Snoring is something that is not taken seriously by a majority of people because it is a consensus that snoring is nothing more than an inconvenience, particularly for a person sleeping next to a snorer. However, snoring compromises a person’s sleep quality, as snoring is caused by the inability to breathe properly. Snoring can lead to many complications later down the road, and here are some medicines that induce snoring.
Alprazolam
Alprazolam falls under the category of tranquilizers, and as the name suggests, it causes sedation. It is often used to treat anxiety disorders. It works by decreasing the abnormal excitement in the brain, and unsurprisingly, this causes muscles to relax as well. People suffering from sleep apnea are often discouraged from using alprazolam, especially during the evenings because of its property to induce snoring.
Brand Name: Xanax
Buprenorphine
Buprenorphine is an opiate, therefore, it is used in the treatment of acute and chronic pain. It is either prescribed as tablets, skin patches, or even injected depending on the severity of the pain. It works by attaching to the opioid receptors in the brain, inhibiting the body from sensing pain, resulting in calmness and relaxation. Unsurprisingly, it also causes muscles to relax, particularly respiratory muscles. This not only causes snoring but can also lead to breathlessness during sleep.
Brand Name: Veagnok
Cetirizine
Similar to any other antihistamine, cetirizine works by inhibiting the body to produce histamines, the body’s natural anti-allergens. It was developed in Italy during the 1980s. Cetirizine is used in the treatment of conditions like hay fever, dermatitis, and urticaria. Some of the adverse effects experienced with this medicine include headache, dry mouth, fatigue, and snoring. While only a small amount of people end up snoring with cetirizine, it can lead to sleep apnea.
Brand Name: Zyrtec
Diazepam
Diazepam belongs to the benzodiazepine class of medicines, which are used to induce sedation. It is prescribed to people suffering from anxiety, seizures, alcohol withdrawal syndrome, muscle spasms, insomnia, and restless legs syndrome. Diazepam works by stimulating gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA), and since GABA is known to induce anxiety and fear, a person feels relaxed on this medicine. Subsequently, it also causes the muscles to relax, resulting in snoring.
Brand Name: Valium
Diphenhydramine
Most commonly used to treat allergies, this antihistamine has been in use since 1946. In addition to its common uses, it is also used in the treatment of nausea and in the management of parkinsonism. Similar to any antihistamine, it works by blocking histamines, the body’s natural response to allergens, which causes irritation. Since it also causes the muscles to relax, it can lead to the relaxing of the throat and nose muscles, resulting in snoring. Interestingly, a lot of people also abuse this medicine because of its sedating effects, as it induces euphoria in large doses.
Brand Name: Benadryl
Phenobarbital
Belonging to the category of barbiturates, this medicine is a central nervous system depressant. It is a fast-acting medicine, i.e., it begins to affect the patient within five minutes of administration. It is exclusively used in the treatment of seizures in young children; however, the World Health Organization also recommends it for epilepsy. It simply reduces the abnormal activity during a seizure by relaxing the brain. In doing so, it also triggers the relaxing of the muscles in the face and respiratory system, leading to snoring, involuntary eye movement, and lack of coordination.
Brand Name: Gardenal