Central sleep apnea in people taking medications for opioid use disorder
The impact of central sleep apnea in patients receiving medications for opioid use disorder
This project looks at whether central sleep apnea in adults on methadone or buprenorphine affects sleep, mood, cravings, and staying in treatment.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Pittsburgh at Pittsburgh NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Pittsburgh, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11172521 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
If you are an adult receiving medication for opioid use disorder, you may be invited to do a home sleep test to check for central sleep apnea and, if needed, a confirmatory overnight lab sleep study. Researchers will compare people with central sleep apnea to those without sleep-disordered breathing and measure sleep quality, nighttime arousals, nervous system activity, anxiety, depression, and drug craving. You will complete questionnaires, wear monitors, and be followed for about six months to track lapses and whether you stay in treatment. The goal is to link sleep findings with day-to-day symptoms and treatment outcomes.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Adults (21+) currently receiving methadone or buprenorphine treatment for opioid use disorder are the ideal candidates.
Not a fit: People not taking MOUD, under age 21, or whose sleep problems are purely obstructive rather than central may not directly benefit from this research.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this could help detect and treat sleep problems that may reduce cravings and improve retention in opioid treatment.
How similar studies have performed: Prior smaller studies show methadone and buprenorphine can cause central sleep apnea and sleep disruption, but linking CSA to cravings and relapse is a newer question that remains only partly tested.
Where this research is happening
Pittsburgh, United States
- University of Pittsburgh at Pittsburgh — Pittsburgh, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Patel, Sanjay R — University of Pittsburgh at Pittsburgh
- Study coordinator: Patel, Sanjay R
About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page below.