Suvorexant for insomnia in older adults: a perspective review

Rajesh R Tampi, Geetha Manikkara, Silpa Balachandran, Piyush Taparia, Stephanie Hrisko, Shilpa Srinivasan, Deena J Tampi

Abstract

The aim of this review was to identify published randomized control trials (RCTs) that evaluated the efficacy and tolerability of suvorexant for the treatment of insomnia among older adults (≥65 years). A literature search was conducted of PubMed, MEDLINE, EMBASE, PsycINFO and Cochrane collaboration databases for RCTs in any language evaluating suvorexant for the treatment of insomnia in older adults. Additionally, references of full-text articles that were included in this review were searched for further studies. Data from three RCTs of suvorexant were included in this review. All the three studies fulfilled the criteria for being of good quality based on the items listed by the Center for Evidence Based Medicine (CEBM) for the assessment of RCTs. None of the three studies were conducted exclusively among older adults. However, they also included older individuals diagnosed with primary insomnia. These studies included a total of 1298 participants aged ≥65 years in age. Trial durations ranged from 3 months to 1 year. Available data from these studies indicate that suvorexant improves multiple subjective and polysomnographic sleep parameters for sleep onset and maintenance among older individuals with a diagnosis of primary insomnia and is generally well tolerated. Current evidence, although limited, indicates that suvorexant benefits older adults with primary insomnia and is generally well tolerated.

Article Details

Article Type

Review

DOI

10.7573/dic.212517

Publication Dates

Accepted: ; Published: .

Citation

Tampi RR, Manikkara G, Balachandran S, Taparia P, Hrisko S, Srinivasan S, Tampi DJ. Suvorexant for insomnia in older adults: a perspective review. Drugs in Context 2018; 7: 212517. DOI: 10.7573/dic.212517

Article Views

Monthly article views (last 12 months)

Drugs in Context PubMed Central
Source HTML views PDF downloads Totals
Drugs in Context since September 15, 2025 242 7 249
PubMed Central since November 1, 2024 899 23 922
Totals 1141 30 1164
Register for alerts

I would like to be contacted by Drugs in Context when new articles are posted.

Privacy Overview

This website uses cookies so that we can provide you with the best user experience possible. Cookie information is stored in your browser and performs functions such as recognising you when you return to our website and helping our team to understand which sections of the website you find most interesting and useful.