How difficult it is to toss and turn when you go to bed at night without falling asleep, or to wake up in the middle of the night and not be able to fall back asleep again? This inability to sleep properly is called insomnia . A special medication that is prescribed to treat this condition is Lemborexant. It can be found under the brand name DAYVIGO in Sri Lanka. So, if a doctor has prescribed this medication for you, it is very important to be fully informed about it. Let's talk about this simply today.
Simply put, what is this Lemborexant?
Lemborexant is a medication used to treat insomnia. It does two main things. One is to help you fall asleep faster . The other is to help you stay asleep throughout the night. Doctors usually prescribe this medication for short-term use. It is not just a sleeping pill, but works by affecting the natural processes in the brain that control sleep and wakefulness.
Things you need to tell your doctor before taking this medicine
Before prescribing Lemborexant to you, it is important for your doctor to know your complete medical history. This is because this medicine may interact with certain medical conditions and habits. If any of the conditions in the table below apply to you, be sure to tell your doctor.
| The situation or habit that applies to you | Why is it important to inform about it? |
|---|---|
| Depression or suicidal thoughts. | This medicine may sometimes alter or worsen mental states. |
| Liver disease. | The dosage may need to be adjusted because the process of removing the medicine from the liver may be affected. |
| Lung or respiratory disease, especially sleep apnea (sleep apnea). | It can be dangerous because the medication can slow down the breathing process even more. |
| A history of frequent alcohol or drug use. | Combining this medicine with alcohol and drugs can be very dangerous. |
| Narcolepsy (sudden falling asleep) or Cataplexy (sudden muscle weakness). | This medicine may make those symptoms worse. |
| Having previously taken a sleeping pill and done things like sleepwalking, eating, or driving. | There is a risk of something like this happening with this medicine as well. |
| Being pregnant, trying to get pregnant, or breastfeeding. | You should discuss with your doctor whether the medication may affect the child. |
| Allergies to other medicines, foods, or substances. | To confirm whether you are allergic to anything in the medicine. |
How should I use this medicine?
The way to use this is very simple, but it is very important to follow the procedure.
- Take this pill right before going to bed: You should take this pill right before you go to bed. Don't drink it before going to bed and do other things.
- Drink with a glass of water: Swallow the medicine as normal with water.
- It is best to take this on an empty stomach: Taking this on a full stomach can delay the onset of action of the medicine. Therefore, taking it on an empty stomach will give you the best results.
- Take the correct dosage: Only take the dosage prescribed by your doctor. Don't take more pills thinking you'll never fall asleep.
- Do not share with others: This is a medicine prescribed for you only . Never give it to a friend or family member. It is illegal and dangerous.
What if I miss a dose of medication?
This is not like other medications. You only need to take this before going to bed. So there is no such thing as 'missing a dose'. If it is past your bedtime, don't take the medication that day. Never take two doses at once or take an extra dose.
What if I take too much medicine?
If you think you have taken too much of this medicine, do not panic. Immediately call the National Poisons Information Centre at the Colombo National Hospital . Or go to the Emergency Treatment Unit (ETU) of the nearest hospital.
Other things that may interact with this medicine
Lemborexant is a medication that can interact with other medications, certain foods, and beverages. Therefore, it is very important to tell your doctor about everything you are taking.
Very important: Give your doctor a complete list of all medications you take (including vitamins, herbal remedies, and supplements), drinks you drink (alcohol), and other habits (smoking).
This medicine may interact with the following in particular:
- Alcohol: If you are taking this medication, you should completely stop drinking alcohol. The combination of the two can cause dangerous conditions such as excessive drowsiness and slowed breathing.
- Other sleeping pills and mental health medications: Taking these together may increase side effects.
- Some antibiotics: For example, medications like erythromycin and clarithromycin.
- Antifungals: Medications like ketoconazole and itraconazole.
- Painkillers: Strong painkillers, especially from the Opioid group.
- Grapefruit juice: This can increase the concentration of the medication in the body.
- St. John's Wort: Although this is an herbal supplement, it can affect the effectiveness of the medication.
- Some medications for allergies, coughs, and colds (Antihistamines): These can increase drowsiness.
Things to consider when taking medication
- Drowsiness the next morning: After taking this medication, you should plan to get 7-8 hours of full sleep. Even if you get that much sleep, you may still feel drowsy or groggy the next morning. Therefore, do not drive or operate machinery until you know exactly how the medication affects you.
- Unusual Sleep Behaviors: This is a very dangerous side effect.
- Changes in mental status: If you experience sudden changes in your thinking or behavior (e.g., agitation, increased depression, suicidal thoughts), inform your doctor immediately.
- Rebound Insomnia: After stopping the medication for a while, you may have some difficulty falling asleep for the first day or two. This is normal and should go away in about a day or two.
- Lemborexant is a medication for insomnia. It should only be taken just before going to bed.
- Avoid drinking alcohol completely on the days you take the medication.
- Tell your doctor about all other medications you take (including vitamins and herbal remedies).
- Plan to get 7-8 hours of sleep after taking the medicine. Avoid driving as you may feel drowsy the next day.
- If you experience anything unusual, such as sleepwalking, eating, or a change in your mental state , stop taking the medication immediately and call your doctor.
- This medicine is for you only . Never share it with others.
Some people may do things while they are asleep without realizing it when they take this medicine. For example, they may drive, cook, eat, or make phone calls while they are asleep. They may not remember any of this when they wake up the next morning. If you find out that this has happened to you, stop taking the medicine immediately and talk to your doctor.
What side effects can be seen?
Like any medicine, Lemborexant can cause side effects. Some are dangerous, some are common.
| Classification of side effects | |
|---|---|
| Serious side effects that should be reported to the doctor immediately | |
| Allergic reactions | Skin rash, itching, swelling of the face, lips, tongue or throat. |
| Central nervous system depression (CNS depression) | Slow breathing, difficulty breathing, dizziness, lightheadedness, inability to stay alert. |
| Mental and behavioral changes | Anxiety, confusion, hallucinations, suicidal thoughts. |
| Sleepwalking-like actions | Driving, eating, or engaging in other activities without realizing it. |
| Dysfunction upon awakening or falling asleep | Inability to move the body or speak for several minutes (Sleep paralysis). |
| If it persists or is bothersome, tell your doctor. | |
| Feeling sleepy the next day | Feeling excessively sleepy or sluggish upon waking in the morning. |
| Headache | General headache. |
| Unusual dreams or nightmares | Having dreams that are different from usual, vivid or nightmares. |
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