Do alcohol and drugs lower AHI?

I've finally more or less made peace with my mask (Resmed Liberty Hybrid) and my pressure (10.5).

I'm noticing, though, that with drugs (Ativan or Tamazepam) or alcohol, I can hit an AHI of 1.0-2.0, while without assistance I'm at 3.0-4.0.

Could these be central apneas, which as I understand it cannot be controlled with CPAP? Could the drugs and alcohol be lowering the centrals?

Any other AHI-lowering advice appreciated.

Don't know about alcohol, but see my post here about Xananx and AHI: viewtopic/t64071/Xanax-lowers-my-AHI.html
Alprazolam (Xanax) is a benzodiazepine just like Lorazepam (Ativan, Temesta) or Temazepam...

absolutscharf wrote:Don't know about alcohol, but see my post here about Xananx and AHI: viewtopic/t64071/Xanax-lowers-my-AHI.html
Alprazolam (Xanax) is a benzodiazepine just like Lorazepam (Ativan, Temesta) or Temazepam...

Interesting corroboration. Was just reading that initial CPAP therapy can actually INCREASE central sleep apneas, and I wonder if what's going on is that the drugs hit the central apneas. Presumably they can't affect the obstructive sleep apnea.

It depends on the individual. Drugs like antihistamines (which is in the over the counter sleep meds) make me sleep badly. Acohol is both a stimulant and depressant, so it kind of depends on the kind of drunk you become.
Of course mixing them is stupid to the nth degree

Alcohol tends to increase central apneas. It acts as a central nervous system depressant

Drugs, it depends on the drugs. Here's a generic article on drugs for sleep disorders:

http://www.rxlist.com/script/main/art.a ... ekey=94755

Temazepam includes medications such as Valium. It can and will help you fall asleep. While at lower dosages, it is not a worry, it can have a central nervous system depressant effect. It can also be addictive, so most doctors will not prescribe it for long term use without careful monitoring.

The caution on Ativan (another in the same class of drugs) notes:

Most adverse reactions to benzodiazepines, including CNS effects and respiratory depression, are dose dependent, with more severe effects occurring with high doses.

Again, it does not appear either of these drugs would decrease the central apneas. They would, however, tend to make you fall asleep more quickly, which might reduce the central apneas from sleep onset.

So, do they reduce central apneas? Not directly. But the consequence might be a slight reduction.

Hope that helps.

I have very little experience with this but I will say that on Cinco de Mayo, my machine was working overtime. I try not to have anything to drink after 7pm since I go to bed at 10ish. Since I'm so new it will be interesting to read my reports after a wild night in Vegas come September...LOL

Laurie

I doubt if alcohol or drugs lower your AHI, except perhaps indirectly by lowering artifacts such as centrals caused by arousals. Is there a reason you are trying to lower your AHI from 3-4 to lower? If you still don't feel well on what is considered a "normal" AHI result, alcohol and drugs are not the way to lower it.

They might lower your AHI, but be harmful to your sleep architecture in different ways. For instance if you're not going into REM or the deep stages of sleep overall it might be a bad effect overall.

Good thought, Mary Z... If it decreases REM, it may lower your AHI if you have more events in REM than in other phases.

I can tell you from experience that Tramadol, which I'm on for my back, increases my central apneas. My wife's taken it for muscle soreness a few times and she's remarked how you're so relaxed you almost stop breathing every once in a while. However, I asked the people at the sleep study if I should skip it, and they told me to just do what I normally do. Once i'lm taken off the stuff, i'm going to get another study for comparison.