Articles by Laura B. Herpel, MD

A panelist discusses how dual orexin receptor antagonists (DORAs), particularly daridorexant, are poised to become a first-line treatment for chronic insomnia, especially for elderly patients, due to their safety, tolerability, and lack of withdrawal symptoms, while highlighting the importance of patient education and regular follow-up for optimal results.

A panelist discusses how dual orexin receptor antagonists (DORAs) are ideal for patients with chronic insomnia who require long-term sleep support, emphasizing their safety, tolerability, and effectiveness, while cautioning against use in patients with narcolepsy, parasomnia history, or severe kidney or liver disease.

A panelist discusses how dual orexin receptor antagonists (DORAs) are considered a first-line treatment for chronic insomnia, particularly for sleep maintenance issues, due to their superior tolerability, lack of withdrawal symptoms, and positive impact on daytime functioning.

A panelist discusses how clinicians choose between sleep aids like dual orexin receptor antagonists (DORAs) and other medications based on patient comorbidities, chronicity of insomnia, and adverse effect profiles, with DORAs offering a safer, long-term solution for patients with chronic insomnia and sleep maintenance issues.

A panelist discusses how dual orexin receptor antagonists (DORAs) are effective for treating both sleep initiation and maintenance insomnia, with a generally favorable adverse effect profile, though patients should be informed about potential risks like parasomnia-like behaviors, and the importance of patience and adherence for optimal results.

A panelist discusses how managing chronic insomnia often requires tailored treatments like dual orexin receptor antagonists (DORAs), which offer long-term benefits for sleep maintenance without the risk of tolerance or rebound insomnia, while emphasizing patient counseling and realistic expectations for gradual improvement.

A panelist discusses how dual orexin receptor antagonists (DORAs) provide a novel and balanced approach to treating insomnia by targeting orexin receptors to reduce wakefulness without causing the broad central nervous system suppression seen with traditional sleep aids.

A panelist discusses how long-term success in treating chronic insomnia depends on patient adherence, realistic expectations, and a strong therapeutic relationship that supports consistent behavioral changes and ongoing treatment adjustments.

A panelist discusses how effective management of chronic insomnia requires a multifactorial, individualized approach that combines thorough patient evaluation with both behavioral strategies and targeted pharmacologic treatments.