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

Copyright © 2004 by Thieme Medical Publishers, Inc., 333 Seventh Avenue, New York, NY 10001, USA.

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
Further Information

Publication History

Publication Date:
24 September 2004 (online)

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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

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Barry KrakowM.D. 

Sleep and Human Health Institute

6739 Academy NE, Ste. 380

Albuquerque, NM 87109

Email: bkrakow@sleeptreatment.com