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Evaluating lemborexant for the treatment of insomnia.

Publication ,  Journal Article
Zammit, G; Krystal, A
Published in: Expert Opin Pharmacother
July 2021

INTRODUCTION: Insomnia is a complex sleep disorder that compromises quality of life and affects approximately 10% of the general population. Insomnia, defined as trouble initiating or maintaining sleep associated with impaired daytime function or distress, is treated using a comprehensive approach comprised of cognitive behavioral therapy and pharmacotherapy. Lemborexant, a dual orexin receptor antagonist, is a new pharmacotherapeutic option recently approved for the treatment of insomnia. AREAS COVERED: Here, the authors describe lemborexant, assess its efficacy and safety profile in clinical trials, and evaluate its role in the current insomnia treatment landscape. EXPERT OPINION: Lemborexant may offer an improved treatment option compared with other pharmacotherapies for insomnia because it is effective both over the long term and over a wide range of outcome measures. Importantly, lemborexant improves latency to sleep onset and sleep maintenance and is able to help people who experience early morning awakenings. Safety data reveal that lemborexant has minimal residual effects on morning alertness or next day function, and that patients are able to respond to an external auditory stimulus in the middle of the night. In conclusion, lemborexant represents a new, effective, and well-tolerated medication for patients with insomnia.

Duke Scholars

Published In

Expert Opin Pharmacother

DOI

EISSN

1744-7666

Publication Date

July 2021

Volume

22

Issue

10

Start / End Page

1235 / 1243

Location

England

Related Subject Headings

  • Treatment Outcome
  • Sleep Initiation and Maintenance Disorders
  • Quality of Life
  • Pyrimidines
  • Pyridines
  • Pharmacology & Pharmacy
  • Humans
  • Double-Blind Method
  • 3214 Pharmacology and pharmaceutical sciences
  • 1115 Pharmacology and Pharmaceutical Sciences
 

Citation

APA
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ICMJE
MLA
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Zammit, G., & Krystal, A. (2021). Evaluating lemborexant for the treatment of insomnia. Expert Opin Pharmacother, 22(10), 1235–1243. https://doi.org/10.1080/14656566.2021.1902987

Published In

Expert Opin Pharmacother

DOI

EISSN

1744-7666

Publication Date

July 2021

Volume

22

Issue

10

Start / End Page

1235 / 1243

Location

England

Related Subject Headings

  • Treatment Outcome
  • Sleep Initiation and Maintenance Disorders
  • Quality of Life
  • Pyrimidines
  • Pyridines
  • Pharmacology & Pharmacy
  • Humans
  • Double-Blind Method
  • 3214 Pharmacology and pharmaceutical sciences
  • 1115 Pharmacology and Pharmaceutical Sciences