Daridorexant for sleep online prescriptions

Daridorexant works by blocking the activity of orexins, neuropeptides in the brain that promote wakefulness. This makes it easier for you to fall asleep and stay asleep throughout the night. It also makes daridorexant — and other DORA medications — different from other sleep medicines, which work by increasing sleepiness. Instead of increasing sleepiness, daridorexant decreases wakefulness, so you’re less likely to feel groggy the next day.

People start falling asleep faster within the first 2 days of taking daridorexant according to a study comparing daridorexant to Ambien (zolpidem). Double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trials showed that after 1 month of taking daridorexant, people took almost half as much time to fall asleep. Before taking daridorexant, it took them 64 to 67 minutes to fall asleep. After a month on the medication, it took them 33 to 39 minutes. And the trend continued to improve at the 3-month mark. 

Daridorexant also reduced the amount of time people spent tossing and turning after initially falling asleep. Prior to taking daridorexant, the researchers conducted sleep studies which found that participants spent 95 to 98 minutes awake during the night after initially falling asleep. After 1 month of taking daridorexant, that had reduced to 66 to 80 minutes. Participants also reported an increase in their overall total sleep time — 34 to 44 more minutes per night at the 1-month mark, and 48 to 58 more minutes per night at the 3-month mark, when compared to their baseline.

People who take daridorexant also report improved daytime functioning, according to a 1-year clinical trial.

Daridorexant is an oral medication you take 30 minutes before you go to bed and have at least 7 hours before you have to wake up in the morning. If you don’t have at least 7 hours before you plan to wake up (or if you forget your dose and have less than 7 hours of sleep time left), don’t take daridorexant. Never take more than one dose a night. If you take daridorexant with a meal, it may take longer for it to kick in and help you fall asleep.

Daridorexant comes in 2 dosage strengths: 25 and 50 milligrams. For some people, including those with liver problems, the maximum recommended dose is 25 milligrams. Don’t take more daridorexant than your doctor prescribes.

Daridorexant should be stored at room temperature.

The efficacy of daridorexant for insomnia is proven by clinical studies, particularly for people with trouble falling and staying asleep. But another insomnia medication may be a more effective option for you, depending on the types of sleep issues you’re having, your current health conditions, and other medications you’re taking. 

Daridorexant differs from traditional sleep meds by reducing wakefulness, while sedative/hypnotics and CNS depressants — like Ambien (zolpidem) and Rozerem (ramelteon), respectively — increase sleepiness. These may make you feel drowsy the next day. 

Belsomra (suvorexant) is a DORA with a similar mechanism of action to daridorexant. It, along with doxepin, which is a tricyclic antidepressant, are shown to be well-tolerated with lower risks of adverse effects. Some insomnia medications, like Ambien, are only indicated for short-term use.

Some medications for anxiety or depression can also be effective at treating insomnia. Trazodone, for example, is a selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI) that’s FDA-approved for major depressive disorder (MDD), but may be prescribed off-label for insomnia. Trazodone has an FDA-boxed warning due to the potential risk of suicidal thoughts and behaviors.

Ambien, Belsomra, doxepin, and Rozerem are FDA-approved for treating certain forms of insomnia. Trazadone is approved to treat MDD. All have side effects that may include, but aren’t limited to, drowsiness, dizziness, headache, nausea, and fatigue. Ambien has an FDA-boxed warning for complex sleep behaviors that can include walking, driving, talking, eating, and other activities while asleep that may result in injury or death.

Different drug interactions, side effects, and mechanisms of action may make one insomnia medication a better (or safer) fit for you than other medications.

The best way to find out which insomnia medication, if any, is best for you is to talk to an insomnia specialist.