UCLA Health’s research revealed that suvorexant, an insomnia medication, can prevent the addictive effects of opioids like morphine in mice, without impairing pain relief or alertness. This drug works by blocking brain receptors for hypocretin, which is linked to both mood and addiction behaviors. A UCLA Health study shows that insomnia drug prevents opioid addiction in mice at opioid doses that provide potent pain relief.
Research shows suvorexant, used for insomnia, may also prevent opioid addiction in mice by blocking hypocretin receptors. It maintains effective pain relief and reduces addiction-related brain changes, suggesting potential for safer pain treatments. A drug that treats insomnia works to prevent the addictive effects of the morphine opioids in mice while still providing effective pain relief.
This is according to new research led by UCLA Health. The study, published today (July 9) in the journal Nature Mental Health , concluded that suvorexant, which blocks brain receptors for a neurotransmitter called hypocretin, prevents opioid addiction. At high doses in humans, suvorexant induces sleep and is used to treat insomnia.
But sleep was not induced, and behavioral alertness was maintained, at the much lower doses effective in preventing opioid addiction in mice. Neurobiology of Hypocretin and Addiction Hypocretin, also called orexin, is a peptide that is linked to mood, with hypocretin release in humans being maximal during pleasurable activities and minimal d.