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

NCT ID NCT04287062

Completed Symptom relief Sponsor: Johns Hopkins University Source: ClinicalTrials.gov ↗

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.

This is an AI summary of the original study and may miss details. Read our disclaimer.

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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.

OPIOID-USE DISORDER SLEEP DISTURBANCE

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

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