Health Canada Approves Zepbound for Sleep Apnea in Adults With Obesity

By Tahani Elghazaly
Published June 26, 2026

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Health Canada has approved Zepbound for the treatment of obstructive sleep apnea in adults living with obesity, offering a new medical option for patients with a condition that can seriously affect sleep, breathing and daily quality of life.

Zepbound, whose active ingredient is tirzepatide, is a once-weekly injection. According to the official product monograph, it is indicated as an adjunct to a reduced-calorie diet and increased physical activity, including for moderate to severe obstructive sleep apnea in adults with obesity, defined as a BMI of 30 kg/m² or higher.

Obstructive sleep apnea occurs when the upper airway becomes repeatedly blocked during sleep, leading to pauses or disruptions in breathing. The condition can cause daytime sleepiness, fatigue and difficulty concentrating, and it may be linked to risks such as high blood pressure and cardiovascular complications.

Health officials have stressed that Zepbound is not an immediate replacement for CPAP therapy, which remains a first-line treatment for many patients with moderate to severe sleep apnea. Patients using CPAP should not stop using it without medical guidance.

The approval followed Phase 3 clinical trials involving adults with both obesity and moderate to severe obstructive sleep apnea. The studies evaluated Zepbound alongside a reduced-calorie diet and increased physical activity over 52 weeks.

For patients in Canada, access and insurance coverage may become the next practical question. Health approval does not automatically mean the drug will be covered by every public or private plan, and Canada’s Drug Agency lists tirzepatide for obstructive sleep apnea as part of its reimbursement review process.