Using suvorexant to improve sleep for people with opioid use disorder
Official title: Evaluating Suvorexant for Sleep Disturbance in Opioid Use Disorder
Funded at Johns Hopkins University · NIH-10454583 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is looking at whether the sleep medication suvorexant can help people who are going through opioid withdrawal sleep better than the usual sleep aid, trazodone, so if you're in this situation, your sleep might improve with suvorexant!
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Johns Hopkins University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Baltimore, United States) |
| Project start | April 1, 2019 |
| Project end | August 31, 2025 |
| Funding year | 2021 |
| Award (this year) | $3,632,165 |
| NIH project number | 4UH3DA048734-03 |
| Project ID | NIH-10454583 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research are individuals undergoing supervised withdrawal from opioids who experience significant sleep disturbances.
✕Less likely to help
Patients who are not currently undergoing opioid withdrawal or those who do not experience sleep issues may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research investigates the effects of suvorexant, a medication approved for insomnia, on sleep disturbances experienced by patients undergoing withdrawal from opioids. The study aims to determine if suvorexant can enhance total sleep time compared to trazodone, a commonly used sleep aid in this context. By focusing on patients in supervised opioid withdrawal, the research seeks to address a critical factor that contributes to treatment failure. Participants will be monitored for sleep quality and overall withdrawal symptoms using established methodologies.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to improved sleep quality for patients undergoing treatment for opioid use disorder, potentially enhancing their recovery outcomes.
How similar studies have gone: While the use of suvorexant in opioid use disorder patients is novel, there is existing evidence supporting its effectiveness in improving sleep in other populations.
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
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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.