Could a pill replace CPAP for sleep apnea? large study tests three treatments Head-to-Head
NCT ID NCT07679282
First seen Jul 01, 2026 · Last updated Sep 11, 2026 · Updated 4 times
Summary
This study compares three treatments for obstructive sleep apnea: positive airway pressure (CPAP), a dental device that moves the jaw forward, and a combination of two medications (atomoxetine and oxybutynin). About 2,400 adults with sleep apnea will be randomly assigned to one of these treatments for one year. Researchers will track quality of life, side effects, and how well each treatment controls apnea episodes to find which option works best and is easiest for people to stick with.
What this could mean
Our plain-language read of the trial. This is informational only, not medical advice or a prediction.
- Active substance
- atomoxetine-oxybutynin
- What this could lead to
- If this trial succeeds, it could show that a simple pill works as well as CPAP or a dental device for treating sleep apnea, offering a more convenient option for many patients.
- What could go wrong
- The medication combination is not yet approved for sleep apnea, and side effects may limit its use. The study is also large but results may not apply to everyone with the condition.
This is an AI summary of the original study and may miss details. Read our disclaimer.
Study facts
What this study's own registry entry says, in plain language.
- Phase
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Phase 4
Runs after approval, following long-term safety and how well the treatment works in everyday use.
- Participants
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About 2,400 people
The number the study aims to enrol. It can still change while the study runs.
- Started
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Sep 2026
- Expected to finish
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May 2032
An estimate. End dates often move.
- Lead sponsor
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Other sponsor
The registry's catch-all category, for sponsors it does not file as a company, a government agency, or a research network.
Who can take part
This study's own entry requirements. Only the study team can say for certain whether you qualify.
- Ages
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18 years and older
- Sex
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Anyone
- Healthy volunteers
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Not accepted
This study is not open to healthy volunteers. The entry requirements below say who it is open to.
Show the full entry requirements Hide the full entry requirements
Copied word for word from the study's registry entry, so the wording is the study team's rather than ours.
Inclusion Criteria: * Obstructive sleep apnea (AHI \>/= 5 per hour), diagnosed in the past 6 months * Two or more of the following symptoms: snoring, fragmented sleep, witnessed apneas, or daytime sleepiness * Willingness/ability to use any of the 3 treatments for OSA (PAP, dental device, or atomoxetine-oxybutynin) * Health insurance of any type Exclusion Criteria: * Prior treatment for OSA in past year * Central sleep apnea or narcolepsy * Contraindication for dental device (temporomandibular joint problems, severe periodontal disease, insufficient dentition) * Heart failure with reduced ejection fraction of \</= 45% * Active coronary artery disease (angina or infarction within 3 months of enrollment) * Current untreated depression * Untreated narrow angle glaucoma * Untreated hypothyroidism * Clinically significant gastric retention * Clinically significant urinary retention * History of liver disease * Seizure disorder * Pregnant or nursing, or plans to become pregnant within the year * Concomitant medication use that is incompatible with atomoxetine or oxybutynin * Participation in another clinical study with an investigational product
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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.
How to take part
Only the study team decides who joins. These are the ways to reach them.
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The places running it
4 sites. The list below names each one and where it is.
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The official record
ClinicalTrials.gov lists the study team's own contact details, including names and phone numbers. We don't republish those.
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A doctor treating you
A doctor who knows your case can contact a study site on your behalf, and can tell you whether this study is worth pursuing at all.
Contacts and locations
Locations
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Banner University Medical Center Tucson
RECRUITINGTucson, Arizona, 85719, United States
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Stanford Medical Center
NOT_YET_RECRUITINGRedwood City, California, 94305, United States
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University of Maryland Baltimore
NOT_YET_RECRUITINGBaltimore, Maryland, 21201, United States
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University of Miami Miller School of Medicine
NOT_YET_RECRUITINGMiami, Florida, 33136, United States
More trials for these conditions
Other studies related to the condition(s) this trial covers.
- New mask aims to make sleep apnea therapy easier to live with
- Can a weekly phone call keep sleep apnea patients on CPAP?
- A smart neck brace may replace CPAP for sleep apnea
- A blood test for liver trouble may flag hidden risk in sleep apnea patients
- Blood oxygen dips may reveal who stays on CPAP
- Can a simple questionnaire improve sleep apnea treatment?