Could a common sleep drug ease sleep apnea? small trial hints at possibility
NCT ID NCT05763329
First seen Jun 24, 2026 · Last updated Jun 26, 2026 · Updated 1 time
Summary
This small study tested whether the sleep medication lemborexant (Dayvigo) can help people with moderate-to-severe obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) who have a low arousal threshold—meaning they wake up easily during sleep. Ten untreated adults each took the drug or a placebo on two separate nights in a sleep lab. Researchers measured breathing pauses, oxygen levels, and sleep quality to see if lemborexant could improve sleep without making apnea worse.
What this could mean
Our plain-language read of the trial. This is informational only — not medical advice or a prediction.
Active substance
Lemborexant (Dayvigo) 5 mg oral tablet
What this could lead to
If it works, this could point toward a new way to treat sleep apnea by helping people stay asleep without worsening breathing pauses.
What could go wrong
This is a very small, early-phase trial with only 10 people, so results may not apply widely. The drug could also cause daytime sleepiness or other side effects.
Disclaimer
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the original study
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Summaries may miss details or leave out important information. Before applying or accepting participation, make sure you have read and understood the full study. Curemydisease.com takes no responsibility whatsoever for anything missed, misunderstood, or acted upon as a result of our summary — we know it does not capture everything.
This is a summary of the original study . Summaries may miss details or leave out important information. Before applying or accepting participation, make sure you have read and understood the full study. Curemydisease.com takes no responsibility whatsoever for anything missed, misunderstood, or acted upon as a result of our summary — we know it does not capture everything.
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Conditions
The condition(s) this trial relates to.
As listed by the trial registrant
The condition terms exactly as the trial's registrant entered them.
Contacts and locations
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Locations
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Chulalongkorn University
Pathum Wan, Bangkok, 10330, Thailand