Dosage, Side Effects, Warnings
- 30 November, 22
Insomnia is a sleep disorder characterized by difficulty falling asleep, staying asleep, or awakening earlier than intended. It is the most common sleep problem affecting up to 30% to 40% of the US adult population every year. Non-refreshing night sleep without other sleep disorders like restless leg syndrome, sleep apnea, or narcolepsy is typical of insomnia. Today, it is a common practice to treat this disorder with medications like Dayvigo.
Dayvigo improves sleep onset and maintenance in adults with insomnia. It belongs to the class of medications known as dual orexin receptor antagonists (DORA). This medication depresses the central nervous system and helps with difficulty falling and staying asleep.
From this post, you will learn more about Dayvigo and what additional information about your health history you should tell when getting a prescription.
Quality sleep is necessary for physical and mental health. Manage insomnia at MEDvidi with the help of professionals.
Mechanism of Action
Being a dual orexin receptor antagonist, the drug treats insomnia by acting on the central nervous system. It binds orexin-1 and orexin-2 receptors, which prevents their stimulation and reduces wakefulness.
Generally, orexin binds to its receptors in the brain to induce wakefulness, playing a key role in the sleep-wake cycle. But Dayvigo blocks the activation of both receptors and suppresses wakefulness, allowing you to sleep better at night.
Dayvigo Uses
The FDA has approved Dayvigo for treating insomnia in individuals above 18. It can help with the following effects of poor sleep quality:
- Fatigue or general body weakness
- Poor concentration
- Daytime sleepiness or drowsiness
- Headaches
People with chronic insomnia can optimize their ability to fall and stay asleep by taking Dayvigo before going to bed, as prescribed. The only contraindication for taking this drug is narcolepsy (frequently falling asleep at unexpected times).
How to Use Dayvigo Sleeping Pill
Take Dayvigo medication exactly as directed by your healthcare provider, usually right before bed. Ensure you have at least 7 hours of sleep after swallowing Dayvigo tablets. Otherwise, you will feel sleepy or drowsy after waking up, increasing the risk of accidents, especially when operating heavy machinery or driving.
Avoid taking Dayvigo with or soon after a meal, as this might prolong its onset of action. Swallow only one pill of Dayvigo before bed, and do not increase the dose without consulting your doctor. If insomnia symptoms do not improve after 7-10 days as prescribed, talk to the doctor for further evaluation and advice, as your sleep problem is likely due to other issues.
Dayvigo Dosage
Dayvigo is available as 5 and 10-milligram tablets, taken by mouth once daily. The recommended initial dose is 5 mg, taken immediately before bed. The prescribing doctor can increase the daily dose, depending on the clinical response and tolerability but not exceeding 10 mg per night. Those above 65 years and with severe liver problems should not use more than 5 mg once per night.
MEDvidi doctors develop personalized treatment plans for every patient.
Dayvigo Side Effects
Dayvigo is generally safe and well-tolerated by many users. However, this drug might cause unwanted responses such as:
- Daytime somnolence (sleepiness)
- Headache
- Abnormal dreams
- Mood changes and depression
- Behavior changes with aggression or agitation
- Thinking and perception disorders, including confusion, memory loss, and hallucinations
- Lethargy and drowsiness
- Impaired coordination and reduced alertness
- Suicidal ideation or tendencies
- Sleep paralysis, in which a person is unable to move during sleep transitions
- Breathing problems
- Complex sleeping behaviors such as sleepwalking, sleep driving and performing other activities that one might not remember upon waking up
- Temporary leg weakness
Is Dayvigo Addictive?
Although Dayvigo effectively enhances sleep quality, it has the potential for misuse and dependence because of its CNS-suppressing ability. Consequently, it is restricted as a schedule IV controlled drug because it can lead to addiction.
Even though its likelihood of causing addiction is lower than substances in schedule I, II, or III, you can only obtain Dayvigo with a prescription from a doctor.
Tell a doctor about your symptoms and health history to get effective insomnia treatment options.
Dayvigo Generics
Approved by the FDA in 2019, Dayvigo is the brand form of lemborexant. With its drug patent set to expire in 2035, no Dayvigo generics are currently available in the United States. Thus, Dayvigo is more expensive than its alternatives with multiple generics, such as Ambien.
Dayvigo vs Ambien
| Dayvigo | Ambien | |
| FDA approval | Approved for treating insomnia in December 2019 | Approved for short-term treatment of insomnia in 1992 |
| Medication class and generics | Dual orexin receptor antagonist | Non-benzodiazepine (sedative-hypnotic) |
| Generics | No generics available | Zolpidem |
| Mechanism of action | Inhibiting orexin receptors, reducing wakefulness | CNS depression with a calming effect by acting on GABA receptors |
| Potential for abuse | Yes, classified as a schedule IV controlled substance | Yes, classified as a schedule IV controlled substance |
Conclusion
Dayvigo (lemborexant) is a dual orexin receptor antagonist for improving the ability to fall and stay asleep in adults with chronic insomnia. The drug has the potential for dependence and abuse and is classified as a schedule IV controlled substance. Therefore, you must have a prescription to obtain Dayvigo.
To get the most effective treatment plan based on your symptoms, diagnosis, and health history, consult a doctor online at MEDvidi.
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