Orexin Receptor Antagonism for the Treatment of Alcohol Use Disorder and Stress-Related Drinking

Inclusion criteria

• Generally medically and neurologically healthy;
• Age 18 to 65 at the time of consent;
• Willing and able to give informed consent;
• Current DSM-5 diagnosis of moderate to severe alcohol use disorder;
• Engages in heavy alcohol use defined as drinking ≥14 standard drinks per week if male, and ≥7 standard drinks per week if female;
• Self-reported treatment-seeking for alcohol use disorder

Exclusion criteria

• Clinically significant medical or neurologic condition or neurocognitive dysfunction that would affect function, and/or task performance, and/or interfere with the study protocol, and/or be contraindicated for suvorexant including sleep disorders (e.g., narcolepsy; severe obstructive sleep apnea), hepatic impairment, compromised respiratory function, renal impairment, and endocrine disorders;
• Lifetime DSM-5 diagnosis of schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, or any psychotic disorder;
• Current substance use disorder (SUD) other than alcohol or mild cannabis use disorder;
• Currently pregnant (positive pregnancy test), lactating, or not agreeing to use birth control methods during the duration of the trial (women);
• Any use of medications for alcohol use disorder or any psychotropic medications (e.g., psychostimulants and benzodiazepines, some antidepressants);
• Current antihistamines use or medication use that may increase risk including, prescribed, over-the-counter, and herbal preparations, as determined by the study physician;
• Current use of strong or moderate inhibitors of CYP3A liver enzymes;
• Current use of strong CYP3A inducers;
• Current use of digoxin;
• Liver function tests more than 3 times the upper limit of normal or elevated bilirubin;
• Engages in night shift work;
• Smoke 10 or more cigarettes (or electronic equivalent) per day and are thus susceptible to acute nicotine withdrawal during lab visits;
• Obesity as defined by a body-mass index (BMI) equal or greater than 30, as calculated from weight and height self-report;
• Clinically significant alcohol withdrawal symptoms the day of the lab sessions, defined as a score >10 on the Clinical Institute Withdrawal Assessment of Alcohol Scale Revised (CIWA-Ar);
• Unwilling/unable to sign the informed consent document;
• Under 18 years old or over 65 years old at the time of enrollment;
• Have attempted suicide in the past 3 years and/or have current suicidal ideation determined as greater than moderate via the Columbia Suicide Severity Rating Scale (C-SSRS)