Daridorexant Access: NHS Doctors Report Patchy Availability
- Daridorexant is a recently approved medication for the treatment of insomnia.
- As its approval in November 2023,daridorexant has been prescribed approximately 67,000 times in england,costing the NHS an estimated £2.6 million.
- Access to daridorexant is not uniform across England.
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Daridorexant: New Non-Addictive sleeping Pill Faces NHS Uptake Challenges
What is Daridorexant and How Does it Work?
Daridorexant is a recently approved medication for the treatment of insomnia. Unlike traditional sleeping pills, it works by blocking the action of orexin, a neurotransmitter that promotes wakefulness. This allows individuals to fall asleep more easily and stay asleep longer, without the same risks of dependency associated with drugs like zopiclone.
Prescription Numbers and NHS Spending
As its approval in November 2023,daridorexant has been prescribed approximately 67,000 times in england,costing the NHS an estimated £2.6 million. While the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) initially forecast spending of £10.9 million for the financial year 2024-25, actual costs to date are around £1.5 million. This suggests a slower-than-anticipated uptake.
| Medication | Prescriptions (Nov 2023 – June 2025) | Estimated Cost |
|---|---|---|
| Daridorexant | 67,000 | £2.6 million |
| Zopiclone | 7 million+ | (Data not provided in source) |
Uneven Access and Regional Disparities
Access to daridorexant is not uniform across England. Prescribing is concentrated in areas of London and the West Midlands, while other regions show lower rates.This disparity may be due to varying levels of awareness among healthcare professionals and differing local policies. Some patients are opting for private prescriptions to bypass these access issues.
Expert Opinion and Potential benefits
Professor Guy Leschziner, a leading sleep expert, describes daridorexant as “a significant step forward” in insomnia treatment. He emphasizes its low risk of dependency and the absence of rebound insomnia upon discontinuation – issues commonly associated with older sleeping pills. He also notes the lack of evidence linking daridorexant to long-term cognitive decline, a concern raised with some traditional hypnotics.
“Unlike traditional sleeping pills, this drug carries a low risk of dependency and does not cause rebound insomnia when stopped. Concerns have been raised about older sleeping tablets and long-term cognitive decline, but at present we don’