Using Acetazolamide to Treat Obstructive Sleep Apnea
Patient-centered and Neurocognitive Outcomes With Acetazolamide for Sleep Apnea
This study is testing if a medication called acetazolamide can help adults with moderate to severe obstructive sleep apnea breathe better at night and feel more rested during the day.
Quick facts
| Phase | Phase 2 |
|---|---|
| Study type | Interventional |
| Enrollment | 60 (estimated) |
| Ages | 18 Years and up |
| Sex | All |
| Sponsor | University of California, San Diego Academic / other |
| Locations | 1 site (La Jolla, California) |
| Trial ID | NCT05804084 on ClinicalTrials.gov |
What this trial studies
This clinical trial aims to evaluate the effectiveness of acetazolamide, a mild diuretic, in treating adults with moderate to severe obstructive sleep apnea (OSA). Participants will be randomly assigned to receive either acetazolamide or a placebo for four weeks, during which their sleep patterns and neurocognitive functions will be monitored. The study will include eligibility screenings, in-person assessments, and an overnight sleep test to ensure participants meet the criteria. The primary goals are to determine if acetazolamide improves OSA symptoms and enhances quality of life compared to placebo.
Who should consider this trial
Good fit: Ideal candidates are adults aged 18 and older with untreated moderate to severe obstructive sleep apnea and a body mass index of 35 kg/m2 or less.
Not a fit: Patients with significant sleep hypoxemia, other major sleep disorders, or those requiring immediate OSA therapy may not benefit from this study.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this treatment could provide a new, effective, and well-tolerated option for patients suffering from obstructive sleep apnea.
How similar studies have performed: While acetazolamide has been used for various conditions, this specific application for obstructive sleep apnea is novel and has not been extensively tested in prior studies.
Eligibility criteria
Show full inclusion / exclusion criteria
Inclusion Criteria: * Age ≥18 years * Body mass index ≤ 35 kg/m2 * Untreated moderate/severe OSA (AHI ≥15/h) Exclusion Criteria: * Substantial sleep hypoxemia (SpO2\<80% for \>10% of the monitoring time during the home sleep test, or for \>25% of the total sleep time during any of the in-laboratory studies) * Abnormally low blood counts/electrolytes or renal function at baseline * Use of OSA therapy during the past 1 month, or plans to urgently resume/(re)start clinical OSA therapy within 3 months * Significant, uncontrolled cardiac, pulmonary, endocrine, renal, hepatic, neurocognitive, psychiatric, or urologic (e.g., kidney stones) disorder * Other major sleep disorder (e.g., narcolepsy) * Urgent need to initiate effective OSA therapy (i.e., Epworth sleepiness score \>18, commercial driver, prior sleep-related car accident, or based on MD judgment) * Severe allergy to sulfa-drugs or taking another carbonic-anhydrase inhibitor (e.g., topiramate) * Pregnancy/breastfeeding (current/planned) * Prisoners * Illicit substance abuse or \>2 standard drinks of alcohol/day * Medications that may affect OSA or ventilatory control (e.g., opiates, sedatives) * Thiazide/loop diuretic (risk of hypokalemia) * Inability to give consent or follow procedures * Safety concern based on MD judgment
Where this trial is running
La Jolla, California
- UC San Diego; Altman Clinical and Translational Research Institute Building — La Jolla, California, United States (Recruiting)
Study contacts
- Principal investigator: Christopher N Schmickl, MD, PhD — University of California, San Diego
- Study coordinator: Pamela DeYoung, RPSGT
- Email: sleepresearch@health.ucsd.edu
- Phone: 858 246 2183
How to participate
- Review the eligibility criteria above with your treating physician.
- Visit the official trial page on ClinicalTrials.gov for the most current contact information and recruitment status.
- Contact the listed study coordinator or principal investigator to request pre-screening. Pre-screening is free and never obligates you to enroll.