Successful treatment of switching from benzodiazepine to orexin receptor antagonists improves cognitive function in psychiatric disorders: four case reports

Abstract

Benzodiazepines are used in the treatmentof anxiety and insomnia. On the other hand, they not only have side effects such as drowsiness, poor concentration, and muscle relaxation but also persistent cognitive decline. Even if we try to reduce the dose of these drugs to improve drug-induced cognitive function, it is difficult to do so due to dependence and worsening insomnia. I report four cases in which cognitive dysfunction was improved by switching from benzodiazepines to orexin receptor antagonists (suvorexant and lemborexant ). Orexin receptor antagonists were effective to improve cognitive impairment. In cognitive dysfunction caused by benzodiazepines, switching to orexin receptor antagonists may be effective.