Johns Hopkins Health Alert
Viagra and Sleep Apnea
UPDATE
As part of our ongoing effort to ensure that this website is up to date, we have determined that the information in the article Viagra and Sleep Apnea is no longer current, and has therefore been removed.
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Posted in Lung Disorders on September 13, 2007
Reviewed September 2011
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I can offer some anecdotal information based on personal experience. I have sleep apnea. I have used both the b-pap (modulated airflow) and c-pap machines. I prefer the simpler (and less costly) c-pap machine. It does work and it does help and I awake better rested after fewer hours in bed. My wife certainly prefers the hum to my snoring. For all of that, I seldom use it: I feel like an ostrich with my head in the sand, but my logic seems to be that since I am asleep when it occurs and don't remember the apnea episodes the next morning, I'll just leave it untreated. Dumb, but real. The mask/headgear seems the most important. Get one that fits well and comfortably, regardless of its cost. Consider a mask with the air hose leading out the top. Sounds goofy, but there is less tangling with bedclothes and less sense of claustrophobia. Good luck.
SIDEBAR: Although the systems do seem to work, I believe there is a kickback scam going on, at least in Reno, NV: The physician steered me to a specific vendor, that vendor rented the b-pap machine for 4 months at $600/mo, then my insurance paid 80% of an outrageous $10,000 charge to purchase the machine (yup, I got to pay the other $2,000 - about what the machine might be worth as a medical device). It just isn't that special; it's a fan with some logic driving it. I expect to read one day of an investigation into kickbacks throughout the industry.
In the meantime, I suggest going online to E-Bay and purchasing a used machine for 10% or less of vendor retail.
Posted by: fred@reno | September 15, 2007 3:42 PM
Further to my "anecdotal" comments above: My physician just happened to operate his own sleep study institute. Once other conditions were ruled out (sinus CT scan, chest x-ray), he prescribed a sleep study at his institute. His fees ran close to $3,000 not including the scan & x-ray. Carry a little cynicism into your appointment especially if your doctor owns the sleep study clinic. It will simply confirm what is already a foregone conclusion: you need the bpap/cpap machine. And get clear confirmation from your insurance company: they rejected most of the diagnosis fees, including the sleep study - even though they subsequently purchased the b-pap machine for me. Go figure.
Posted by: fred@reno | September 15, 2007 3:56 PM
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I thoroughly enjoy your publications and would appreciate any information on sleep apnea including the "continuous positive airway pressure" equipment which is available. I have just been diagnosed with sleep apnea but don't see the specialist until late November.
Posted by: mywayfiona | September 15, 2007 6:52 AM