[Durgical](https://durgical.com/en/) › [DurgiPedia](https://durgical.com/en/durgipedia/) › [Pharmacology](https://durgical.com/en/pharmacology/) › [Other hypnotics (melatonin agonists and orexin antagonists)](https://durgical.com/en/pharmacology/classes/other-hypnotics/) › Daridorexant

# Daridorexant

## Other hypnotics (melatonin agonists and orexin antagonists)?

Other hypnotics (melatonin agonists and orexin antagonists)

An orexin receptor antagonist for insomnia that blocks the brain's wake signal. Next-day drowsiness and sleep paralysis are possible; avoided in narcolepsy.

Updated Nov 1, 2026

## Quick facts

**Group**
[Other hypnotics (melatonin agonists and orexin antagonists)](https://durgical.com/en/pharmacology/classes/other-hypnotics/)

**Target**
Orexin receptors (OX1 shown)

**Used for**
Insomnia with trouble falling

**Key effects**
Headache · Fatigue and daytime sleepiness

**Monitor**
Next-day alertness · Mood and behaviour changes

**ATC**
N05CJ03

No doses: the clinician sets them by the current guideline.

On this page

- The basics Mechanism of action
- Indications
- Adverse effects
- Pharmacokinetics
- Memory aid

- Safety Contraindications
- Key interactions
- What is monitored
- Administration and safety
- Nursing care

- Study Test yourself

- Connections Connections

## Mechanism of action

◎**Orexin receptors (OX1 shown)**Daridorexant

ⓘ The figure shows daridorexant itself bound to the human OX1 orexin receptor.

**Target in 3D:** Orexin receptors (OX1 shown). PDB structure 6TP3 (RCSB PDB, public domain). [View the structure at RCSB PDB](https://www.rcsb.org/structure/6TP3) · Drag to rotate · pinch to zoom

Daridorexant is an orexin receptor antagonist. It blocks the receptors for orexin, a neuropeptide that keeps the brain awake, so the wake drive falls at night and sleep can begin and continue.

- Blocks orexin receptors in the brain
- The orexin wake drive falls
- Sleep begins and is maintained

## Indications

- Insomnia with trouble falling or staying asleep [Insomnia disorder →](https://durgical.com/en/conditions/insomnia-disorder/)

## Adverse effects

### Common

- Headache
- Fatigue and daytime sleepiness
- Dizziness and nausea

### Serious (rare, important)

- Sleep paralysis and hallucinations on falling asleep or waking
- Sudden leg weakness (cataplexy-like)
- Complex sleep behaviours without later memory
- Next-day impairment of driving, which can last several days

## Contraindications

- Narcolepsy

## Key interactions

**Alcohol**
Worse side effects

**St John's wort**
May change how well it works

**Grapefruit**
May change its levels; discussed with the prescriber

## What is monitored

- Next-day alertness, driving and falls in older adults
- Mood and behaviour changes

## Administration and safety

- Given by mouth, at most once a night, shortly before bedtime
- No driving until fully awake the next day
- Controlled medicine

## Nursing care

- Ask about narcolepsy, COPD, sleep apnoea and liver disease
- Teach to avoid alcohol
- Teach to report sleep paralysis, hallucinations, leg weakness or actions done while asleep

## Pharmacokinetics

**Onset and duration**
Taken about half an hour before bedtime, so it acts at sleep onset

## Memory aid

Daridorexant: «DARk room, orexin off» – blocks the wake peptide; never in narcolepsy.

## Test yourself

Think of the answer, then tap the question to see it.

## What does daridorexant block?

Orexin receptors, which carry the brain's wake signal.

## Which sleep disorder makes it unsuitable?

Narcolepsy.

## Which night-time adverse effects resemble narcolepsy symptoms?

Sleep paralysis and hallucinations on falling asleep or waking (also cataplexy-like leg weakness).

[Add to my cards (3)](https://durgical.app/estudiar/?add=/en/pharmacology/daridorexant/)

[More Pharmacology questions →](https://durgical.com/en/practice/?f=pharmacology)

## Connections

## Related drugs 4

- [Suvorexant](https://durgical.com/en/pharmacology/suvorexant/)
- [Lemborexant](https://durgical.com/en/pharmacology/lemborexant/)
- [Zolpidem](https://durgical.com/en/pharmacology/zolpidem/)
- [Ramelteon](https://durgical.com/en/pharmacology/ramelteon/)

## Related conditions 1

- [Insomnia disorder](https://durgical.com/en/conditions/insomnia-disorder/)

[← Back to the class: Other hypnotics (melatonin agonists and orexin antagonists)](https://durgical.com/en/pharmacology/classes/other-hypnotics/)

Educational content on how drugs work; not a prescribing guide and no substitute for a health professional's advice. No doses are given.

Sources: [Daridorexant: MedlinePlus Drug Information](https://medlineplus.gov/druginfo/meds/a622034.html) (MedlinePlus (U.S. National Library of Medicine), 2026); [6TP3: Crystal structure of the Orexin-1 receptor in complex with daridorexant](https://www.rcsb.org/structure/6TP3) (RCSB Protein Data Bank, 2020); [ATCDDD - ATC/DDD Index](https://atcddd.fhi.no/atc_ddd_index/?code=N05CJ03) (WHO Collaborating Centre for Drug Statistics Methodology, 2026).

## **Spotted a mistake?** We are always improving for the community. Tell us what is wrong and our team will review it. Report a mistake

Representative model, for educational purposes only.

---
Source: https://durgical.com/en/pharmacology/daridorexant/
License: CC BY 4.0 (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/). Cite as: DurgiPedia (durgical.com), https://durgical.com/en/pharmacology/daridorexant/