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lemborexant vs suvorexant

Side-by-side comparison of lemborexant and suvorexant Data from FDA drug databases (Orange Book, NDC Directory, recalls, shortages) covering 20,000+ approved drugs, plus CMS pricing; see our methodology.

Drug Class
lemborexant Orexin Receptor Antagonist
suvorexant Orexin Receptor Antagonist
Type
lemborexant Prescription
suvorexant Prescription
Summary
lemborexant

Dayvigo is a medicine that can help you fall asleep and stay asleep. It is for adults who have trouble with insomnia.

suvorexant

Belsomra is a prescription medicine used to treat insomnia. It helps you fall asleep and stay asleep.

What It Treats
lemborexant

Dayvigo is used to treat insomnia in adults. Insomnia means you have trouble falling asleep, staying asleep, or both. This medicine can help you sleep better.

suvorexant

Belsomra is used to treat insomnia in adults. Insomnia means you have trouble falling asleep, staying asleep, or both. This medicine can help you sleep better.

How It Works
lemborexant

Dayvigo works by blocking orexin, a chemical in your brain that keeps you awake. By blocking orexin, Dayvigo helps you feel sleepy. This allows you to fall asleep and stay asleep.

suvorexant

Belsomra works by blocking orexin, a chemical in your brain that keeps you awake. By blocking orexin, Belsomra helps to reduce wakefulness and allows you to fall asleep.

Common Side Effects
lemborexant
  • Feeling sleepy
suvorexant
  • Sleepiness
FAERS Reports
lemborexant
  • The medicine did not work 286
  • Using the medicine for a condition it is not approved for 165
  • Trying to kill oneself 133
  • Feeling sleepy 128
  • The health problem got worse 117
suvorexant
  • The medicine did not work 2,994
  • Nightmare 736
  • Sleepiness 726
  • Trouble sleeping 674
  • Strange dreams 599
Serious Warnings
lemborexant

Dayvigo can make you feel very sleepy, even the next day. Be careful driving or doing other things that need you to be alert. Some people have sleep paralysis, hallucinations, or do things like sleepwalking while taking Dayvigo. Dayvigo may also worsen depression or suicidal thoughts. Do not drink alcohol while taking Dayvigo.

suvorexant

Belsomra can cause you to feel sleepy during the day and can impair your ability to drive. Do not drive or do other activities that require you to be fully alert, especially if you take the 20 mg dose. Belsomra may also worsen depression or cause suicidal thoughts. Tell your doctor right away if you have any new or worsening mood changes. Complex sleep behaviors like sleepwalking have also been reported. Stop taking Belsomra and tell your doctor if this happens.

Pregnancy
lemborexant

It is not known if Dayvigo can harm your unborn baby. If you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant, talk to your doctor. There is a pregnancy registry for women who take psychiatric medicines, including Dayvigo.

suvorexant

It is not known if Belsomra can harm your unborn baby. Talk to your doctor if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant. It is also not known if Belsomra passes into breast milk. Talk to your doctor about the best way to feed your baby if you take Belsomra.

How to Read This lemborexant vs suvorexant Comparison

lemborexant is classified in the Orexin Receptor Antagonist drug class, while suvorexant sits within the Orexin Receptor Antagonist class. Because both drugs share the same classification, they are often considered interchangeable in theory — but clinical outcomes rarely track that cleanly. Both drugs are prescription-only, so a licensed provider must authorize use.

Adverse event totals above are pulled from the FDA's Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS). For these top-ranked reactions alone, lemborexant has 829 submissions while suvorexant has 5,729. Those figures reflect cumulative reporting volume — not per-patient risk — so older, widely dispensed drugs typically look worse on count alone. No direct interaction between these two drugs is listed in our FDA-derived dataset, though co-prescription still warrants pharmacist review. Serious warnings, pregnancy guidance, and contraindications can differ even when indications overlap.

A table cannot substitute for clinical judgment. Effectiveness, tolerability, drug-drug interactions with your other medications, kidney and liver function, pregnancy status, insurance formulary, and price all feed into a decision that only a licensed prescriber can make responsibly. Data here is sourced from FDA Structured Product Labels (SPL) and FAERS, both of which update as manufacturers and clinicians submit new information. This page is for educational purposes only, is not medical advice, and should not be used to self-switch between lemborexant and suvorexant — always consult your physician or pharmacist first.

Important: This comparison is for informational purposes only. Drug effects vary between individuals. Always consult your doctor or pharmacist for personalized medical advice.