Hostname: page-component-78c5997874-g7gxr Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-11-19T21:56:10.721Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

Suvorexant: something new for sleep?

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  14 November 2014

Abhishek Reddy ,
Sowmya C Puvvada ,
Satyanarayana Kommisetti ,
Rif S. El-Mallakh  and
Steven Lippmann
Abhishek Reddy
Affiliation:
Department of Psychiatry, University of Louisville School of Medicine, Louisville, KY, USA
Sowmya C Puvvada
Affiliation:
Department of Psychiatry, University of Louisville School of Medicine, Louisville, KY, USA
Satyanarayana Kommisetti
Affiliation:
Department of Psychiatry, University of Louisville School of Medicine, Louisville, KY, USA
Rif S. El-Mallakh
Affiliation:
Department of Psychiatry, University of Louisville School of Medicine, Louisville, KY, USA
Steven Lippmann*
Affiliation:
Department of Psychiatry, University of Louisville School of Medicine, Louisville, KY, USA
*
Dr. Steven Lippmann, ACB Clinic, First Floor, 550 South Jackson Street, Louisville, KY 40202, United States of America. Tel: +502 852 1759;Fax: +502 588 5939; E-mail: [email protected]
Get access Rights & Permissions [Opens in a new window]

Abstract

Orexin, also called hypocretin, is a neuropeptide that acts on central nervous system receptors to promote arousal. Suvorexant, its receptor antagonist, generates interest as a medication to treat insomnia. Suvorexant helps in decreasing wakefulness by counteracting orexin activity. Its low side effect potential may offer considerable benefit. Compared with other sleep aids, diminished drowsiness and less cognitive dysfunction is an advantage. Now approved for clinical use, an apparent lack of rebound insomnia or drug dependence potential might make suvorexant a good choice pharmacotherapy for patients with insomnia.

Keywords

insomnianon-addictive pharmacotherapyorexin receptor antagonistsleep medicationsuvorexant
Type
Short Communication
Information
Acta Neuropsychiatrica , Volume 27 , Issue 1 , February 2015 , pp. 53 - 55
Check for updates
Copyright
© Scandinavian College of Neuropsychopharmacology 2014 

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

1.Pałasz, A, Lapray, D, Peyron, Cet al. Dual orexin receptor antagonists-promising agents in the treatment of sleep disorders. Int J Neuropsychopharmacol 2013;23:1–12.Google Scholar
2.Roth, T. Insomnia: definition, prevalence, etiology, and consequences. J Clin Sleep Med 2007;3:S7–S10.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
3.Saper, CB, Chou, TC, Scammell, TE. The sleep switch: hypothalamic control of sleep and wakefulness. Trends Neurosci 2001;24:726–731.Google Scholar
4.Scammell, TE, Winrow, JC. Orexin receptors: pharmacology and therapeutic opportunities 2011;10:243–266.Google Scholar
5.España, RA, Scammell, TE. Sleep neurobiology from a clinical perspective Sleep 2011;34:845–858.Google ScholarPubMed
6.Herring, WJ, Snyder, E, Budd, Ket al. Orexin receptor antagonism for treatment of insomnia: a randomized clinical trial of suvorexant. Neurology 2012;79:2265–2274.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
7.Cox, CD, Breslin, MJ, Whitman, DBet al. Discovery of the dual orexin receptor antagonist [(7 R)-4-(5-chloro-1,3-benzoxazol-2-yl)-7-methyl-1,4-diazepan-1-yl][5-methyl-2-(2 H-1,2,3-triazol-2-yl)phenyl]methanone (MK-4305) for the treatment of insomnia. J Med Chem 2010;53:5320–5332.Google Scholar
8.Hopkins, CR. ACS chemical neuroscience molecule spotlight on suvorexant. ACS Chem Neurosci 2012;3:647–648.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
9. Formulary Staff. FDA panel OKs Merck insomnia agent suvorexant at lower doses. (2013, May 23). Formulary Journal watch. Retrieved from http://formularyjournal.modernmedicine.com/formulary-journal/content/tags/fda-advisory-committee/fda-panel-oks-merck-insomnia-agent-suvorexant-?page=full.Google Scholar
10.Walker, G, (2013, September 16). Market Insight: FDA Issues Complete Response Letter for Merck’s Insomnia Drug Suvorexant. Thomson Reuters’ Life Sciences Connect. Retrieved from http://lsconnect.thomsonreuters.com/market-insight-fda-issues-complete-response-letter-for-mercks-insomnia-drug-suvorexant/.Google Scholar
11.Winrow, CJ, Gotter, AL, Cox, CDet al. Promotion of sleep by suvorexant-a novel dual orexin receptor antagonist. J Neurogenet 2011;25:52–61.Google Scholar
12.Sun, H, Kennedy, WP, Wilbraham, Det al. Effects of suvorexant, an orexin receptor antagonist, on sleep parameters as measured by polysomnography in healthy men. Sleep 2013;36:259–267.Google ScholarPubMed
13. Peripheral and Central Nervous system (PCNS) Advisory Committee. (2013, May 22). Suvorexant : For insomnia characterized by difficulties with sleep onset and/or maintenance. Paper presented at Peripheral and Central Nervous System (PCNS) Advisory Committee meeting, Silver Spring, M.D. Retrieved from http://www.fda.gov/AdvisoryCommittees/Calendar/ucm346557.htm.Google Scholar
14.Uslaner, JM, Tye, SJ, Eddins, DMet al. Orexin receptor antagonists differ from standard sleep drugs by promoting sleep at doses that do not disrupt cognition. Sci Transl Med 2013;5:179ra44.Google Scholar
15.ClinicalTrials. gov. A service of the U.S. National Institutes of Health. Completed Studies for MK-4305. http://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/results?term=MK-4305. Accessed 7 July 2013.Google Scholar