Hi all,

(I did search for this topic, but came up with nothing.)

I recently went to an ENT specialist and talked to him about my snoring. My girlfriend was there with me, and when she described the snoring, the doctor suggested a sleep study. He also prescribed a decongestant (pill form, don't know the name, but I can get that later if necessary) and a nasal spray (Fluco-something, name can be posted again later.)

I tried calling the doctor today, and I got one of his assistants who said that it was acceptable to continue taking the medicine. I'm wondering if this ok, because it will obviously affect my sleep study, correct? I'd prefer not to take medication for the rest of my life and I'd like the sleep study to see exactly what happens to me when I'm unmedicated.

Does anybody have any feedback on this? Will my medication not affect the sleep study results?

This quote is from one of Vicki's posts:

"Apnea is caused by a collapse of throat tissue, so problems with your nose and sinuses do not effect it.  A clear nose will make it easier to use a CPAP however."  

So the meds shouldn't be a problem for the sleep study.

But why did the doctor prescribe a decongestant - was it because of the apnea or did you have symptoms of nasal congestion?  If it was because of the apnea, I don't see the point.

The decongestant and the spray (Generic for Flonase) is to get you breathing through your nose again.  The decongestant will help open you up and the spray will reduce the inflammation thus shrinking the tissue in your sinus so you can breath better.

Neither of these will affect your test whatsoever because a obstructive apnea is caused by your throat muscles relaxing cutting off your breathing.  Don't worry about the meds, keep taking them, you need them.  Of course the sleep lab will ask you what you are taking so make sure you know the names by then.  

I'm not a doctor but I did sleep with a CPAP machine last night!  


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Cool! Thanks for the response, guys.

The decongestant is Pseudovent. And I forgot to look at my nasal spray. One step at a time!  

Frances - I do have a chronic blocked nose, which is why the decongestant and the nasal spray were prescribed.