diazepam and sleep apnea

[seanuk]

I've been prescribed a low dose of diazepam for anxiety.  I have had sleep apnea for a long time, and have read that I should not be taking a drug like diazepam as this could be extremely dangerous. Is this true ?

[kurpal]

So are you saying that if I take morphine sulfate for my chronic head pain, that that could hamper my sleep even thought I use a bipap for my sever sleep apnea?

[seanuk]

Many thanks for your response.  I'm not really being treated apart from trying to lose some weight, cut back on alcohol etc.  The diazepam is a very low (2mg dose) and just for a couple of weeks - should I just try it and see ?

[Steven Y Park, MD]

Any medication that depresses the nervous system can in theory aggravate obstructive sleep apnea. However, the benzodiazepines are not as bad as the opiod narcotics. As long as you're being treated for sleep apnea, you should be OK. Ultimately, you should discuss this with your medical and sleep doctors.