HOME DELIVERY

The benefits of having medication delivered

Non-adherence to medication is a major reason why treatments shown to be effective in trials are often less effective in clinical practice.​

Medicine home delivery helps improve care by ensuring patients have their medication when they need it. This increases treatment adherence and saves unnecessary trips to traditional pharmacies like Chemist Warehouse.

That’s why 92% of users of the Chemist2U app report that the app is a helpful tool to maintain their healthcare.*

Learn more about the benefits of home delivery of medication in this article reviewed by our medical team.

Some essential notes about lemborexant

In terms of patient care, non pharmacological therapy is often considered the first line of treatment for insomnia. However, when pharmacological treatment becomes necessary, doctors may prescribe medications like lemborexant.

In this article prepared by our medical review team at Chemist2U, we’ll look more closely into the insomnia medication, from its properties, and how it works to who it is for, its side effects, and more.

How does lemborexant work?

Lemborexant, also sold under the brand name Dayvigo, is a medication used to manage sleep disorders, including insomnia. To understand how it works, it’s crucial to learn how the orexin receptor works.

The brain has orexin A and orexin B neuropeptides that are crucial for promoting wakefulness and maintaining a regular sleep-wake cycle. These work by connecting to the orexin-1 receptor (OX1R) and orexin-2 receptors (OX2R). When they connect to these spots, it makes a person feel awake.

Lemborexant is a kind of medicine that works differently from most sleep medicines. Instead of targeting a common spot in the brain that many sleep medicines work on (called the GABA receptor), lemborexant goes after the orexins. It gets in the way of the orexins connecting to their spots in the brain, which, in turn, helps make people drowsy because it reduces the wake-up signals.^[1]

Clinical studies have shown that lemborexant significantly reduces the time it takes for individuals to fall into persistent sleep compared to a placebo. This effect is also notable when compared with zolpidem ER, an active control medication.^[2]

How do you take lemborexant?

Lemborexant is administered orally as a sleep disorder treatment for adults. The recommended starting lemborexant dosage is typically 5 mg while the maximum recommended daily dose is 10 mg per night.

If you are taking weak CYP3A inhibitors like fluoxetine and ranitidine, the maximum daily dose of lemborexant should not exceed 5 mg.^[3] This is important to ensure both the efficacy and safety of lemborexant in managing insomnia symptoms.

Here’s how to take lemborexant for insomnia relief:

Administer it orally just before you go to bed, ensuring you’re ready to sleep. You can take it with or without food, though it may act quicker on an empty stomach.
Ensure you have at least 7 hours to sleep after taking lemborexant. Waking up earlier might leave you feeling drowsy and could affect your memory, as its effects may not have fully subsided.^[4]

To ensure the efficacy of the medication, store it properly. Keep it in a closed container at room temperature, away from heat, moisture, and direct light, and out of reach of children. Discard any outdated medicine safely.

Who can take lemborexant?

Lemborexant is specifically designed for adults who are struggling with insomnia, characterised by difficulties initiating sleep and falling into deep sleep. It is not known whether the medication is safe and effective for children.

It’s essential to follow your doctor’s instructions when taking this sleep aid. The dosage and frequency may differ from the recommendation in the medicine’s label.

Side effects of lemborexant

Individuals taking lemborexant may experience drowsiness, tiredness, headaches, and sometimes unusual dreams or nightmares.

It may also cause more serious side effects such as sleep paralysis (a temporary inability to move or speak while falling asleep or waking up), sudden weakness in the legs, changes in mental health such as new or worsening depression or anxiety, thoughts of suicide or self-harm, muscle weakness, or a pounding heartbeat.^[5] In such cases, ensure that you seek immediate attention from a doctor.

It’s also crucial to inform your doctor if you experience any other side effects that were not listed above.

Lemborexant and other medications

When considering Lemborexant in combination with other medications, it’s important to be aware of its interactions, particularly with certain types of drugs. It has been found to have interactions with moderate and strong CYP3A inhibitors and inducers, which include itraconazole and fluconazole.^[6]

For example, when lemborexant is taken with strong CYP3A inhibitors, there can be a notable increase in lemborexant levels in the body. On the other hand, the effects of weak CYP3A inhibitors, such as fluoxetine and ranitidine, on lemborexant are generally mild. The use of moderate CYP3A inhibitors also produces moderate effects.^[7]

Medicines you should not use with lemborexant

When taking lemborexant, it’s crucial to be mindful of certain medications that may interact negatively with it. These interactions can affect how lemborexant is removed from your body and how effectively it works. Some key medications to be aware of include:

• Azole antifungals, like itraconazole
• Macrolide antibiotics, such as clarithromycin
• Herbal supplements, including St. John’s wort
• Medications for treating seizures, like carbamazepine^[8]

To ensure your safety and the effectiveness of your treatment, always inform your doctor about all medications you’re taking. This includes prescription, over-the-counter drugs, and any supplements. It’s also important to note that combining lemborexant with other drugs used to treat insomnia, alcohol, or other sleep aid medications is not recommended.

How to order Lemborexant through Chemist2U

At Chemist2U, we’ve made the process of getting your prescription medication easy. Do not let your sleep disturbance get in the way of having adequate rest. Our online platform offers home delivery for a variety of medications intended for sleep quality improvement, including Dayvigo (Lemborexant) and Belsomra (Suvorexant).

Start by downloading our Chemist2U app or use this website for a straightforward ordering process. Then, just upload your scripts online. Besides ordering lemborexant online, you can also add over-the-counter medication and general pharmacy products. Our trusted couriers will then ensure your orders are delivered straight from the chemist to you.

Same-day delivery is available with the majority of medications; simply ensure that you place your order before the cutoff time, which is typically 2.00 p.m. but may vary in some locations.

Note: A minority of products (inc. Ozempic and Mounjaro) are delivered via AusPost. Allow 5-7 business days.

At Chemist2U, we’re making medication easy. So, order home delivery of your medication today!

References

[1] https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK559070/

[2] https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/34078141/

[3] https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/33704920/

[4] https://www.mayoclinic.org/drugs-supplements/lemborexant-oral-route/proper-use/drg-20487084

[5] https://medlineplus.gov/druginfo/meds/a620039.html

[6] https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/33455055/

[7] https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/33704920/

[8] https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK559070

Disclaimer

Chemist2U does not endorse the therapeutic benefit of any medication. Any decision to administer a therapeutic good should be taken in consultation with your doctor.