atomoxetine + dronabinol

The combination of **atomoxetine** (a selective norepinephrine reuptake inhibitor) and **dronabinol** (a synthetic form of delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol, or THC, the primary psychoactive component of cannabis) has been studied as a pharmacotherapy for **obstructive sleep apnea (OSA)**. Atomoxetine enhances norepinephrine signaling and increases upper airway muscle tone during sleep, potentially reducing airway collapse. Dronabinol acts as a cannabinoid receptor agonist, with sedative and sleep-stabilizing effects possibly mediated through high expression of cannabinoid receptors on hypoglossal motor nuclei involved in airway patency. In this combination, atomoxetine is thought to provide stimulant effects on pharyngeal muscles while dronabinol mitigates wake-promoting effects and may help increase respiratory arousal threshold, thereby improving OSA severity. Clinical studies have reported that atomoxetine plus dronabinol at 80 mg/5 mg reduces OSA severity and hypoxic burden, but the combination produces frequent side effects, limiting broader use. Further validation in larger clinical trials is needed before routine clinical adoption[1][2].