The sleep revolution: Why new sleeping aids are replacing traditional sleeping pills
1. The dilemma of traditional sleeping pills: effective in the short term, but full of long-term risks
Benzodiazepines (such as diazepam and alprazolam) and non-benzodiazepines (such as zopiclone and zolpidem) have long been the mainstream choice of sleep aids. They enhance the inhibitory effect of GABA ( γ- aminobutyric acid) receptors to allow the brain to quickly enter sleep. The effect is significant in the short term, but long-term use brings about problems such as dependence, tolerance, and cognitive impairment .
📌 The core problem of traditional sleeping pills :
❌ Easy to become addictive - after long-term use, the brain adapts to the drug and requires increasing dosages to maintain the effect. Withdrawal insomnia may occur after stopping the drug ( Lader, 2011 ).
❌ Impact on deep sleep - Studies have found that benzodiazepines reduce REM (rapid eye movement) sleep , affecting memory consolidation and brain repair ( Kuriyama & Endo, 2018 ).
❌ Feeling sleepy when waking up in the morning affects daytime performance - the drug has a long half-life and is likely to remain in the body, leading to drowsiness, slow reaction, and decreased attention the next day ( Billioti de Gage et al., 2014 ).
❌ Long-term use may increase the risk of dementia - One study found that people who took benzodiazepines for a long time had a 50% increased risk of Alzheimer's disease ( Billioti de Gage et al., 2014 ).
These problems have prompted scientists to look for safer, more effective, and non-addictive sleep aids. A new generation of ** orexin receptor antagonists ( ORAs ) ** have emerged and are gradually replacing traditional sleeping pills.
2. Orexin receptor antagonists: How to revolutionize the field of sleep aids?
Orexin is a neurotransmitter secreted by the hypothalamus of the brain. Its main function is to maintain a state of wakefulness . If the level of orexin is too high, the brain will remain awake continuously, making it difficult to fall asleep .
The new generation of sleeping aids (such as suvorexant, lebrexant, and darilexant) work by antagonizing orexin receptors, reducing wakefulness signals, rather than directly sedating the brain, making sleep more natural .
📌 Mechanism of action of orexin receptor antagonists
✅ Reduces wakefulness signals and allows the body to naturally enter sleep mode (without forcibly suppressing the nervous system).
✅ It will not affect deep sleep and improve sleep quality (without reducing REM sleep).
✅ It is non-addictive and there will be no withdrawal insomnia after stopping the drug after long-term use .
✅ It does not affect daytime alertness and will not cause drowsiness or sleepiness the next day .
📌 Research data support
• After 12 months of long-term use of suvorexant, patients showed no significant decline in sleep quality and no withdrawal symptoms after discontinuation of the medication ( Sun et al., 2021 ).
• Clinical trials of Lebrexant showed that there was no tolerance after 6 months of continuous use, and sleep remained stable after discontinuation of the drug ( Ueno et al., 2022 ).
• Dauvilliers can increase the proportion of deep sleep without affecting daytime wakefulness ( Dauvilliers et al., 2022 ).
Compared with traditional sleeping pills, new sleeping aids are safer and more sustainable, and are becoming a sleep aid recommended by more and more doctors .
3. Traditional sleeping pills vs. new sleeping pills: What are the core differences?
|
Features |
Traditional sleeping pills (eg, diazepam, zopiclone) |
Newer sleep aids (such as suvorexant, lebrexant, darilexant) |
|
Mechanism of action |
Acts on GABA receptors to forcibly calm nerves |
Acts on orexin receptors to reduce wakefulness signals and allow the brain to fall asleep naturally |
|
Does it affect deep sleep? |
May reduce REM sleep and affect memory consolidation |
Does not affect deep sleep and improves sleep quality |
|
Is it addictive? |
Long-term use can lead to addiction and increased tolerance |
No dependency, can be used for a long time |
|
Morning state |
Feeling sleepy in the morning and having decreased concentration |
Wake up in the morning without any effects |
📌 Why are more and more doctors recommending new sleeping pills?
• It is non-addictive , suitable for long-term use, and will not aggravate insomnia problems.
• It will not affect deep sleep and will not cause memory loss or concentration loss.
• It is suitable for people suffering from stress-related and anxiety-related insomnia , and helps to adjust the biological clock instead of simply relying on sedation to help sleep.
4. Who is it suitable for? How to use it correctly?
📌 Applicable people :
• People who suffer from long-term insomnia, shallow sleep, and wake up easily at night
• Sleep disorders caused by stress and anxiety
• People who feel sleepy in the morning and have obvious side effects from traditional sleeping pills
• People who want to use sleeping pills for a long time but do not want to become dependent on them
📌 Recommended use : 💊 Dosage recommendations :
• Suvorexant ( 10-20mg ) - suitable for those who wake up easily at night and help maintain a full night's sleep .
• Lebrexan ( 5-10mg ) - suitable for difficulty falling asleep, helping the brain enter sleep mode faster .
• Dali Lexan ( 25mg ) - Suitable for shallow sleep, morning fatigue, and improving deep sleep .
💡 Note :
• Make sure to get at least 7 hours of sleep after taking the medicine to avoid fatigue the next day.
• Avoid using it with alcohol or caffeine to avoid affecting the efficacy of the drug.
• Adjust your work and rest schedule, reduce exposure to blue light , and develop healthy sleeping habits to maximize the sleep-aiding effect.
5. Conclusion: How do new sleeping aids lead the “ sleep revolution ” ?
📌 Summary of key points
• Although traditional sleeping pills (such as diazepam and zopiclone) can help people fall asleep, long-term use can easily lead to addiction and may affect deep sleep ( Lader, 2011 ).
• The new generation of sleeping aids (such as suvorexant, lebrexant, and darilexant) reduce wakefulness signals rather than forced sedation, allowing the brain to fall asleep naturally and without dependence ( Sun et al., 2021 ).
• Compared with traditional sleeping pills, new sleeping aids do not affect daytime wakefulness, are suitable for long-term use, and become a more recommended sleeping aid option by doctors .
If you're looking for a safer, more scientific way to help you sleep , the new generation of sleeping pills may be the ideal long-term solution .
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