Suvorexant ameliorated sleep disturbance, opioid withdrawal, and craving during a buprenorphine taper

Sci Transl Med. 2022 Jun 22;14(650):eabn8238. doi: 10.1126/scitranslmed.abn8238. Epub 2022 Jun 22.

Abstract

Increased orexin/hypocretin signaling is implicated in opioid withdrawal, sleep disturbances, and drug-seeking behaviors. This study examined whether a dual-orexin receptor antagonist would improve sleep and withdrawal outcomes when compared with placebo during a buprenorphine/naloxone taper. Thirty-eight participants with opioid use disorder were recruited to a clinical research unit and maintained on 8/2 to 16/4 mg of buprenorphine/naloxone treatment for 3 days before being randomized to 20 mg of suvorexant (n = 14), 40 mg of suvorexant (n = 12), or placebo (n = 12); 26 individuals completed the study. After randomization, participants underwent a 4-day buprenorphine/naloxone taper and 4-day post-taper observation period. Total sleep time (TST) was collected nightly with a wireless electroencephalography device and wrist-worn actigraphy; opioid withdrawal symptoms were assessed via the Subjective Opiate Withdrawal Scale (SOWS); and abuse potential was assessed on a 0- to 100-point visual analog scale of "High" every morning. A priori outcomes included two-group (collapsing suvorexant doses versus placebo) and three-group comparisons of area-under-the-curve (AUC) scores for TST, SOWS, and High. In two-group comparisons, participants receiving suvorexant displayed increased TST during the buprenorphine/naloxone taper and decreased SOWS during the post-taper period. In three-group comparisons, participants receiving 20 mg of suvorexant versus placebo displayed increased AUC for TST during the buprenorphine/naloxone taper, but there was no difference in SOWS among groups. There was no evidence of abuse potential in two- or three-group analyses. The results suggest that suvorexant might be a promising treatment for sleep and opioid withdrawal in individuals undergoing a buprenorphine/naloxone taper.

Publication types

  • Randomized Controlled Trial
  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural

MeSH terms

  • Analgesics, Opioid / therapeutic use
  • Azepines
  • Buprenorphine* / therapeutic use
  • Craving
  • Double-Blind Method
  • Humans
  • Naloxone / pharmacology
  • Naloxone / therapeutic use
  • Narcotic Antagonists / pharmacology
  • Narcotic Antagonists / therapeutic use
  • Opiate Substitution Treatment
  • Sleep
  • Substance Withdrawal Syndrome* / drug therapy
  • Treatment Outcome
  • Triazoles

Substances

  • Analgesics, Opioid
  • Azepines
  • Narcotic Antagonists
  • Triazoles
  • suvorexant
  • Naloxone
  • Buprenorphine