A new pill being tested for sleep apnea reduced nighttime breathing interruptions by up to 47% in patients with moderate to severe disease, according to a European clinical trial published in The Lancet.
Researchers said the results point to a possible medicine-based option for people who cannot tolerate the mask used in standard treatment.
The study included 298 patients in four European countries. About one-quarter received a placebo, while the rest were given different doses of sulthiame. The trial followed a double-blind design, so both participants and investigators were unaware of who was taking the drug.
How the new pill performed in the trial
Researchers found that patients given higher doses of sulthiame had up to 47% fewer breathing pauses during sleep than those on placebo. They also had better oxygen levels overnight. The drug was generally well tolerated, with most reported side effects being minor and short-lived.
Sulthiame seems to act on the body’s breathing regulation system, boosting the drive to breathe. Researchers said that may lower the risk of the upper airway collapsing during sleep, which is the main problem in obstructive sleep apnea.
A new pill for sleep apnea reduced breathing pauses by nearly 50% in a clinical trial and may offer an alternative to CPAP masks. pic.twitter.com/EHymQNcQOb
— Tom Marvolo Riddle (@tom_riddle2025) March 11, 2026
Jan Hedner, a senior professor of pulmonary medicine at the Sahlgrenska Academy at the University of Gothenburg, said the treatment approach has been under study for a long time.
He said the findings show that obstructive sleep apnea may be treated with medicine, calling the result an important step forward. He also said larger and longer studies are still needed to see whether the effect lasts and whether the treatment is safe for broader groups of patients.
The University of Gothenburg played a major role in the research. Ludger Grote and Kaj Stenlöf also contributed to the study.
Researchers say sleep apnea treatment shows promise
In obstructive sleep apnea, the muscles supporting the upper airway relax too much during sleep, causing it to close off repeatedly. This results in interrupted breathing, drops in blood oxygen and fragmented rest. Over time, the condition can raise the risk of high blood pressure, cardiovascular disease, stroke and Type 2 diabetes.
No medication currently exists that targets the root cause of the disorder. The standard treatment is continuous positive airway pressure, or CPAP, which delivers pressurized air through a mask to prevent the airway from closing at night. While the treatment is effective, roughly half of patients abandon it within a year, often citing discomfort or sleep disruption from the mask.
Sulthiame has been on the market for years as a treatment for a type of epilepsy in children. It is now being studied as a potential option for adults with obstructive sleep apnea.
