默克公司研發的Belsomra是一種食欲肽受體拮抗劑，是同類藥物中第一種獲FDA批準的失眠症治療藥物。食欲肽 (Orexin)是一種內源性化學物質，主要功能為調節睡眠--醒覺周期，並維持人體處於覺醒狀態。Belsomra可改變食欲肽對大腦的影響，達到促進睡眠並維持睡眠的作用。
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration today approved Belsomra (suvorexant) tablets for use as needed to treat difficulty in falling and staying asleep (insomnia).
Belsomra is an orexin receptor antagonist and is the first approved drug of this type. Orexins are chemicals that are involved in regulating the sleep-wake cycle and play a role in keeping people awake. Belsomra alters the signaling (action) of orexin in the brain.
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FDA approves new type of sleep drug, Belsomra
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對食欲肽 (Orexin)感興趣者可以參看日本學者發表在The Journal of Neuroscience上的一篇研究論文: Orexin Directly Excites Orexin Neurons through Orexin 2 Receptor
日本學者2010年的研究: 認為Orexin投射到單胺及膽堿能神經核團幹預和調節睡眠和覺醒等生理活動。
