Lemborexant is used for short-term treatment of insomnia (difficulty sleeping). Learn how to use the medication, its common side effects, special precautions to watch out for, and more.

What is this medication for?

Lemborexant is used for short-term treatment of insomnia (difficulty sleeping). It helps you fall asleep faster and sleep through the night.

How should I take or use this medication?

• Take your medication according to the instructions stated on the medication label.
• Lemborexant is recommended to be taken just before you sleep, with at least 7 hours of sleeping time before you plan to wake up. Having less than 7 hours of sleeping time may cause you to feel sleepy or affect alertness in the daytime.
• Lemborexant may be taken with or without food. However, the effect of Lemborexant may be delayed if you take it with or after a meal.
• Speak to your doctor if your sleep problem worsens or is not improved within 7 to 10 days.
• Do not stop taking or adjust the dose of this medication without checking with your doctor.

What should I do if I forget to take or use this medication?

• If you have been directed by your doctor to take this medication regularly and forget to take a dose, take it as soon as you remember, provided you are able to have at least 7 hours of sleeping time for the night.
• Do not take two doses to make up for the missed dose.

What precautions should I take when taking or using this medication?

Inform your healthcare professional if: 

• You are allergic to this medication or any of the other ingredients of this medication
• You are pregnant, planning to become pregnant, or breastfeeding. If you are pregnant and/or breastfeeding, your doctor would have discussed the potential benefits and side-effects with you and should you have further questions or concerns, do consult your doctor.
• You are taking any other medications (including those that can be bought without a prescription), supplements, traditional medications and herbal remedies. Some of them may affect how this medication works or cause serious drug interactions.
• You have or have ever had: 
  • Other drug allergies
  • Kidney or liver disease
  • History of drug or alcohol abuse/addiction
  • Lung or breathing problems such as sleep apnea, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease
  • History of excessive daytime sleepiness at unexpected times (narcolepsy)
  • History of mental health conditions such as depression (low mood) or suicidal thoughts (thoughts of harming yourself) 
  • History of sudden onset of muscle weakness (cataplexy)
  • Abnormal sleep behavior (sleep paralysis)

What are some common side effects of this medication?

• Drowsiness or feeling tired
  • Avoid driving or taking part in activities that require concentration
• Dizziness
  • Get up slowly from a sitting or lying down position
• Headache

Most of the side effects listed here will improve with time. Speak with your doctor if any of them continues, worsens or affects your daily life.

What are some rare but serious side-effects that I need to seek medical advice immediately?

The symptoms of a drug allergy include one or more of the following: 

• Swollen face/eyes/lips/tongue
• Difficulty in breathing
• Itchy skin rashes over your whole body

Rarely this medication may cause:

• Unusual sleep related activities such as sleep-walking, sleep-driving, eating while partially asleep, that you may not remember the next morning
• New or worsening mood or behaviour such as depression and suicidal thoughts
• Inability to move or talk for up to several minutes while you are going to sleep or waking up (signs of sleep paralysis)
• Muscle weakness that can last from seconds to a few minutes and can happen both at night or during the day (signs of cataplexy)
• Seeing or hearing things that are not there when falling asleep or waking up (hypnagogic/hypnopompic hallucinations).

If you experience any of these symptoms, you should stop your medication and see your healthcare professional immediately.

What food or medication should I avoid when I take or use this medication?

Avoid drinking alcohol while taking Lemborexant as it can cause excessive sleepiness.

Avoid taking grapefruit when you are taking this medicine as grapefruit may interact with your medicine and increase the risk of side-effects. 

How should I store this medication?

Store in a cool and dry place, away from direct sunlight. Keep this medication away from children. 

How do I throw away this medication safely?

Store in a cool and dry place, away from direct sunlight. Keep this medication away from children. 

Disclaimer

Please take note that the above is not a complete list of all possible side effects. If you have any concerns about your medication or if you have other side effects that you think are caused by this medication, please consult your doctor or pharmacist.

If you take more than the recommended dose, please seek medical advice immediately. The information provided on this page does not replace information from your healthcare professional. Please consult your healthcare professional for more information.

This article is jointly developed by members of the National Medication Information workgroup. The workgroup consists of cluster partners (National Healthcare Group, National University Health System and SingHealth), community pharmacies (Guardian, Unity and Watsons) and Pharmaceutical Society of Singapore. The content does not reflect drug availability and supply information in pharmacies and healthcare institutions. You are advised to check with the respective institutions for such information.
 

Last updated on Feb 2025