Sleep apnea treatment: the main options
Obstructive sleep apnea is treatable. The main options are positive airway pressure (CPAP) [1], an oral appliance fitted by a dentist [2], and addressing contributing factors such as weight, alcohol and sleeping position. A medication was approved in the US in 2024 for some adults [3]. Which is right for you is a decision to make with a clinician.
Last reviewed 24 September 2026. General information from the Snorezy team, not medical advice.
Positive airway pressure (CPAP)
A CPAP machine blows air gently through a mask while you sleep, holding the airway open. Positive airway pressure is a guideline treatment for adult OSA [1]. It takes getting used to, and mask fit makes a big difference.
Oral appliances
A custom-made device, fitted by a qualified dentist, that holds the lower jaw slightly forward during sleep. Oral appliance therapy is a guideline treatment for OSA and for snoring [2].
Weight, alcohol and position
Being overweight makes OSA more likely [4], and losing weight can help. Alcohol relaxes the airway and makes snoring worse [5]. Some people's apnea is worse on their back, and positional changes help them. These often sit alongside a main treatment rather than replacing it.
Medication
In December 2024 the US FDA approved tirzepatide (Zepbound) for moderate to severe obstructive sleep apnea in adults with obesity, alongside a reduced-calorie diet and more physical activity [3]. It's a prescription medicine, and whether it suits you is for your doctor to say.
Surgery and nerve stimulation
For some people, surgery to the nose, throat or jaw, or an implanted device that stimulates the nerve controlling the tongue, are options a sleep specialist may discuss. They're usually considered when other treatments haven't worked or aren't suitable.
In Snorezy
Where Snorezy fits
Snorezy isn't a treatment and doesn't measure one. Some people like to record nights before and after a change to hear the difference in their snoring, but how well a treatment is working is for your clinician to assess.
Sources
- 1Patil SP et al. Treatment of Adult Obstructive Sleep Apnea with Positive Airway Pressure: An American Academy of Sleep Medicine Clinical Practice Guideline. J Clin Sleep Med. 2019;15(2):335-343.
- 2Ramar K et al. Clinical Practice Guideline for the Treatment of Obstructive Sleep Apnea and Snoring with Oral Appliance Therapy: An Update for 2015. J Clin Sleep Med. 2015;11(7):773-827.
- 3Eli Lilly and Company. FDA approves Zepbound (tirzepatide) as the first and only prescription medicine for moderate-to-severe obstructive sleep apnea in adults with obesity. 20 December 2024.A press release from the manufacturer.
- 4NHS inform. Obstructive sleep apnoea (OSA).
- 5NHS. Snoring.