Clinical trial Recruiting at 1 site Phase 4 Interventional Ages 18 to 80

A smart look at common sleep meds for insomnia

Official title: Sequential Multiple Assignment Randomized Trial Comparing Commonly Prescribed and Over the Counter Medications for the Treatment of Insomnia in Adults

Run by University of Pennsylvania · NCT07542756 · Data updated 2026-11-12

This trial tests how well and how safely widely used sleep medicines and OTCs work for adults with insomnia and which might be best overall.

Quick facts

PhasePhase 4
Study typeInterventional
Ages18 Years to 80 Years
SexAll
Enrollment1200 (estimated)
SponsorUniversity of Pennsylvania
Academic / other
Locations1 site (Philadelphia, Pennsylvania)
StatusRecruiting
StartedMay 1, 2026
Main results expectedJanuary 1, 2032
Study endsJanuary 1, 2032
Registry record updatedSeptember 16, 2026
Trial IDNCT07542756 on ClinicalTrials.gov

Is this trial a fit for you?

Likely a good fit

Adults aged 18-80 with DSM-5 insomnia disorder, ISI score ≥15, and prolonged sleep initiation/maintenance issues who are willing to stop other sleep medications before enrollment.

Probably not a fit

Some participants may not experience meaningful improvement or may experience side effects from the medications tested.

A plain-English reading of the study's rules. Only the study team can confirm whether you qualify.

What this trial studies

This Phase 4 interventional study compares commonly used prescription (zolpidem, trazodone) and over-the-counter (melatonin, diphenhydramine) sleep aids, plus the less common option doxepin, to see which provides the best balance of effectiveness and safety for adults with insomnia disorder. The study also aims to understand how durable each option is over time and factors that influence patient experience. Eligibility includes adults 18-80 with DSM-5 insomnia disorder, significant sleep disruption, and a washout from sleep meds before starting. Participants will receive sleep hygiene education and one of several medication options; outcomes will inform which strategies are most acceptable and beneficial in primary care-like settings. The research team is led by the University of Pennsylvania with support from PCORI, with sites at UPenn in Philadelphia.

Why it matters

Potential benefit: Participants may find a sleep aid that provides better relief with fewer adverse effects compared with their current treatment.

How similar studies have gone: Prior work suggests that comparing commonly used sleep medications can reveal differing benefit-risk profiles, though this exact comparative framework is relatively novel.

Who can join: the full rules

Show full inclusion / exclusion criteria
Inclusion Criteria

* Adults aged 18-80 years.
* Meet DSM-5 criteria for Insomnia Disorder.
* Score ≥15 on the Insomnia Severity Index (ISI).
* Sleep initiation and/or maintenance complaints: ≥30 minutes in duration, occurring ≥3 nights/week, with a duration of ≥3 months.
* Willingness to discontinue use of all sleep-related medications prior to enrollment.
* Completion of a 2-week washout period before starting any study medication.
* Willingness to provide clinician assent for participation.

Exclusion Criteria

Patients will be ineligible if they meet any of the following criteria: self-reported daytime napping (≥1 hour per day on ≥3 days per week); a history of suicidal attempts or current ideation, acute or chronic psychiatric or medical condition not controlled by therapy (according to their primary care physician), or current alcohol or drug misuse; or the diagnoses of (or high risk for) other sleep disorders, including circadian rhythm disorders (phase advance or phase delay syndromes), shift work related sleep disorder ("day sleepers" who work \~11pm to 7am) and those with rotating shiftwork schedules. To determine eligibility, all subjects will be screened using a multitier process including: an online screener; an intake interview; a review of the subjects EMR; and, finally, the receipt of the patient's PCP's assent. The following provides additional listing and details (AD) for the Exclusion Criteria:

General Considerations

* Age \< 18 or \> 80 years old
* Inadequate English language comprehension
* Minimal facility with smartphones, computers, i-Pads, or the internet.

Women's Health Given the potential for teratogenic effects with at least trazodone (FDA Class C), women intending to become pregnant, or who are pregnant, or who are breastfeeding will not be eligible for the study. Women will be asked to confirm the use of birth control using self-report and, if applicable, by providing evidence of contraceptive medication (e.g., prescription or pill pack). We will perform a urine pregnancy test at baseline for female participants who are of reproductive age to confirm eligibility. At study enrollment, participants will be told to alert the study team and stop taking study medications if they become pregnant. Participants will be asked to test for pregnancy in the event of a missed cycle.

Medical and Psychiatric Considerations

* Acute or unstable psychiatric conditions
* Unstable medical condition, significant medical disorder, or acute illness (as determined by their PCP), within one month prior to the study period.
* Significant liver or kidney problems
* Pheochromocytoma or porphyria (contraindicated for trazodone)
* Epilepsy or Seizure Disorder (contraindicated for trazodone)
* Glaucoma or urinary retention (contraindicated for doxepin)
* Increased ocular pressure (contraindicated for diphenhydramine)
* Diagnosis of alcohol or substance use disorder within 2 years prior to the screening visit
* Inability to refrain from drinking alcohol or substance use for at least 3 consecutive days

Sleep Disorders and Sleep Habits

* Any lifetime history of (diagnosis of) breathing disorders, including COPD and sleep apnea.
* Shift work related sleep disorder (work \~11pm to 7am and "day sleeper") and rotating shiftwork schedules
* Circadian rhythm disorders (phase advance or phase delay syndromes)
* Self-reported usual daytime napping ≥1 hour per day (3 or more days per week)

Medications and Concomitant meds

* Known hypersensitivity or contraindication to study drugs
* Known hypersensitivity or contraindication to drugs of the same class as the study treatments
* Known hypersensitivity or contraindication to any excipients of the study drug formulation
* Treatment with CNS active drugs prohibited by the protocol for five half-lives of the respective drug (or 2 weeks)

Lifestyle

* Heavy tobacco use (≥1 pack of cigarettes a day or inability to refrain from smoking during the night)
* Not able or willing to stop treatment with moderate or strong cytochrome P450 3A4 (CYP3A4) inhibitors

Where it's running

  • University of Pennsylvania
    Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States
    Recruiting

Study contacts

  • Principal investigator: Michael L Perlis, PhD — University of Pennsylvania
  • Study coordinator: Michael L Perlis, PhD
  • Email: mperlis@upenn.edu
  • Phone: 215-746-3577

Similar studies

Other studies for the same condition or treatment. Recruiting studies are listed first.

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How to take part

  1. Review the eligibility criteria above with your treating physician.
  2. Check the official listing on ClinicalTrials.gov for the latest contact details and recruitment status.
  3. Contact the study coordinator or principal investigator to ask for pre-screening. Pre-screening is free and never obligates you to enroll.
Last reviewed 2026-11-14 by the Find a Trial editorial team. Information on this page is for educational purposes and is not medical advice. Always consult qualified healthcare professionals about clinical trial participation.