Imagine this: you're completely exhausted, yet as soon as you lie down, it feels like someone has flipped a switch, keeping you wide awake. At 3 AM, you find yourself still staring at the ceiling, trying to count sheep, but instead of feeling drowsy, your anxiety only heightens with each number. You might reach for sleeping pills, but they seem less effective with every dose, and make it hard to wake up and function effectively in the morning...
You're not alone in this battle. Around the world, countless individuals are grappling with insomnia. In fact, projections suggest that by 2025, over 500 million people in China will be affected by sleep disturbances.
However, there’s a new beacon of hope: Lemborexant, a groundbreaking medication that has just launched at Am-Sino Healthcare. This innovative treatment could be the answer for those yearning for a restful night’s sleep.
In May 2025, the non-sedative sleep aid Lemborexant was approved in several countries, including the United States, Canada, and Japan, and has now officially launched in China for the treatment of adult insomnia patients with difficulties in falling asleep and/or maintaining sleep. The new drug has arrived at Am-Sino Healthcare, providing a new treatment option for insomnia patients.
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What is Lemborexant?
What’s New About It?
To grasp how Lemborexant works, we first need to understand a crucial substance called "orexin," also known as hypothalamic secretin. This neuropeptide is released by neurons in the lateral hypothalamus and acts like a switch that regulates sleep and wakefulness. It activates specific neurons to keep us awake.
Lemborexant is a new kind of medication known as a "dual orexin receptor antagonist." Unlike traditional insomnia treatments, Lemborexant binds to two orexin receptors (OX1R and OX2R). By doing this, it specifically targets the orexin system, reducing its wake-promoting effects. This mechanism helps induce natural sleep and enhances the body's ability to regulate sleep more effectively.
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What Are the Advantages of Lemborexant?
Traditional treatment medications mainly include benzodiazepine sedative-hypnotics (e.g., diazepam, estazolam), non-benzodiazepine sedative-hypnotics (e.g., zolpidem, zopiclone), melatonin receptor agonists (e.g., agomelatine), and antidepressants with hypnotic effects (e.g., trazodone, mirtazapine). While they can provide short-term symptom relief, long-term use can lead to issues such as tolerance, drug dependence, and rebound insomnia. Compared to traditional medications, Lemborexant shows several advantages:
Efficient Improvement of Sleep
Significantly shortens time to sleep, reduces nighttime awakenings, and extends total sleep time.
Protects Sleep Structure
Traditional GABAergic sleep aids often suppress important REM sleep, while Lemborexant can extend both NREM and REM sleep, making overall sleep closer to natural physiological sleep.
Minimal Daytime Impact
Clinical studies show it has a minimal effect on memory and cognitive function, and its impact on next-day activities like work and driving is significantly lower than some traditional drugs (individual differences apply; those using 10 mg should be cautious about next-day driving performance).
Low Risk of Dependence
After 12 months of long-term use, most patients experienced no withdrawal symptoms or rebound insomnia upon discontinuation, and there have been no reports of addiction since its launch.
Broader Applicable Population and Safety
Research indicates no negative impact on respiratory function in patients with severe chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and obstructive sleep apnea (OSA).
With its unique mechanism, good safety and tolerability, and its ability to significantly enhance sleep efficiency and shorten time to sleep and awakenings, Lemborexant is an important new treatment option in the field of insomnia medication.
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Who Is Suitable for Lemborexant?
Lemborexant is suitable for the following adult insomnia patients, especially:
Chronic insomnia patients: Particularly those who do not respond well to traditional medications or have developed tolerance or dependence.
Patients with respiratory diseases: Such as mild to moderate COPD or OSA (should be used under medical supervision).
Long-term medication users: Patients concerned about drug dependence or addiction.
Those who are worried about next-day performance: Such as individuals who need to drive, operate machinery, or engage in high-intensity cognitive work.
Lemborexant is a prescription medication and must only be used with a doctor's diagnosis and prescription.
Dosage: Oral. Available in 5 mg/10 mg tablets, starting with 5 mg and can be increased to 10 mg, taken at least 7 hours before planned awakening. If taken with or shortly after a meal, sleep onset may be delayed.
Common Side Effects: Common adverse reactions (occurrence ≥ 5%) include drowsiness, with others including headaches and fatigue.
Important Contraindications: Contraindicated in patients with narcolepsy.
Special Populations:
Pregnant/Breastfeeding women: Currently lacks safety data; risks unknown.
Children and adolescents (<18 years): Safety and efficacy are not yet established; not recommended.
Elderly (≥65 years): Recommended dosage (5 mg) is similar in effect and safety to younger individuals; caution required for doses over 5 mg (e.g., 10 mg).
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Note: Insomnia May Be a Sign of Other Underlying Conditions
Sleep disorders often indicate potential medical or psychiatric conditions. Patients should begin insomnia treatment only after a doctor's evaluation. If insomnia persists after 7 to 10 days of treatment, it may indicate undiscovered primary conditions (such as anxiety, depression, or physical diseases) and should be further evaluated. Additionally, during treatment with hypnotic medications, including Lemborexant, if insomnia worsens or new cognitive/behavioral abnormalities occur, it may suggest undiagnosed psychiatric or medical conditions that require timely medical evaluation.
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