Testing a medication to improve sleep in people with opioid use disorder
Official title: Phase III double-blind, randomized controlled trial of suvorexant versus placebo to treat insomnia in persons with opioid use disorder
Funded at Johns Hopkins University · NIH-11087688 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is looking at whether the sleep medication suvorexant can help people with opioid use disorder who are in long-term treatment by improving their sleep and possibly easing cravings and withdrawal symptoms.
Quick facts
| Grant type | U01 cooperative agreement |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Johns Hopkins University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Baltimore, United States) |
| Project start | May 15, 2024 |
| Project end | February 28, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $6,029,705 |
| NIH project number | 5U01DA060708-02 |
| Project ID | NIH-11087688 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research are individuals diagnosed with opioid use disorder who are currently receiving medication-assisted treatment and experiencing insomnia.
✕Less likely to help
Patients who do not have opioid use disorder or those who are not experiencing insomnia may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research investigates the effectiveness of suvorexant, a medication approved for treating insomnia, in individuals with opioid use disorder (OUD) who are undergoing long-term medication treatment. The study will be a Phase III double-blind, randomized controlled trial, meaning that participants will be randomly assigned to receive either suvorexant or a placebo without knowing which one they are receiving. The goal is to determine if suvorexant can alleviate insomnia symptoms and potentially reduce cravings and withdrawal symptoms associated with opioid use. Participants will be monitored for safety and efficacy throughout the trial.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could provide a new treatment option for improving sleep and reducing cravings in patients with opioid use disorder.
How similar studies have gone: Previous studies have shown promising results with suvorexant in treating insomnia, but this specific application in opioid use disorder is novel.
Where this research is happening
-
Johns Hopkins University
Baltimore, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Huhn, Andrew S — Johns Hopkins University
- Study coordinator: Huhn, Andrew S
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
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Suvorexant to improve sleep in people receiving treatment for opioid use disorder
People on medications for opioid use disorder who have insomnia will be given suvorexant or a placebo to see if it helps their sleep, cravings, and withdrawal symptoms.
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How sleep and the brain's orexin system affect recovery while on buprenorphine
This project tests whether targeting the brain's orexin system can improve sleep and lower relapse risk for people taking buprenorphine for opioid use disorder.
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RESTORE: Re-Engineering Systems to Treat Opioid Use Disorder for Everyone
A pilot program in California tests a community-engaged approach to making it easier for people with opioid use disorder to get effective treatment.
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Understanding how the brain’s orexin system links sleep, mood, and opioid use disorder
Scientists will study how the orexin system in the brain relates to insomnia and relapse risk in adults with opioid use disorder who are on buprenorphine treatment.
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Sleep therapy tailored for adults in opioid treatment
A tailored cognitive-behavioral sleep program aims to help adults with opioid use disorder and insomnia sleep better and stay in medication treatment.
-
Connecting Sleep and Opioid Use Disorder through Brain Chemistry
This project looks at how a brain system called orexin connects sleep problems and opioid use disorder, hoping to find new ways to help people.
About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page.