Orexin Receptor Antagonists as Modulators of Threat Sensitivity in Individuals With Alcohol Use Disorder

Orexin Receptor Antagonists as Modulators of Threat Sensitivity in Individuals With Alcohol Use Disorder

The goal of this double-blind clinical trial is to further explore if, how, and for whom orexin antagonism modifies brain-behavior stress targets in moderate to severe alcohol use disorder (AUD). The main questions it aims to answer are:

• Does an acute dose of suvorexant (SUV) and/or daily use of SUV modify brain-behavior targets of AUD dysfunction?
• Does daily SUV use change alcohol behavior and if so, is this change in behavior linked to brain-behavior change?

Participants will be randomized to a treatment group (SUV or placebo) and protocol arm, electromyography (EMG) only or EMG+functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI). Participants will be asked to complete the following:

• Baseline lab visit(s) that include the psychophysiological stress paradigm (EMG only or EMG+fMRI, dependent upon randomization).
• Acute drug challenge where the participant will return to the lab to repeat the stress paradigm following administration of a single dose of either 10mg SUV or placebo.
• Medication trial where participants will be instructed to take 10mg capsules of SUV or placebo orally each night before bedtime for 4-weeks.
• Daily reports of medication adherence, side-effects, sleep, alcohol use, and mood will be collected via smartphones during the 4-week medication trial.
• Post-treatment lab visit(s) where participants will return to the lab at the end of the medication trial and complete the same stress paradigm from baseline (EMG only or EMG+fMRI, dependent upon randomization).

Inclusion Criteria:

• Age 18-65.
• Participant is able to give informed consent.
• Generally medically and physically healthy as confirmed by medical history.
• Meet DSM-5 diagnostic criteria for current moderate or severe AUD.
• Engage in heavy alcohol use defined as drinking equal or greater than 14 standard drinks per week if male and equal or greater than 7 standard drinks per week if female.

Exclusion Criteria:

• Clinically significant medical or neurological condition (e.g., liver disease, narcolepsy, complex sleep behaviors, severe hepatic impairment, COPD, severe obstructive sleep apnea).
• Current cognitive dysfunction (traumatic brain injury, mental retardation, organic mental syndrome, pervasive developmental disorder, or dementia).
• Current use of antihistamines, strong or moderate inhibitors of CYP3A liver enzymes, strong CYP3A inducers, or digoxin.
• Current or past DSM-5 diagnosis of mania, schizophrenia, psychosis, suicidality, major depressive disorder, or obsessive compulsive disorder.
• Current substance use disorder other than alcohol or mild cannabis use disorder.
• Treatment seeking for AUD.
• Recent psychotropic medication use in the past 2 months.
• Currently smokes 5 or more cigarettes (or electronic equivalent) per day.
• BMI equal or greater than 35.
• Engage in night-shift work.
• Lack of fluency in English.
• Presence of ferrous-containing metal in the body.
• Inability to tolerate small, enclosed spaces.
• Deafness in one or both ears.
• Currently pregnant (positive pregnancy test), lactating, or not agreeing to use birth control methods during the duration of the trial.