Dayvigo (lemborexant) is a medicine used to treat insomnia. It can help people fall asleep faster and stay asleep longer. While Dayvigo can be an effective treatment, it is important to know that it can interact with other medicines and substances.
An interaction occurs when a substance changes how a medicine works or how it affects the body. Understanding potential Dayvigo interactions can help you avoid unsafe combinations and make sure your medicine works as intended.
This article does not include all possible Dayvigo interactions. Always tell your health care provider and pharmacist about all prescription drugs, over-the-counter medicines, and any vitamins, herbs, or other supplements you use.
Understanding Dayvigo Interactions
Dayvigo works by affecting brain signals involved in wakefulness and sleep. Because it can cause drowsiness and reduced alertness, some interactions can increase the risk of side effects, such as next-day sleepiness, poor balance, and slowed thinking.
Other Dayvigo interactions can happen when certain medicines change how quickly your body breaks down Dayvigo, causing the amount of medicine in your body to become too high or too low.
Below are seven important Dayvigo interactions to be aware of.
1. Certain antibiotics and antifungals
Some antibiotic and antifungal medicines can interact with Dayvigo. The combination may increase the risk of side effects from Dayvigo.
Examples include:
- Clarithromycin
- Fluconazole
- Itraconazole
Your liver uses enzymes called CYP3A to break down and remove Dayvigo from your body. Some antibiotics and antifungals block or slow down this enzyme, causing Dayvigo to build up in your system. This can increase the risk of side effects, such as excessive sleepiness, dizziness, balance problems, and next-day drowsiness.
Some of these combinations should be avoided completely while you are taking Dayvigo. If you must take certain antibiotics or antifungal medicines while taking Dayvigo, your health care provider may lower your Dayvigo dose.
2. Alcohol
Alcohol can increase the effects of Dayvigo on the brain and nervous system. Taking them together may raise your risk of extreme drowsiness, falls, and trouble thinking clearly.
Because of these risks, alcohol should be avoided while taking Dayvigo.
If you drink alcohol regularly, talk to your health care provider before starting treatment.
3. Some seizure medicines
Certain seizure medicines can make Dayvigo less effective by causing your body to break it down too quickly. One example is carbamazepine.
This interaction can cause Dayvigo to not work as well, making it harder for you to fall asleep or stay asleep.
In most cases, these combinations should be avoided. If you take one of these medicines, your health care provider may recommend a different insomnia treatment.
4. Other medicines that make Dayvigo less effective
Some other types of medicines can make Dayvigo less effective, making it harder for you to fall asleep or stay asleep.
Examples include:
- Bosentan, which is a medicine used to treat high blood pressure in the lungs
- Efavirenz or etravirine, which is used for HIV
- Modafinil, which is used for excessive sleepiness
- Rifampin, which is an antibiotic medicine used to treat tuberculosis
These medicines are typically avoided with Dayvigo. If you need to take one of these medicines or any medicine that can make Dayvigo less effective, your health care provider may suggest a different option for treating your insomnia.
5. Bupropion
Bupropion is commonly used to treat depression. It is also used to help people quit smoking.
Dayvigo may increase the activity of liver enzymes called CYP2B6 that help break down bupropion. As a result, your body may remove bupropion faster than usual, which could make it less effective.
If you take both medicines, tell your health care provider if your depression symptoms worsen or if bupropion does not seem to be working as well as usual. Your health care provider may want to monitor your symptoms more closely or adjust your treatment if needed.
6. Methadone
Methadone is commonly used to treat pain and substance use disorder.
Dayvigo may interact with methadone in a similar way to bupropion. It may cause your body to break down methadone more quickly, making methadone less effective.
If you take both medicines, tell your health care provider if methadone does not seem to be working as well as usual. Do not change your dosage on your own. Your health care provider will let you know if any adjustments are needed.
7. Other medicines that cause drowsiness
Dayvigo causes drowsiness and reduces alertness, possibly including the next day. Taking it with other medicines that have similar side effects can worsen these problems.
Examples include:
- A benzodiazepine, such as clonazepam (Klonopin), diazepam (Valium and others), or lorazepam (Ativan and others), which is a medicine used for anxiety, muscle spasms, or seizures
- An opioid, such as codeine, fentanyl, morphine, or oxycodone, which is a medicine used to treat certain types of pain
- Some antidepressants, such as amitriptyline
- Zolpidem or other sleep medicines
Taking these medicines together may increase the risk of excessive sleepiness, falls, slowed thinking, and next-day drowsiness.
Dayvigo generally should not be used with other medicines or supplements intended to treat insomnia. Do not start a new medicine without checking with your health care provider or pharmacist first.
FAQs About Dayvigo Interactions
Does Dayvigo interact with any foods?
The labeling information for Dayvigo does not specifically list any foods to avoid. However, it may be best to avoid grapefruit and grapefruit juice while taking Dayvigo.
Grapefruit and its juice can block or slow down the CYP3A enzyme that helps break the medicine down. This may increase the amount of Dayvigo in your body, raising the risk of Dayvigo side effects, such as excessive sleepiness or next-day drowsiness. Talk with your health care provider before consuming grapefruit products while taking Dayvigo.
Note that food can affect how quickly Dayvigo starts working. Taking Dayvigo with a meal or soon after eating may delay its sleep-promoting effects. For quicker effects, consider taking Dayvigo a few hours after a meal.
Does Dayvigo interact with herbal supplements?
Yes. St. John's wort is an herb that some people use for depression. It can cause your body to break down Dayvigo more quickly, which may make the medicine less effective. Because of this interaction, St. John's wort should generally be avoided while taking Dayvigo.
Other herbal and dietary supplements may also cause interactions. Tell your health care provider about any supplements you take.
Can I take melatonin with Dayvigo?
The labeling information for Dayvigo does not specifically list an interaction between Dayvigo and melatonin. However, both products can cause drowsiness. Taking them together could increase drowsiness in some people, including next-day sleepiness.
Check with your health care provider before combining Dayvigo with melatonin, other supplements, or sleep aids.
How to Avoid Dayvigo Interactions
The following steps can help lower your risk of drug interactions while taking Dayvigo:
- Take it exactly as prescribed.
- Do not drink alcohol while taking Dayvigo.
- Share an updated list of all medicines and supplements you use with your health care team and pharmacist.
- Ask your health care provider before you start or stop any medicine, vitamin, or supplement.
- Properly dispose of unused or expired medicines to help prevent accidental use.
Your health care provider can let you know if Dayvigo is safe for you and if your treatment plan needs any changes to help avoid or manage interactions.
