Journal of clinical sleep medicine : JCSM : official publication of the American Academy of Sleep Medicine
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Case Reports
Opioids Cause Central and Complex Sleep Apnea in Humans and Reversal With Discontinuation: A Plea for Detoxification.
Central sleep apnea (CSA) and continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) emergent CSA are common in patients for whom opioids have been prescribed for chronic pain management. It is not known if opioids are the potential cause of CSA. We report the case of a patient who underwent multiple full nights of polysomnography testing while on opioids, off opioids, and with various positive airway pressure devices. ⋯ Later-while the patient was still off opioids-she had gained weight and become symptomatic; polysomnography showed obstructive sleep apnea without CSA. This time, therapy with CPAP showed elimination of sleep apnea without emergent CSA. These data collectively indicate that opioids were the cause of CSA as well as emergent CSA.