Sleep Apnea

Penny · 04-30-2008, 06:35 PM

One of the reasons to lose weight is that it will probably help with my sleep apnea. I am on the Cpap machine, and it is very uncomfortable.

I'm wondering if any of the side effects of Phentermine will make this even more uncomfortable than it is. For example, while I may be able to fall asleep, restless sleep will have me pulling the mask off early in the night. Which leaves me not sleeping/breathing well, tired the next day, won't want to exercise, sleep/rest too much, then restless again the next night...it's just a vicious cycle.

LbsToLose · 05-02-2008, 08:09 AM

I cannot comment on CPAP use personally but my husband uses one. All I can really say is that the faster you can get the weight off, the sooner the severity of your apnea will be. Ultimately you won't need the mask, and so your sleep will be much better.

Jess · 05-04-2008, 03:24 AM

Since Phentermine tends to keep people from falling asleep, I don't think that it's exactly the best choice of medication for somebody with Sleep Apnea. That being said, I'm not a professional, and I really don't know for sure. You may want to check with a doctor in this case.

Penny · 05-05-2008, 05:45 PM

He gave me my Rx and said it shouldn't be a problem. But if I'm waking gasping for air or other problems then we can take me off and think about what would be best next. I survived a long time without the cpap, so I'm hoping some mild discomfort until I lose some weight will be worth it.

LbsToLose · 05-06-2008, 05:07 AM

Exactly, and you know they say that even a small amount of weight loss-10% of your body weight for instance-can make a significant difference to the severity of sleep apnea. I really think that maybe it would be worth working through it.

charlyn · 05-06-2008, 09:33 PM

Is it possible that if you take your pill at the start of the day, by the time you normally go to sleep you can actually sleep through the entire night without any issues?

Penny · 05-11-2008, 01:13 AM

Probably. It depends how I react to the med. I am optimistic, and so is my doctor, but I always like to be aware of any possibilities when it comes to co-existing conditions and a new medicine.

LbsToLose · 05-11-2008, 06:05 AM

Is it really just one pill a day? I would have imagined a more low dose, spread throughout the day medication so that it doesn't cause peaks and troughs of blood levels-and hence dips and peaks in appetite.

Penny · 05-12-2008, 04:03 PM

It's 30 minutes before meals and the last dose should be at least four hours before bedtime. I wish it were only one pill a day.

LbsToLose · 05-13-2008, 05:59 AM

Right, that's what I had thought it would be like. Otherwise there would be too great a range of blood concentrations, and so you would never have real control over the appetite.

04-30-2008, 06:35 PM	#1
Penny Status: Member Join Date: Apr 2008 Posts: 44	Sleep Apnea One of the reasons to lose weight is that it will probably help with my sleep apnea. I am on the Cpap machine, and it is very uncomfortable. I'm wondering if any of the side effects of Phentermine will make this even more uncomfortable than it is. For example, while I may be able to fall asleep, restless sleep will have me pulling the mask off early in the night. Which leaves me not sleeping/breathing well, tired the next day, won't want to exercise, sleep/rest too much, then restless again the next night...it's just a vicious cycle.

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05-02-2008, 08:09 AM	#2
LbsToLose Status: Member Join Date: Apr 2008 Posts: 51	I cannot comment on CPAP use personally but my husband uses one. All I can really say is that the faster you can get the weight off, the sooner the severity of your apnea will be. Ultimately you won't need the mask, and so your sleep will be much better.

05-04-2008, 03:24 AM	#3
Jess Status: Member Join Date: Apr 2008 Posts: 50	Since Phentermine tends to keep people from falling asleep, I don't think that it's exactly the best choice of medication for somebody with Sleep Apnea. That being said, I'm not a professional, and I really don't know for sure. You may want to check with a doctor in this case.

05-05-2008, 05:45 PM	#4
Penny Status: Member Join Date: Apr 2008 Posts: 44	He gave me my Rx and said it shouldn't be a problem. But if I'm waking gasping for air or other problems then we can take me off and think about what would be best next. I survived a long time without the cpap, so I'm hoping some mild discomfort until I lose some weight will be worth it.

05-06-2008, 05:07 AM	#5
LbsToLose Status: Member Join Date: Apr 2008 Posts: 51	Exactly, and you know they say that even a small amount of weight loss-10% of your body weight for instance-can make a significant difference to the severity of sleep apnea. I really think that maybe it would be worth working through it.

05-06-2008, 09:33 PM	#6
charlyn Status: Member Join Date: Apr 2008 Posts: 51	Is it possible that if you take your pill at the start of the day, by the time you normally go to sleep you can actually sleep through the entire night without any issues?

05-11-2008, 01:13 AM	#7
Penny Status: Member Join Date: Apr 2008 Posts: 44	Probably. It depends how I react to the med. I am optimistic, and so is my doctor, but I always like to be aware of any possibilities when it comes to co-existing conditions and a new medicine.

05-11-2008, 06:05 AM	#8
LbsToLose Status: Member Join Date: Apr 2008 Posts: 51	Is it really just one pill a day? I would have imagined a more low dose, spread throughout the day medication so that it doesn't cause peaks and troughs of blood levels-and hence dips and peaks in appetite.

05-12-2008, 04:03 PM	#9
Penny Status: Member Join Date: Apr 2008 Posts: 44	It's 30 minutes before meals and the last dose should be at least four hours before bedtime. I wish it were only one pill a day.

05-13-2008, 05:59 AM	#10
LbsToLose Status: Member Join Date: Apr 2008 Posts: 51	Right, that's what I had thought it would be like. Otherwise there would be too great a range of blood concentrations, and so you would never have real control over the appetite.