Abstract / Summary
Ticagrelor is an orally administered P2Y12-receptor antagonist with more potent inhibition of platelet aggregation than clopidogrel. There is an association between ticagrelor use and dyspnea. We present a complex patient with stent thrombosis on clopidogrel and multiple comorbidities who was initiated on ticagrelor, with subsequent development of central sleep apnea, though reported in the literature but was not considered the cause of central sleep apnea initially. This adverse effect was suspected late, as he was unable to be weaned off the ventilator and had documented apnea events. On discontinuing ticagrelor, apnea episodes ceased. This case cautions cardiologists and other physicians about this rare complication of ticagrelor, which needs to be considered as a possible cause of central sleep apnea in patients on a ventilator with difficult weaning.