Nasal Dilator Strip Therapy for Chronic Sleep Maintenance Insomnia: A Case Series

Barry Krakow; Dominic Melendrez; Brandy Sisley; Teddy D. Warner; Jessica Krakow

doi:10.1055/s-2004-834483

Sleep and Breathing, Table of Contents

Sleep Breath 2004; 8(3): 133-140
DOI: 10.1055/s-2004-834483

ORIGINAL ARTICLE

Nasal Dilator Strip Therapy for Chronic Sleep Maintenance Insomnia: A Case Series

Barry Krakow¹ ^, ² ^, ³ ^, ⁴ , Dominic Melendrez¹ , Brandy Sisley¹ , Teddy D. Warner² ^, ³ , Jessica Krakow¹

¹Sleep and Human Health Institute, Albuquerque, New Mexico
²University of New Mexico Health Sciences Center, Albuquerque, New Mexico
³Departments of Psychiatry, Emergency Medicine, University of New Mexico School of Medicine, Albuquerque, New Mexico
⁴Emergency Medicine, University of New Mexico School of Medicine, Albuquerque, New Mexico

Abstract

Sleep-disordered breathing (SDB) is a salient factor in chronic sleep maintenance insomnia. However, many insomnia patients with comorbid SDB may not be interested initially in receiving treatment with continuous positive airway pressure or oral appliance therapy. As an interim pathway, we used Breathe Right^® nasal dilator strip (NDS) therapy to introduce these patients to the relationship between insomnia and SDB. We hypothesized that NDS-associated improvements might motivate patients to pursue comprehensive SDB therapies. In this open label trial, three men with chronic sleep maintenance insomnia were treated with an educational session about SDB coupled with nightly NDS therapy. At 4-week follow-up, global insomnia severity, difficulty staying asleep, difficulty falling back asleep when awakened, total number of awakenings, and wake time after sleep onset systematically improved. Following NDS therapy, all three insomnia patients elected to pursue comprehensive SDB treatment at local sleep centers.

KEYWORDS

Insomnia - sleep-disordered breathing - nasal dilator strips

Full Text

References

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Barry KrakowM.D.

Sleep and Human Health Institute

6739 Academy NE, Ste. 380

Albuquerque, NM 87109

Email: bkrakow@sleeptreatment.com