Sleep problems seem to be more and more common. According to data from the Spanish Sleep Association, which guides us, chronic insomnia affects about one in ten people. Also, there are more and more people resorting to drugs to solve these problems, a solution with their own problems, for example, when our body builds a tolerance to their use and they stop being effective. Now the European Commission has approved a new drug that promises good results in tackling a problem that goes beyond the bedroom and affects our emotional state, physical health and productivity.

Daridorex.
Daridorexant is the name of the insomnia medication that was recently approved by the European Commission. The drug was approved by an article published in February. Lancet Neurology The treatment has been confirmed to have passed Phase 3 of clinical trials.

This means that the participants in the experiment did not show serious side effects and the drug was able to improve the sleep of those who consumed it, compared to the control group, which was the group of participants who received a placebo drug in this type of trial. clinic. The trial was funded by Indorsia, which will market the drug under the brand name Quviviq.

How does it work?
As explained by the pharmaceutical company itself, the drug is an orexin antagonist, that is, it blocks the receptors to which this neurotransmitter binds. Orexin is a molecule that occurs naturally in our body and is related to the state of alertness. If the system that regulates it works regularly, its presence in the body is high during the day and decreases at night. Hyperactivity of this mechanism can create insomnia. By blocking orexin receptors, the body stops secreting the rest of the substances that help us stay awake.

One of the advantages attributed to this drug over other alternatives is that it does not induce tolerance. Often the body gets used to such substances and they lose some of their effect, so it is necessary to increase the dose. As explained, this was not to be the case. Another advantage is that it does not cause drowsiness the day after consumption, as with many insomnia medications.

Approved by the Commission, but not yet released.
Commission’s approval does not mean that the drug is already in pharmacies. It is still not approved by the Spanish Medicines and Healthcare Products Agency. And best of all, doctors need to start prescribing it.

For whom?
Not all people with sleep difficulties suffer from chronic insomnia. Even so, estimates of the prevalence of this disorder place it between 6% and 15% of the population in Spain. Most drug treatments require medical supervision, a prescription, and this will be another one.

The treatments we can find today.
Daridorexant joins a range of treatments available at pharmacies for insomnia and other sleeping difficulties. The most common pharmacological treatments usually rely on antihistamines or benzodiazepines, but the variety of substances used to regulate sleep and wakefulness is huge and includes everything from hormones like melatonin to herbs like coffee.

There are non-pharmacological alternatives.
It’s important to keep in mind that there are many alternatives to medications, as not everyone who has trouble sleeping has chronic insomnia. Even more so if we take into account the current problem of over-medication. Per capita consumption of hypnotic and sedative drugs has increased almost non-stop since 2010, and today Spain is the world’s largest consumer of benzodiazepines. The body builds up tolerance to these substances, so it is not recommended to consume them for a long time over time.

That’s why it’s important to heed advice such as maintaining routines or exercising, avoiding screens before bed… these are guidelines that can help you fall asleep, but it’s also important to remember that lack of sleep creates health. problems and therefore it never hurts to consult health professionals.

Image | Ben Blenner Hassett