Today, the Food and Drug Administration will convene an expert panel to offer recommendations about a new insomnia drug from Merck. The company is seeking the approval of suvorexant, which is designed to help people suffering from insomnia fall asleep. In preparation for today’s meeting, the FDA has made their concerns about the drug known to the public. They worry about studies which have shown inconsistent results with the drug, as well as the potential for the medication’s effects to linger long after they should have worn off. This can lead to instances of daytime sleepiness that have the potential to compromise driving ability. These factors, combined with concerns about the appearance of suicidal thoughts among users, may prompt the FDA to only approve lower doses of suvorexant.
For more about the pending approval, click here.