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Not every case of sleep apnea is obstructive. With central sleep apnea no amount of weight loss, surgery and repositioning will fix the problem.

From the article:

> scientists in Boston a decade ago identified a combination of two existing medications that kept the upper airway open by jointly stimulating the relevant muscles, particularly the genioglossus, a workhorse that forms most of the base of the tongue and is critical to keeping the throat open.

Glad it worked for you. Not everyone with sleep apnea is an overweight alcoholic. Plenty of drugs help with diseases involving muscle tone, why is that so surprising?

It happens to stimulate nerves in the airway such that it reduces collapse and obstruction.

PS: there are many people with OSA with normal BMI who also don't drink.