27584 » Sat, May 23, 2026, 2:30 PM UTC

antisthenes wrote: post #114

Shadowmist wrote: post #58

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Better to outright buy the machine online, then open it up and disable the modem.

Why in the world does a CPAP machine need a modem?

Most have a cf slot to store the sleep data, it’s how the doctor / clinician can see if it’s working, make adjustments to pressure etc. but for convenience they can just upload the data directly.

They also do OTA updates.

However they also can perform an enforcement function: compliance. Insurers will penalize users of the device for not using it enough.

This isn’t something I know much about just have seen it discussed, I don’t think all jurisdictions allow insurers to access this data for enforcement but it does seem to happen in USA.

I think what happens is the insurers agree to pay for the device in installments. But they will cancel those payments if the person isn’t using it.

But disabling the modem won’t fix that problem, you’d still get caught by the cf recorded data, or failing to provide it.