Belsomra: Difference between revisions

<scene name='74/746099/Belsomra/4'>Belsomra</scene>, also known as Suvorexant, is an orexin receptor antagonist medication used for insomnia <ref name="one">Aschenbrenner, DS. First Orexin Receptor Antagonist Approved for Insomnia. AJN, American Journal of Nursing. 2014 Dec;114(12):26. doi: http://dx.doi.org/10.1097/01.NAJ.0000457406.61092.35. </ref>.  While most other insomnia drugs, like Ambien and Lunesta, are Gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) receptor agonists and work to slow down neuronal firings, Belsomra is the first drug to target orexin <ref>doi: 10.1017/S1092852916000225</ref>.    Orexin, also known as hypocretin, is a neurotransmitter that binds to receptors in order to cause alertness and wakefulness.  By targeting orexin's receptors, Belsomra cuts off the signals causing one to be awake, and will result in sleep <ref name="one" />.  Due to this inhibition, a common side effect of Belsomra is somnolence, or next day drowsiness <ref>doi:10.5664/jcsm.6116</ref>.

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