Could a sleep aid curb opioid relapse? new study tests suvorexant

NCT ID NCT04287062

First seen Jun 27, 2026 · Last updated Jun 27, 2026

Summary

This study looked at whether a sleep medication called suvorexant can improve sleep and reduce stress in people recovering from opioid addiction. About 138 participants on medications like methadone or buprenorphine were given either suvorexant or a placebo for 8 weeks. The goal was to see if better sleep and lower stress could help prevent relapse.

What this could mean

Our plain-language read of the trial. This is informational only — not medical advice or a prediction.

Active substance

Suvorexant (a sleep medication that blocks orexin, a brain chemical involved in wakefulness)

What this could lead to

If it works, this could point toward a way to improve sleep and lower stress in people recovering from opioid addiction, potentially reducing relapse risk.

What could go wrong

This is a Phase 2 trial with a moderate size (138 participants), so results may not apply to everyone. The drug may not improve sleep or stress significantly, and side effects like daytime drowsiness are possible.

Disclaimer Read more

This is a summary of the original study . Summaries may miss details or leave out important information. Before applying or accepting participation, make sure you have read and understood the full study. Curemydisease.com takes no responsibility whatsoever for anything missed, misunderstood, or acted upon as a result of our summary — we know it does not capture everything.

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Conditions

The condition(s) this trial relates to.

opiate dependence Parasomnias sleep disorder

As listed by the trial registrant

The condition terms exactly as the trial's registrant entered them.

Contacts and locations

Locations

  • Addiction Treatment Services at Johns Hopkins Bayview Medical Center

    Baltimore, Maryland, 21224, United States

  • Ashley Addiction Treatment

    Bel Air, Maryland, 21014, United States

  • Ashley Addiction Treatment

    Elkton, Maryland, 21921, United States

  • Behavioral Pharmacology Research Unit at the Johns Hopkins Bayview Medical Center

    Baltimore, Maryland, 21224, United States

  • Man Alive Inc., Lane Treatment Center

    Baltimore, Maryland, 21218, United States