suvorexant for insomnia to prevent delirium in hospitalized cancer patients

Conditions: Advanced Malignant Solid Neoplasm; Delirium; Hematopoietic and Lymphatic System Neoplasm; Insomnia

Summary: this phase iv trial compares suvorexant with standard of care to standard of care alone for improving difficulty sleeping (insomnia) and reducing confusion (delirium) in hospitalized cancer patients. delirium can lengthen hospitalization, increase the delay of cancer treatment and can even increase the risk of premature death. suvorexant is in a class of medications called orexin receptor antagonists. it works by blocking the action of a certain natural substance in the brain that causes wakefulness. giving suvorexant with standard of care to treat insomnia may be more effective compared to standard of care alone in reducing the development of delirium in hospitalized cancer patients.

primary objective: i. feasibility of a subsequent full scale randomized clinical trial (rct) conducted at mayo clinic using the same methodology as outlined in this protocol (as this study is a pilot). secondary objective: i. to generate preliminary data to determine if inpatient standard of care (i.e. sleep enhancement) is followed in both a study arm receiving standard of care alone and one receiving standard of care plus suvorexant. exploratory objectives: i. to collect preliminary data to investigate the hypotheses that use of suvorexant in addition to standard of care for hospitalized adults with cancer will result in a decreased incidence of delirium, increased time to onset of delirium, and decreased number of delirium days in hospital as compared to standard of care alone. ii. to build a data collection and analysis infrastructure for a full scale rct at mayo clinic if feasibility is demonstrated. outline: patients are randomized to 1 of 2 arms. arm i: patients receive suvorexant orally (po) once daily (qd) at bedtime and standard of care for hospital associated insomnia for 3-7 days in the absence of unacceptable toxicity. arm ii: patients receive standard of care for hospital associated insomnia for 3-7 days in the absence of unacceptable toxicity.

Eligibility criteria:
inclusion criteria: * presence of advanced active malignancy and insomnia despite nonpharmacologic management * anticipated hospital course of at least 3 days post randomization as judged by the patient's primary inpatient team * one or more of the following risk factors of delirium: * age 75 or above * hearing impairment * vision impairment * initiation of 8 or new medications since start of hospitalization * chronic kidney disease iii or greater * congestive heart failure * hospitalization for 14 or more days * dehydration requiring ongoing use of intravenous (iv) hydration * electrolyte imbalance requiring ongoing correction exclusion criteria: * inability to consent * current pregnancy * women of childbearing potential (defined as women under age 55 without a personal history of surgical or chemotherapy-induced sterility) * current or prior delirium in the active hospitalization * concurrent use of strong/moderate cyp3a4 inducers and inhibitors (including but not limited to -azole antifungals, amiodarone, phenytoin, carbamazepine, etc.) * use of any benzodiazepine, benzodiazepine receptor modulator, or first generation antihistamine class medication within 72 hours prior to enrollment * personal history of narcolepsy * personal history of other primary sleep disorders including obstructive sleep apnea * personal history of alcohol use disorder * personal history of substance use disorder * personal history of cirrhosis * transaminitis more than 3 times the upper limit of normal * history of obstructive lung disease other than asthma