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Acetazolamide for Obstructive Sleep Apnea

This study is testing if the medication acetazolamide can help adults with moderate to severe obstructive sleep apnea (OSA). OSA is a condition where you stop breathing repeatedly during sleep, leading to problems like daytime sleepiness and high blood pressure. Many people find it hard to use the common treatment, a breathing mask. This trial compares acetazolamide to a placebo (a sugar pill that looks the same) over 4 weeks. Researchers want to see if acetazolamide improves your breathing during sleep and also your memory, thinking, and overall quality of life. You might be able to join if you are at least 18 years old, have a body mass index (BMI) of 35 or less, and have untreated moderate to severe OSA. The current status of this study is unclear.

Study design
This is a randomized, controlled, double-blind study, meaning participants are randomly assigned to receive either acetazolamide or a placebo, and neither you nor the researchers will know which you are receiving. It plans to enroll 60 participants.
What's involved
You will first have an online or phone screening, followed by an in-person assessment including a health history, exam, blood tests, and an overnight home sleep test. If eligible, you will receive a 4-week supply of either acetazolamide or placebo to take nightly at home.
Compensation
Not stated in the trial record.
Follow-up
The primary outcome, Apnea Hypopnea Index (AHI), is measured at 4 weeks.

AI-generated from the public study record. Only the study team can confirm whether you're eligible — confirm details with them before making decisions.

NCT05804084

Patient-centered and Neurocognitive Outcomes With Acetazolamide for Sleep Apnea

Recruiting
PHASE2Ages 18+InterventionalTreatment
University of California, San Diego
~60 participants
Updated 2026-05-08 on ClinicalTrials.gov
What's tested:AcetazolamidePlacebo

At a glance

Recruiting sites
1 of 1 listed site is recruiting right now
RecruitingSuspended, closed, or not yet open
What they're measuring
Apnea Hypopnea Index (AHI)
Measured over 4 weeks

Conditions

Obstructive Sleep Apnea

Explore related trials

Obstructive Sleep Apnea

Where it's being run

1 sites across 1 states
California1

Study leadership

  • Christopher N Schmickl, MD, PhD · PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR · University of California, San Diego

Who to contact

Pamela DeYoung, RPSGT
[email protected]
858 246 2183
Email the study team

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Do you actually qualify for this trial?

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Eligibility criteria

Inclusion

Age ≥18 years
Body mass index ≤ 35 kg/m2
Untreated moderate/severe OSA (AHI ≥15/h)

Exclusion

Substantial sleep hypoxemia (SpO2\<80% for \>10% of the monitoring time during the home sleep test, or for \>25% of the total sleep time during any of the in-laboratory studies)
Abnormally low blood counts/electrolytes or renal function at baseline
Use of OSA therapy during the past 1 month, or plans to urgently resume/(re)start clinical OSA therapy within 3 months
Significant, uncontrolled cardiac, pulmonary, endocrine, renal, hepatic, neurocognitive, psychiatric, or urologic (e.g., kidney stones) disorder
Other major sleep disorder (e.g., narcolepsy)
Urgent need to initiate effective OSA therapy (i.e., Epworth sleepiness score \>18, commercial driver, prior sleep-related car accident, or based on MD judgment)
Severe allergy to sulfa-drugs or taking another carbonic-anhydrase inhibitor (e.g., topiramate)
Pregnancy/breastfeeding (current/planned)
Prisoners
Illicit substance abuse or \>2 standard drinks of alcohol/day
Medications that may affect OSA or ventilatory control (e.g., opiates, sedatives)
Thiazide/loop diuretic (risk of hypokalemia)
Inability to give consent or follow procedures
Safety concern based on MD judgment

What this trial measures

  • Apnea Hypopnea Index (AHI)4 weeks

    The AHI is a measure of sleep apnea severity and is defined as the number of apneas (no breathing for 10+ seconds) and hypopneas (reduced breathing for 10+ seconds associated with a \>=3% desaturation or cortical arousal) per hour of sleep. Alternative definitions of the AHI will be explored as well (e.g. hypopneas based on 4% desaturations, or position/sleep-stage specific AHIs).