Frequently asked questions
Are you one of the millions who suffer from OSA?3
Click on a question below to find out more about excessive sleepiness (ES) and OSA.
What is OSA?
OSA is a medical condition that needs diagnosis and treatment by a doctor. OSA is caused by a blockage in your airway that can disrupt your breathing while you sleep. This interruption in breathing can take place just a few times or up to hundreds of times over the course of a night.4-6
Since this occurs while you are asleep, you may not be aware of these interruptions or remember them in the morning. Untreated, they can prevent you from getting a good night's sleep. It is estimated that as many as 18 million Americans suffer from OSA. However, many people with OSA aren't diagnosed and, therefore, don't get treated.3
The anatomy of a blocked airway
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What are the symptoms of OSA?
Many patients with OSA experience troubling symptoms. If you experience the following, talk to your doctor:4
- Loud snoring
- Feeling tired during the day
- Frequent sleep disruptions caused by pauses in breathing
Being overweight and normal aging can also increase your risk for OSA7
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Why is OSA a problem?
Untreated OSA may increase your risk for other serious medical conditions, such as:
- High blood pressure8
- Heart disease8
- Stroke9
Because of these potential problems, it's important to get treatment for your blocked airway.
While PROVIGIL is indicated to treat ES associated with treated OSA, it is not indicated to treat other consequences of OSA.
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What are treatment options for OSA?
There are several ways to treat the airway blockage caused by OSA, and you can discuss the available treatment options with your doctor. The most common is continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP), which uses air pressure to help keep your airway open, so you can breathe better while you sleep.
An example of a CPAP mask
Other treatments may include oral appliances that help keep your airway open while you sleep or surgery to correct the blockage. Your doctor may also suggest changing behaviors such as avoiding alcohol or certain medications, changing your sleeping position, or losing weight.10 Talk to your doctor to find out which treatment options for the airway blockage are right for you.
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What if I still experience ES after being treated for OSA?
Even though continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) will help you breathe better and may reduce your symptoms of OSA, you may still feel tired.
In one clinical study, as many as half of patients with OSA using CPAP still experienced ES.11 However, treating the blocked airway is very important, and you should continue treatment even if you still feel tired.
ES is the inability to stay awake enough to accomplish daily tasks.2 For many people, ES does not totally go away with treatment for OSA.
Patients with OSA may describe their ES as:12
- Feeling sleepy
- Feeling fatigued
- Feeling tired
- Having no energy
Each of these symptoms might be a sign that you're still experiencing ES after being treated for OSA. You should share this information with your doctor.
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What are the consequences of ES associated with treated OSA?
ES associated with treated OSA may impact your day in significant ways.
Some people with ES may report that they are:13
- Too tired to spend time with family and friends
- Struggling to stay awake at work
Many people may think it's normal to live this way, but if you still experience ES after being treated for OSA, you should tell your doctor how difficult it is for you to stay awake.
PROVIGIL (modafinil) is a prescription medicine used to improve wakefulness in adults who experience ES associated with treated OSA.
PROVIGIL does not replace sleep and may not stop your ES completely. Only you and your doctor can decide if PROVIGIL is right for you, so make an appointment to see your doctor today.
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