Neurofunctional Phenotyping to Investigate the Role of the Orexin System at the Intersection of Opioid Use Disorder and Insomnia Among Women and Men Receiving Buprenorphine
The goal of this clinical trial is to learn about how certain medications used to treat insomnia (e.g., Lemborexant) impact sleep, mood, and behavior in men and women with Opioid Use Disorder who are taking prescribed buprenorphine. The main questions it aims to answer are: 1. What is the effect of the study drug (lemborexant) on sleep outcomes? 2. What is the effect of the study drug (lemborexant) on impulsive behavior (as measured by computer test performance)? 3. What is the effect of the study drug (lemborexant) on mood and other behavior? Researchers will compare lemborexant to placebo (e.g., sugar pill) to see if participants assigned to 8 weeks of treatment with lemborexant have greater improvements on the measures listed above. Participants will take the study medication (or placebo) each night for 8 weeks and be asked to come for a total of 23 study visits. Most of these visits will be very short (15-30 minutes). The longer visits will include the screening visit (about 2-3 hrs), baseline visit (about 2.5 hrs), and the post-medication visit (about 2 hrs). Study visits will include things like taking surveys about sleep, drug use, and mood, completing urine drug testing, checking vital signs (e.g., blood pressure), and completing interviews with the study staff. Participants will also be asked to provide two blood samples (one during screening and one after taking the medication). For three two-week periods, participants will be asked to wear a watch to track sleep at home, and to keep a log of sleep and wake times.
• Be 18 + years-of-age
• Meet current DSM-5 criteria for opioid use disorder (OUD) with at least moderate severity
• Receiving outpatient treatment for OUD with sublingual buprenorphine film/tablets ranging 8mg to 24mg or with extended-release injectable buprenorphine
• Stabilized on current buprenorphine dosage for at least 4 weeks without intention for dose change within next 3 months.
• Screening urine toxicology positive for buprenorphine and an appropriate norbuprenorphine level as determined by a study clinician
• A screening urine toxicology negative for non-prescribed substances (except cannabinoids) with a negative breath (or oral fluid) alcohol screen
• Screen positive for chronic insomnia on the Insomnia Symptom Questionnaire (ISQ)
• Have an Insomnia Severity Index score at screening and baseline of 13 or higher
• Have no clinically significant medical or psychiatric disorder or condition, based on physical exam and medical history performed by study clinician, that in the judgement of the investigator would prevent participation or heighten safety risks
⁃ Understand the study procedures and provide written informed consent in English language
⁃ Access to necessary resources for completing virtual surveys and monitoring (i.e., computer or smartphone, internet or cell service)