IMP169 - When Your Sleep Apnea Patient Shows Up on a GLP-1-IMP169 - When Your Sleep Apnea Patient Shows Up on a GLP-1

IMP169 - When Your Sleep Apnea Patient Shows Up on a GLP-1

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Tirzepatide (Zepbound), approved in the United States in 2024 for adults with obesity and moderate-to-severe obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), offers a new treatment option. In clinical trials, patients lost substantial weight and their apnea severity decreased; about 42%–50% reached a level of remission or mild, well-controlled OSA. However, many still had sleep apnea, and the results do not mean patients can stop using CPAP or an oral appliance without reassessment.<br /><br />Dentists can help identify possible OSA because they regularly observe patients’ airways and signs such as a large or scalloped tongue, crowded throat, worn teeth, and morning jaw pain. Screening tools such as STOP-Bang can flag patients for referral, but diagnosis and decisions about changing treatment require physician evaluation and a sleep study. Oral appliances may remain appropriate for some patients, particularly those with residual OSA who cannot tolerate positive airway pressure.<br /><br />Weight regain after stopping tirzepatide may also bring back apnea symptoms, so patients need an ongoing plan with their physician and dental team. Dentists should update medical histories to include weight-loss medications and watch for possible dry mouth and erosion associated with gastrointestinal side effects. For practices providing sedation or general anesthesia, medication use must be identified and aspiration risk assessed; guidance is evolving, so clinicians should coordinate with the prescriber when needed.<br /><br />Important questions remain, including the long-term effects of treatment and how medication interacts with oral appliance therapy. The author’s central advice is to screen, refer, collaborate with physicians, and avoid changing OSA treatment based on weight loss alone.

Keywords

tirzepatide

Zepbound

obstructive sleep apnea

OSA

weight loss

CPAP

oral appliance

dentists

screening

sleep study