Formulary
Daridorexant: Indications, Dosing, Side Effects and Interactions
Daridorexant is an orexin OX 1 - and OX 2 -receptor antagonist that blocks the action of orexin neuropeptides, thereby decreasing wakefulness.
MedNext Academy | 3 min read
Daridorexant: Indications, Dosing, Side Effects and Interactions
Daridorexant is an orexin OX 1 - and OX 2 -receptor antagonist that blocks the action of orexin neuropeptides, thereby decreasing wakefulness.
Drug action
Daridorexant is an orexin OX 1 - and OX 2 -receptor antagonist that blocks the action of orexin neuropeptides, thereby decreasing wakefulness.
Indications and dose
**Insomnia [short-term use when symptoms present**
- **Adult** (By Mouth): for at least 3 months] 50 mg once daily, dose to be taken within 30 minutes before bedtime, alternatively 25 mg once daily, dose to be taken within 30 minutes before bedtime, lower dose may be more appropriate for some patients.
Cautions
Depression (worsening of symptoms including suicidal ideation); elderly (limited information available in patients older than 75 years); psychiatric illness (suicidal ideation reported in those with pre-existing disorders)
Contraindications
Narcolepsy
Side effects
Common or very common Dizziness; fatigue; headache; nausea Uncommon Hallucinations; sleep paralysis
Pregnancy
Avoid unless essential (limited information available). M
Breast feeding
Specialist sources indicate use with caution and monitor breast-fed infant for sedation, poor feeding, and poor weight gain (amount in milk likely to be small as daridorexant is about 99.7% bound to plasma proteins). Consider an alternative drug, particularly if breast-feeding a neonate (pre- or full-term). No information on human lactation is available.
Hepatic impairment
Avoid in severe impairment (no information available). M Dose adjustments Lower dose of 25 mg once daily is recommended in moderate impairment (risk of increased exposure). M
Medicinal forms
Clinical governance
**Author:** MedNext Clinical Team. **Clinical reviewer:** Dr Shameer Deen, MBBS, MS, MRCS. **Sources:** BNF, Indian Pharmacopoeia, CIMS India. **Correction:** Report errors at support@mednext.academy.
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