Using Suvorexant to Improve Sleep After Surgery

Improvement of Restorative Sleep and Post-surgical Insomnia Following Suvorexant Administration

Phase 4 Interventional Columbia University · NCT05823844

This study is testing if a sleep medication called Suvorexant can help people sleep better after having surgery.

Quick facts

PhasePhase 4
Study typeInterventional
Enrollment92 (estimated)
Ages50 Years to 90 Years
SexAll
SponsorColumbia University Academic / other
Locations1 site (New York, New York)
Trial IDNCT05823844 on ClinicalTrials.gov

What this trial studies

This clinical trial evaluates the effectiveness of Suvorexant in improving sleep quality for patients recovering from elective surgeries. It is a double-blind, randomized study involving 92 participants who will be divided into two groups: one receiving Suvorexant and the other receiving a placebo. The treatment will begin on the first night after surgery and continue throughout the hospital stay, with sleep patterns monitored using a wearable EEG device. The goal is to assess whether Suvorexant can enhance sleep quality and, consequently, patient outcomes during hospitalization.

Who should consider this trial

Good fit: Ideal candidates are adults aged 50 to 90 undergoing elective surgeries with a projected hospital stay of 24 hours or longer and experiencing insomnia.

Not a fit: Patients undergoing intensive care, cardiac surgeries, or those with severe sleep disorders or cognitive impairments may not benefit from this study.

Why it matters

Potential benefit: If successful, this treatment could significantly improve sleep quality for postoperative patients, leading to better recovery outcomes.

How similar studies have performed: Previous studies have shown that Suvorexant is effective in treating insomnia in outpatient settings, suggesting potential for success in this novel inpatient application.

Eligibility criteria

Show full inclusion / exclusion criteria
Inclusion criteria:

* Aged 50 years to 90 years old.
* Patients getting elective surgeries for orthopedic reasons (e.g., hip or knee replacement), abdominal surgery (e.g., hernia repair, renal cancer), urologic or gynecologic surgery, and spine surgery with a projected inpatient stay of 24 hours or longer.
* Patients experiencing insomnia characterized by difficulties with sleep onset, early morning awakening, and/or sleep maintenance three or more times weekly over a three-month period for eligibility.

Exclusion criteria:

* Patients who undergo surgery and then are admitted to intensive care.
* Coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) or other cardiac surgeries.
* Intra-cranial surgery.
* Patients taking more than 60 mg of oxycodone or it's equivalent as outpatient
* Circadian rhythm disorders.
* High score in the Geriatric Depression Scale (GDS)
* Moderate to severe dementia (failed t-MoCa)
* Severe obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) (Apnea-hypopnea index (AHI)\>30 and/or screen high risk)
* Patients receiving Cytochrome P-450 (CYP3) inhibitors or inducers (Inhibitors: clarithromycin, erythromycin, diltiazem, itraconazole, ketoconazole, ritonavir, verapamil, goldenseal, and grapefruit. Inducers: phenobarbital, phenytoin, rifampicin, St. John's Wort, and glucocorticoids).
* Vulnerable populations (i.e., children, pregnant women).

Where this trial is running

New York, New York

Study contacts

How to participate

  1. Review the eligibility criteria above with your treating physician.
  2. Visit the official trial page on ClinicalTrials.gov for the most current contact information and recruitment status.
  3. Contact the listed study coordinator or principal investigator to request pre-screening. Pre-screening is free and never obligates you to enroll.
Conditions Postoperative InsomniaPostoperative DeliriumSleep DisturbanceInsomniaSleep qualitySuvorexant
Last reviewed 2026-06-13 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.