Mike,

Remeron is a psychiatric drug FDA approved for the treatment of depression. As mentioned previously there have been a few studies showing that it reduces AHI by about 50%, presumably by increasing muscle tone in the throat (think of it as the same neurochemicals are involved in neurons in the brain or at muscle cells). There are also more recent studies saying that Remeron DOESN'T work. The truth is that it probably works for a subset of sleep apnea patients and doesn't work for another subset. Sleep apnea is probably not ONE disease. In some patients it may occur because of abnormal anatomy in the airway (inadequate clearance). In other patients it may occur because of abnormal neurotransmission to the muscles of the airway. The reason Remeron has not been promoted as a sleep apnea treatment is that it has prominent side effects of weight gain and sleepiness (both are bad news for sleep apnea patients). I have not had any weight gain from it because I am a very healthy eater. The sedation has not been a problem..in fact it helps me get back to sleep if my apnea wakes me up.