Zepbound and Mounjaro Might Help Reduce Obstructive Sleep Apnea Symptoms

Tirzepatide, the main ingredient in the injected weight loss and diabetes drugs Zepbound and Mounjaro , might help reduce obstructive sleep apnea symptoms, preliminary results from two late-stage studies suggest. Both of the studies tested tirzepatide in people with obesity and obstructive sleep apnea, a condition that causes brief episodes of fully or partially halted breathing throughout the night that is often exacerbated by excess weight. Participants were randomly assigned to take either tirzepatide or a placebo for one year. In one study of people with sleep apnea who didn’t use breathing devices at night, the number of apnea episodes dropped by 55 percent after one year with tirzepatide, compared with 5 percent on placebo, according to preliminary study results reported by drugmaker Eli Lilly that haven’t been published or independently verified.e60dc2a1-f33c-4a05-9b50-8e3e8e59762912ead050-db45-492b-8632-bee446d140c1 Results were similar for patients who wore what’s known as a positive airway pressure (PAP) machine at night with a mask that blows air into the upper airways to help support normal breathing. For people with apnea who used a PAP machine, apnea episodes declined by 63 percent after a year compared with about 6 percent with the placebo. Tirzepatide Causes Weight Loss, Which Improves Sleep Apnea “It’s not surprising that tirzepatide would help — tirzepatide causes weight loss and weight loss improves sleep apnea,” says Susan Spratt, MD , a professor of endocrinology at Duke University School of Medicine in Durham, North Carolina, who wasn’t involved in either of the studies. “I think what’s surprising is the amount that tirzepatide reduced the symptoms of sleep apnea,” Dr. Spratt says. People with apnea who weren’t on PAP therapy lost an average of 18 percent of their body weight after one year on tirzepatide, according to the results reported by Eli Lilly. People on PAP treatments who took tirzepatide lost 20 percent of their body weight on average. What’s remarkable about these preliminary results is that the amount of weight loss achieved after one year with tirzepatide is much greater than what is typically achieved with lifestyle changes like eating less or exercising more or with weight loss surgery, says Eric Landsness, MD, PhD , an assistant professor of neurology and sleep medicine at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis. Weight Plays a Role in Sleep Apnea “I’m not surprised by the magnitude of obstructive sleep apnea change,” says Dr. Landsess, who wasn’t involved in either of the studies. “I think this is really a testament to how much weight plays a role in the severity of obstructive sleep apnea.” Side effects of tirzepatide were mild to moderate in severity and most often included gastrointestinal issues like diarrhea, nausea, vomiting, and constipation, according to Eli Lilly. Eli Lilly to Seek FDA Approval for Tirezepatide as Treatment for Sleep Apnea Tirzepatide is the first drug in a new family of medicines that target two hormones — glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) and glucose-dependent insulinotropic polypeptide (GIP) — that are involved in maintaining healthy blood sugar levels and sending signals from the gut to the brain when people are full. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved one drug made with tirzepatide, Mounjaro, to treat type 2 diabetes, and another one, Zepbound, for weight loss . But many patients without type 2 diabetes have struggled to get insurance coverage for these medicines, Spratt says. Based on results from the two studies, the company said it plans to seek FDA approval this year to sell tirzepatide as a treatment for moderate-to-severe obstructive sleep apnea. “If tirzepatide is approved by the FDA, it will definitely be a game changer,” Spratt says.

Are you and your partner neglecting sex play? Learn how to add it back into your routine to boost your bond in and out of the bedroom. While "quickies" can be fun and spontaneous, skipping foreplay means missing out on a great way to connect emotionally and physically. According to Pepper Schwartz, PhD, a sexual health expert and researcher at the University of Minnesota in Minneapolis, foreplay is critical, elemental, and necessary. Foreplay, also known as "outercourse," is any sexual activity that occurs before intercourse. There is no single way to engage in foreplay, as it can mean different things to different people. It can involve kissing, caressing, cuddling, flirty texting or talking, massage, and oral sex. If you like it a little rough, biting, pinching, scratching, and spanking can be a turn-on. The goal is to increase sexual excitement, which can help prepare the body for intercourse. Foreplay is sometimes thought of as a warm-up for sex, but it doesn't necessarily have to lead to intercourse. Some couples find foreplay itself to be sexually fulfilling as a main event. The benefits of foreplay include lubrication of the vagina, an extended erection, and the prevention of premature ejaculation for people with penises. The female body pulls the uterus up when aroused, lengthening the vagina. This process, called uterine tenting, creates a pool area for semen, which is part of the reproductive sophistication of our machinery, according to Dr. Schwartz. As those muscles relax, the nerve endings start to get stimulated, paving the way for a more pleasurable experience. Research involving married couples has found that 1 to 10 minutes of foreplay was associated with 40% of women achieving orgasm during sex. That percentage rose to 50 with 12 to 20 minutes of foreplay and 60 with more than 20 minutes of foreplay. If you want more action in bed, you have to let your partner know what you want. But talking about sex can be easier said than done for some. Dr. Lyndsey Harper, a clinical assistant professor of obstetrics and gynecology at Texas A&M School of Medicine in Bryan, Texas, recommends two sentence starters to try when expressing sexual desire to your partner: "I want you to..." and "It feels so good when you...". If it makes you more comfortable, you can bring up your sexual needs outside of the bedroom. If you don't know how to bring it up, she suggests starting the conversation with something like, "Our sex life is really important, and I'd love for us to feel open talking about things. Would it be okay for me to share with you some things I like?" Communication comfort is closely linked to trust. To experience true intimacy and fun foreplay, trusting each other is essential, especially since our needs constantly change. Couples who find it difficult to communicate about their desires should consider seeing a couple's counselor or sex therapist who can help them navigate these discussions.
  • Foreplay is just play. Couples can engage in it however they want. According to Dr. Harper, it generally takes about 20 minutes of arousal for women to become fully lubricated and ready for penetrative sex. However, it is best to abolish the idea of "foreplay" and the "main event" of penetrative sex and work together with your partner to create a fun and intimate sexual life where everyone's needs are met.

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