The widespread belief that sleeping pills are harmful for people with breathing problems during sleep may not be entirely accurate. A new study suggests that these medications do not always worsen the condition of patients with Obstructive Sleep Apnea.

This conclusion was reached by researchers who analyzed the results of multiple clinical trials. Their findings were published in the journal Psychiatry and Clinical Neurosciences.

Obstructive Sleep Apnea is a common condition in which the airway repeatedly becomes blocked during sleep. This leads to reduced oxygen levels in the blood and frequent awakenings. Many patients also suffer from insomnia, a combination known as COMISA. Because of concerns that sleeping pills might worsen breathing, doctors have long prescribed such medications to these patients with great caution.

In the new analysis, researchers compared 12 different medications, examining data from 32 randomized clinical trials. They evaluated how the drugs affected sleep structure, breathing indicators, and overall treatment tolerability.

The results showed that in most cases sleeping pills did not cause significant deterioration in key respiratory parameters, including the Apnea–Hypopnea Index.

However, the scientists note that different medications may have different effects. For example, Temazepam was associated with lower oxygen levels during sleep. According to the authors, this highlights the importance of an individualized treatment approach, where the choice of medication depends on the patient’s insomnia symptoms and respiratory characteristics.