If you experience frequent, loud snoring or repeated halts in your breathing while you sleep (or your partner notices these symptoms), you may have sleep apnea. Most people with sleep apnea live with obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), caused by a physical blockage in the upper airway.
This airway blockage could be the result of unusual facial structure, a larger-than-typical tongue, and weak muscle tone in your throat. However, for many people, obesity also plays a role. Excess body fat around the head and neck area can increase pressure on your upper airways, promoting fluid retention and inflammation. In fact, just a 10% addition in body weight increases your chances of developing moderate to severe OSA by sixfold.
To help reduce the role obesity plays in OSA, researchers have been investigating glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) receptor agonist medications as a potential treatment. Learn more about how this medication works and why it could be beneficial for sleep apnea.
Why GLP-1 receptor agonists?
GLP-1 receptor agonists are a class of drugs that mimic the effects of a natural hormone in your body released after eating. This hormone helps regulate blood sugar, appetite, and digestion.
Originally developed to help treat diabetes, GLP-1 medications have gained the attention of researchers for their secondary ability to aid in weight loss through appetite suppression and prolonged satiety.
Overall, GLP-1 medications, when combined with a balanced diet and regular exercise, have been shown to be effective in helping people lose weight, proving to be a promising new treatment method.
In OSA, excessive body fat around the head and neck can increase the likelihood of airway collapse. Weight loss from a GLP-1 medication could help you lose weight in those areas, along with a healthy diet and exercise.
In 2024, the Food & Drug Administration (FDA) approved the first GLP-1 receptor agonist, known as tirzepatide (Zepbound), for the treatment of moderate to severe sleep apn
ea.
This is the first type of medication approved for treating OSA. Previously, only continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) machines and oral devices were recommended. When prescribed in conjunction with regular exercise and a reduced-calorie diet, it has been shown to be effective in managing sleep apnea.
Who might benefit the most?
GLP-1 medications aren’t right for everyone with OSA. Talk with your doctor to determine if this type of treatment is right for you.
Currently, the only FDA-approved GLP-1 medication for moderare to severe OSA is indicated for use in people with a body mass index (BMI) of greater than 30 kilogram/meter (kg/m2), which indicates an obesity diagnosis. The medication is also indicated for those who have overweight with a BMI of 27 kg/m2 or greater, and a comorbid condition due to weight, which is OSA in this instance.
However, having overweight or obesity does not automatically mean your doctor will prescribe a GLP-1 medication. CPAP machines remain the gold standard for OSA treatment. This device can help you instantly and has a longer track record of success and safety compared to GLP-1 medications.
Some people can be allergic to GLP-1s or may experience side effects. The reported adverse reactions include:
- nausea
- diarrhea
- vomiting
- stomach pain
- constipation
- fatigue
A 2025 systematic review and meta-analysis examined the safety and efficacy of GLP-1 receptor agonists in OSA and determined that more research was needed.
For these reasons, GLP-1 medications are approved for people living with overweight (and a comorbid condition due to weight) and obesity, which exacerbate their OSA symptoms.
Research is ongoing into the use of GLP-1 medications for OSA, including the already approved drug trizepatide. Not only are researchers gathering more information on the long-term safety of GLP-1s, but they’re also investigating other potential benefits.
In recent clinical trials such as SURMOUNT-OSA (tirzepatide), SCALE (liraglutide), and SURPASS (tirzepatide), experts noted benefits beyond weight loss, including improved cardiovascular health and inflammation reduction.
GLP-1s can help reduce inflammation, which may one day help in treating OSA.
GLP-1 medications for OSA are intended to be used in combination with other lifestyle changes, such as a nutritious diet and daily physical activity, such as exercising.
They’re also not typically used as stand-alone treatments for OSA. Your doctor may still prescribe other therapies, such as CPAP, to help relieve your symptoms quickly during your weight loss journey.
OSA affects everyone differently and can have varied or multiple underlying causes. Your body weight is just one factor that can affect an OSA diagnosis and a comprehensive treatment plan.
GLP-1 medications are new treatment options for OSA. They help manage the condition by increasing weight loss, which reduces pressure around the head and neck.
While only one GLP-1 drug has been approved for the treatment of OSA currently, clinical trials are ongoing, and researchers are investigating additional benefits of GLP-1 use.