Effectiveness of Lemborexant for Insomnia in Older Adults

Background on Insomnia Treatments

Researchers have explored whether lemborexant, a medication for insomnia, effectively promotes and maintains sleep in older adults. Current insomnia therapies include cognitive behavioral therapy and medications such as benzodiazepines. However, these treatments do not always yield the desired results in sleep promotion and maintenance.

Lemborexant as a Potential Alternative

Lemborexant is a dual orexin receptor antagonist that may offer a new option for individuals struggling with insomnia. A recent study evaluated its effectiveness in comparison to a placebo and zolpidem tartrate.

Study Overview

The findings were published in the Journal of the American Medical Association. This comprehensive study took place at sixty-seven locations across North America and Europe, involving participants aged 55 and older who experienced difficulties in initiating or maintaining sleep. Data was collected through sleep history assessments, sleep diaries, and polysomnography.

After initial screenings, the study employed a randomized, double-blinded design, ensuring that neither the researchers nor participants knew which treatment each group received. Over one thousand participants were included, assigned to receive either lemborexant (5mg), lemborexant (10mg), a placebo, or zolpidem tartrate.

Results of the Study

The study concluded that lemborexant significantly benefits both the initiation and maintenance of sleep, particularly during the latter part of the night. Participants taking lemborexant experienced enhanced latent and persistent sleep, along with improved sleep maintenance when compared to those receiving placebo or zolpidem tartrate. Furthermore, lemborexant was reported to be well tolerated over the one-month study period.

Conclusion and Future Research

While the study indicated that lemborexant effectively promotes and maintains sleep in older adults, it is essential to highlight that the long-term side effects remain unidentified, given the study’s duration of only one month. The positive outcomes from this research advocate for further investigations into the potential of lemborexant as a treatment option for insomnia.

Written by Neha Ramjuttun

Reference: Rosenberg, R., Murphy, P., Zammit, G., Mayleben, D., Kumar, D., & Dhadda, S. et al. (2019). Comparison of Lemborexant With Placebo and Zolpidem Tartrate Extended Release for the Treatment of Older Adults With Insomnia Disorder. JAMA Network Open, 2(12), e1918254. doi: 10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2019.18254

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