CompletedPhase 4

Efficacy of Suvorexant on Post-operative Sleep Disturbance

United States100 participantsStarted 2023-05-01

Plain-language summary

The study is a parallel group, double blind, randomized trial. Subjects will be recruited from individuals undergoing elective surgery for orthopedic, abdominal, urologic, gynecologic or spine reasons. Out of 92 subjects, one experimental group of 46 subjects will receive 20 mg Suvorexant beginning the first in-hospital night ("day 0") and continuing for their hospital stay. If the dose is not well tolerated (e.g., daytime sleepiness), then the dose may be decreased to 10 mg of Suvorexant. For blinding purposes each arm will receive two tablets (two 10 mg tablets or one 10 mg tablet and a placebo). The other control group of 46 subjects will receive placebo (two tablets) and treatment as usual.

Who can participate

Age range

50 Years – 90 Years

Sex

ALL

See this in plain English?

AI-rewrites the medical criteria so a patient or caregiver can understand them. Always confirm with the trial site.

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).

Questions worth asking your doctor

Bring these to your next appointment. They're a starting point for a shared conversation — not a sign you qualify or a recommendation to enrol.

1Based on my diagnosis and history, is this trial worth exploring for me — or is there a standard treatment we should try first?
2What does this trial's phase tell us about how much is already known about its safety and benefit?
3What would taking part actually involve for me — visits, tests, time, and travel?
4What are the known and possible risks or side effects I should weigh, and how would they be monitored?
5If this trial isn't the right fit, what other options or trials would you suggest I look into?

Generated to help you prepare — always confirm anything about your own eligibility and care with the study team and your doctor.

Questions for the trial coordinator

The trial coordinator is the person who runs the study day to day. These cover the practical side — logistics, costs, and what taking part would actually mean for your life. The study team confirms whether you meet the criteria; these are questions to ask, not a sign you qualify.

1What does taking part actually involve week to week — how many visits, where, and how long does each one take?
2What costs are covered by the study, and what might I have to pay for myself, including travel, parking, or time off work?
3What happens during screening, and what happens if the study team confirms I don't meet the criteria after those tests?
4Who pays for the scans, blood work, and other tests the trial requires — the study, my insurance, or me?
5How will being in the trial affect my regular care, and will my own doctor stay informed and involved?
6Can I leave the trial at any point if I change my mind, and what would happen to my care if I do?

A starting point for the conversation — always confirm anything about your own eligibility, costs, and care with the study team and your doctor.

What they're measuring

Total Sleep Time on Day 0 (TST)

Timeframe: Day 0 of in-hospital stay after surgery

Trial details

NCT IDNCT05823844

SponsorColumbia University

Sponsor typeOTHER

Study typeINTERVENTIONAL

Primary completion2025-11-06

Results submitted2026-03-10

View on ClinicalTrials.gov More Postoperative Insomnia trials