Treatment of obstructive sleep apnea

• US 6,818,665 B2
• Filed: 02/12/2003
• Issued: 11/16/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 11/15/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Bjorn Wennerholm, Jim Enkvist
• Original Assignee: Bjorn Wennerholm, Jim Enkvist
• Inventors: Enkvist, Jim, Wennerholm, Bjorn
• Primary Examiner(s): Padmanabhan, Sreeni
• Assistant Examiner(s): KIM, JENNIFER M
• Application Number:
  US10/248,727
• Publication Number:
  US 20040157813A1
• Time in Patent Office: 643 Days
• Field of Search: 514/415, 514/171
• US Class Current: 514/415
• CPC Class Codes: A61K 2300/00 Mixtures or combinations of active ingredients, wherein at least one active ingredient is fully defined in groups A61K31/00 - A61K41/00
• CPC Class Codes: A61K 31/4045 Indole-alkylamines; Amides thereof, e.g. serotonin, melatonin
• CPC Class Codes: A61K 31/56 Compounds containing cyclopenta[a]hydrophenanthrene ring systems; Derivatives thereof, e.g. steroids
• CPC Class Codes: A61P 11/00 Drugs for disorders of the respiratory system

Abstract

The method is for a hormonal treatment to compensate for the weakening of farynx components, tongue, tonsils, uvula, soft palate that occur during deep sleep and blocks the airways to cause obstructive sleep apnea. About 0.5-5 mg of melatonin is orally administered to a person between 10-80 years old before the person sleeps anddehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) is administered in combination with andrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH).

Claims

1. A method for hormonal treatment of obstructive sleep apnea to a patient in need thereof by compensating for relaxation of muscles in a throat region including pharynx components, tongue, tonsils, uvula, soft palate that occur during deep sleep and blocks airways to cause obstructive sleep apnea, comprising:

orally adinistering 0.5-5 mg of melatonin to the patient before the patient sleeps; and

administering 1-5 mg dehydroepiandrostercne (DHEA) to the patient in need thereof to prevent relaxed muscles in the throat region from interfering with the patient'"'"'s breathing during the patient'"'"'s sleep.

2. The method according to claim 1 wherein the method further comprises combining DHEA with an andrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH) for stimulating DHEA.

3. The method according to claim 1 wherein the method further comprises administering the melatonin at night and DHEA in the mornings.

4. A method for hormonal treatment of obstructive sleep apnea by compensating for relaxation of muscles in a throat region including pharynx components, tongue, tonsils, uvula, soft palate that occur during deep sleep and blocks airways to cause obstructive sleep apnea, comprising:

orally administering 0.5-5 mg of melatonin to a patient in need thereof before the patient sleeps;

administering 1-5 mg of dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) to the patient in need thereof in an amount sufficient to prevent relaxed muscles in the throat region from interfering with the patient'"'"'s breathing during the patient'"'"'s sleep; and

simultaneously with the DHEA, administering an andrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH) to the patent in need thereof to increase a production of DHEA.