Central sleep apnea

Since many people with central sleep apnea have other medical conditions such as congestive heart failure, or stroke, treating those conditions may resolve the central sleep apnea, too.

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Continuous positive airway pressure, or CPAP, may also help people with central sleep apnea. Some people with central sleep apnea may also try bilevel positive pressure (BPAP or BiPAP).

Supplemental oxygen is sometimes given for central sleep apnea.

Drugs occasionally given for central sleep apnea include acetazolamide and theophylline. Acetazolamide is normally prescribed for epilepsy, glaucoma, and altitude sickness, but some studies have found that it decreases the apnea episodes in central sleep apnea if taken at bedtime. Theophylline is a bronchodilator normally prescribed for asthma, emphysema, and other lung diseases. For both of these drugs, the evidence is weak that they help people with central sleep apnea, but some doctors may prescribe them.