SSRIs and apnea

[Pugsy]

I don't know what the answer is.

You need to be talking to your doctor about the centrals.
7 per hour is too many. You may need medication change or something else but the doctor needs to be brought into the loop.

[ChicagoGranny]

I don't know what the answer is.

You need to be talking to your doctor about the centrals.
7 per hour is too many. You may need medication change or something else but the doctor needs to be brought into the loop.

Googling "lexapro sleep" shows many reported problems with shallow and frequently interrupted sleep. Makes me wonder if he could be experiencing a lot of SWJ.

[Pugsy]

Googling "lexapro sleep" shows many reported problems with shallow and frequently interrupted sleep. Makes me wonder if he could be experiencing a lot of SWJ.

Very likely what is happening and that's why I said see the doctor. Lexapro and similar meds are notorious for screwing with the sleep cycles and causing insomnia which would create a lot of SWJ events.
So despite the "may cause drowsiness" sticker it comes with...it may make you drowsy but your sleep quality is crap.

The doctor needs to be in the loop...those type of meds you don't just go off of or go changing the dosage without medical input for various reasons.
And someone needs to make sure the centrals are or are not real. There always the remote possibility something changed or some other meds are involved (pain meds maybe).

I am not comfortable advising someone who has been on these types of meds for very long to just quit or change the dosage. They need to see their doctor for various reasons.
We could look at the flow and maybe spot SWJ but the end result is they still need to talk to their doctor about it...that's why I didn't go there in my response. No matter what is seen on the flow rate...the doctor needs to be in the loop. If it is SWJ...it still needs to be fixed because it means the sleep quality is crap. If they are the real deal...it needs to be fixed and both scenarios involve the doctor and not dialawinging guessing in this situation.

[Lexapro Update]

Update on Lexapro: Since my original post on Lexapro, an SSRI drug, I went to visit my doctor. The CPAP company, Resmed had even sent me notes that they had seen a significant increase in my Central Apneas. My Neurologist gave me a new headgear, which has proven helpful for the OSAs but there was no change to my CSAs. Since I have my depression under control, I have now reduced the Lexapro back to my starting does of only 2.5 mg. Enough to keep me anxiety free. Immediately, and for a week now, my Central Apneas went down to .5, 1, maximum of 2 in a night. They were reaching 9 before maximum. While the Neurologist noted that Lexapro does not impact sleep apneas, for me, they did significantly. They were the only new medication I started when the CSAs initiated. The manufacturer notes that they have never tested Lexapro or done any research.

I feel much relieved. If your Lexapro does not impact your CSAs, then you are golden, stay with it. Lexapro is a very good medication for depression.

Thanks for being there for me. I am sleeping easily now.


Lesley

[Julie]

Do you make it your business to make anxious people even more anxious? Is that your idea of help?

[robpiercey]

+1 Julie.