Safety and real-world efficacy of lemborexant in the treatment of comorbid insomnia

Abstract

Aim: To investigate the real-world effectiveness and safety of lemborexan for treating comorbid insomnia associated with other psychiatric disorders, and whether lemborexant helps reduce the dose of benzodiazepines (BZs). Methods: This retrospective observational study was conducted on outpatients and inpatients treated by physicians of Juntendo University Hospital Mental Clinic between April 2020 and December 2021. Results: Data of 649 patients who were treated with lemborexant were eventually enrolled. About 64.5% of patients were classified as the responder group. Response rates of ≥60% were recorded for most psychiatric disorders. Upon administration of lemborexant, diazepam-equivalent dose of BZs had been significantly reduced in participants (3.7 ± 8.2 vs. 2.9 ± 7.9, p < 0.001). The results of logistic regression analysis showed that outpatient (odds ratios: 2.310; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.32–4.05), shorter duration of BZ use (<1 year) (odds ratios: 1.512; 95% CI: 1.02–2.25), no adverse events (odds ratios: 10.369; 95% CI: 6.13–17.54), larger reduction of diazepam-equivalent dose of BZs upon introducing lemborexant prescription (odds ratios: 1.150; 95% CI: 1.04–1.27), and suvorexant was the replacement drug (odds ratios: 2.983; 95% CI: 1.44–6.19), which were significant predictors of good response. Conclusion: Although this is a retrospective and observational study with many limitations, our study results suggest that lemborexant is effective and safe.

Keywords

• Lemborexant
• Comorbid insomnia
• Benzodiazepines
• Z-drug