Drug Treatment of Sleep Disorders, 2015 Milestones in Drug Therapy Series

Following reviews on sleep physiology, regulation, pharmacology, and the neuronal networks regulating sleep and awakening, as well as a classification of sleep disorders, this book presents a number of major breakthroughs in the treatment of those disorders. These include recently approved drugs for treating insomnia, such as Doxepin; variations on previously approved molecules, e.g. Zolpidem sublingual preparation; or new chemical entities in advanced stages of clinical development, e.g. Orexin antagonists. Further topics discussed include drugs acting on the GABA receptor, such as Lorediplon and Eszopiclone; the treatment of excessive daytime drowsiness with cell therapy and drugs such as Modafinil, Armodafinil and Sodium oxybate; and the use of Tasimelteon in the treatment of circadian sleep disorders.

An overview of sleep physiology and sleep regulation.- Neuronal networks regulating sleep and arousal: effect of drugs.- Classification of sleep disorders.- Development of new therapeutical agents for treatment of insomnia and other sleep disorders.- Low dose doxepin for insomnia.- Lorediplon: a new GABAa modulator drug for treatment of insomnia.- Zolpidem sublingual formulations.- Eszopiclone: review and clinical applications in chronic and co-morbid insomnia.- Orexin/hypocretin antagonists in insomnia: from bench to clinic.- Modafinil and armodafinil.- Sodium oxybate (Xyrem®): a new and effective treatment for narcolepsy with cataplexy.- Cell therapy to treat narcolepsy.- Tasimelteon.- The past, present and future of drug development and treatment in sleep disorders.