Suvorexant: A Dual Orexin Receptor Antagonist for Treating Sleep Disturbance in Posttraumatic Stress

Launched by VA OFFICE OF RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT · Aug 20, 2018

Keywords

ClinConnect Summary

This clinical trial is studying a medication called suvorexant, which is designed to help improve sleep for Veterans experiencing sleep disturbances related to post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Many Veterans with PTSD struggle with sleep issues that can impact their daily lives, including their emotional and physical health. The trial aims to see if suvorexant can help these Veterans get better sleep and reduce their PTSD symptoms, potentially leading to improved overall well-being.

To be eligible for the study, participants must be between 18 and 75 years old, have a history of U.S. military service, and experience ongoing PTSD symptoms for at least three months. They should also have sleep problems indicated by a specific sleep questionnaire. Participants will be closely monitored throughout the trial, and they can expect to see if the medication helps improve their sleep and PTSD symptoms, while also ensuring their safety by excluding those with certain health conditions or medications that may interfere with the study.

Gender

ALL

Eligibility criteria

• Inclusion Criteria:
• • Men and Women, age range of 18 to 75, with a history of US military service, capable of reading and understanding English, and able to provide written informed consent
• • Criterion A event meets DSM-5 criteria
• • PTSD symptoms \>3 months duration as indexed by a CAPS-5 12 and a partial PTSD diagnosis at screening
• • Insomnia indicated by an ISI score \> 14
• * Subjects on non-exclusionary medications must be on a stable dose for at least 4 weeks prior to randomization, which includes the Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors (SSRIs) e.g.:
• • Sertraline
• • Paroxetine
• • Fluoxetine
• • Fluvoxamine
• • Citalopram
• • Escitalopram
• * Serotonin-norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors (SNRIs), e.g.:
• • Desvenlafaxine
• • Duloxetine
• • Levomilnacipran
• • Venlafaxine
• • For subjects who are in psychotherapy, treatment must be stable for 6 weeks
• * Women of child-bearing potential must not be pregnant or have plans for pregnancy or breastfeeding during the study and must use a medically acceptable method of birth control, e.g.:
• • oral
• • implantable
• • injectable
• • transdermal contraceptive
• • intrauterine device
• • double-barrier method
• • Sleep apnea score \<30; if screening indicates mild or moderate sleep apnea (score between 5 and 30), referral will be provided
• Exclusion Criteria:
• • DSM-5 alcohol, marijuana, and/or other drug use disorder in the last 3 months
• • Mild alcohol use not meeting criteria for moderate or severe use disorder may be allowed on a case-by-case basis
• • Mild or moderate marijuana use disorder may be allowed on a on a case-by-case basis
• • Manic or psychotic episode in the last 5 years
• • Exposure to trauma in the last 3 months
• • Prominent suicidal or homicidal ideation or any suicidal behavior in the past 3 months on the Columbia Suicide Severity Rating Scale (C-SSRS) or increased risk of suicide that necessitates additional therapy or inpatient treatment
• • Pre-existing severe sleep apnea (score \>30) in the absence of adherence to effective treatment (such as CPAP or oral device) or positive screen for severe sleep apnea by type III device (score \> 30)
• • Neurologic disorder or systemic illness affecting CNS function
• * Chronic or unstable medical illness including:
• • unstable angina
• • myocardial infarction within the past 6 months
• • congestive heart failure
• • preexisting hypotension or orthostatic hypotension
• • heart block or arrhythmia
• • chronic renal or hepatic failure
• • pancreatitis
• • severe chronic obstructive pulmonary disease
• • History of severe traumatic brain injury
• • Mild cognitive impairment assessed by the Montreal Cognitive Assessment
• • Pregnancy, breastfeeding and/or refusal to use effective birth control (for women)
• • Narcolepsy
• • Previous adverse reaction to a hypnotic
• • Current use of benzodiazepines, strong CYP3A inhibitors, or Digoxin
• Prohibited:
• • benzodiazepines
• • strong CYP3A inhibitors
• • Digoxin
• • Furthermore, CNS depressants (e.g., benzodiazepines, opioids, alcohol) increase the risk of CNS depression when co-administered with suvorexant and will not be allowed for safety reasons.
• • Since metabolism by CYP3A is the major elimination pathway for suvorexant, concomitant use of suvorexant with strong inhibitors of CYP3A (e.g., ketoconazole, itraconazole, posaconazole, clarithromycin, nefazodone, ritonavir, saquinavir, nelfinavir, indinavir, boceprevir, telaprevir, telithromycin and conivaptan), moderate CYP3A inhibitors (e.g., amprenavir, aprepitant, atazanavir, ciprofloxacin, diltiazem, erythromycin, fluconazole, fosamprenavir, grapefruit juice, imatinib, verapamil), or strong CYP3A inducers (e.g., rifampin, carbamazepine and phenytoin) will not be allowed.
• • All concomitant medication use will be monitored and documented