There are two types of sleep apnea. Obstructive and Central. The first is just how it sounds, the way you lay, your throat being narrow etc can cause it. You wake up because you cant breath right but you usually dont notice and go right back to sleep. Central is scary. It is when your brain doesnt tell your body to breath in your sleep. It can cause you to wake up with palpitations. So meds can cause it. It is dangerous so please go to a sleep doc.