Quviviq (Daridorexant) at a glance: schedule, half-life, and class
- Generic name
- Daridorexant
- Brand names
- Quviviq
- Drug class
- Dual orexin receptor antagonist (DORA)
- US legal status
- Schedule IV, prescription only
- Approved uses
- Adults with insomnia (trouble falling or staying asleep)
- Forms
- Tablets (25, 50 mg)
- Onset
- About 30 minutes
- Half-life
- About 8 hours
- Similar drugs
- Suvorexant (Belsomra), lemborexant (Dayvigo)
Quviviq uses: what daridorexant is prescribed for
Daridorexant treats insomnia with trouble falling asleep, staying asleep, or both. In trials it improved sleep and daytime functioning at the 50 mg dose.[1]
Orexin blockers do not act on GABA receptors like benzodiazepines and Z-drugs, so they cause less dependence, though they are still controlled because of sedative effects.[1]
Quviviq dosage: how daridorexant is usually prescribed
The figures below come from the FDA-approved label and describe how prescribers typically use daridorexant. They are not personal dosing advice. A prescriber sets the dose for each person and adjusts it over time.[1]
| Product | Typical adult dose | Notes from the label |
|---|---|---|
| Adults | 25 to 50 mg within 30 minutes of bedtime | At least 7 hours before planned waking |
| Moderate liver impairment or moderate CYP3A4 inhibitors | Maximum 25 mg | Avoid in severe liver impairment |
| Strong CYP3A4 inhibitors or inducers | Avoid | Large change in levels |
Quviviq (daridorexant) side effects and risks
Common side effects include headache and sleepiness or tiredness.[1]
Next-day impairment: driving and alertness can be impaired, especially if taken with less than a full night of sleep.[1]
Sleep-related events: sleep paralysis, vivid hallucinations when falling asleep or waking, and, rarely, cataplexy-like weakness and complex sleep behaviors. It is contraindicated in narcolepsy.[1]
Mood: worsening depression and suicidal thoughts have been reported.
Quviviq interactions: what not to mix with daridorexant
Choose what it would be combined with:
| Combined with | What happens | Label guidance |
|---|---|---|
| Alcohol | More impairment of balance and alertness | Avoid |
| Opioids, benzodiazepines, other sleep medicines | Additive sedation | Use caution |
| Ketoconazole, itraconazole, clarithromycin, ritonavir | Much higher levels | Avoid |
| Rifampin, carbamazepine, St. John's wort | Much lower levels | Avoid |
This is not a full list. A pharmacist can check a complete medication list, including supplements and over-the-counter products.[1]
Quviviq overdose: signs of daridorexant overdose and what to do
Overdose mainly causes excessive sleepiness and, possibly, sleep paralysis or hallucinations. Risk is higher with alcohol or other sedatives.[1]
If someone may have overdosed
- Call 911 if the person is unresponsive, hard to wake, or breathing slowly.
- For advice when the person is awake and stable, call Poison Help at 1-800-222-1222 (US, free, 24 hours).
- If opioids could be involved, including pills not from a pharmacy, give naloxone if you have it. Naloxone does not reverse daridorexant, but it will not harm the person.
- Stay with the person and place them on their side if they are drowsy or vomiting.
Does daridorexant cause withdrawal?
In clinical trials, stopping daridorexant did not cause withdrawal symptoms or rebound insomnia.[1]
- First nightsPossible sleep changesSleep may return to how it was before treatment.
- Week 1No withdrawal expectedTrials found no withdrawal syndrome.
- Longer termReassessCombine with CBT-I for lasting benefit.
How to get prescribed Quviviq (daridorexant) legally in the US
In the United States, daridorexant is a Schedule IV controlled substance. The only legal way to get it is with a prescription from a clinician registered with the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), filled by a licensed pharmacy. Depending on state law, that can be a physician, nurse practitioner, or physician assistant.[2]
- Refills: a Schedule IV prescription can be refilled up to five times within six months of the date it was written. After that, a new prescription is needed.[3]
- Telehealth: federal flexibilities let DEA-registered clinicians prescribe Schedule II to V medicines after a telemedicine visit, without a prior in-person exam, through December 31, 2026. A permanent DEA rule was under final review in late 2026. State rules can be stricter.[4]
- Monitoring: prescribers and pharmacists in most states check a prescription drug monitoring program, a database of controlled-substance prescriptions, before prescribing or dispensing.
- Pharmacies: a legitimate pharmacy always requires a valid prescription, has a licensed pharmacist available, and is licensed in the state it ships to. The FDA's BeSafeRx tool and the NABP's safe pharmacy list help confirm a pharmacy is real.[5][6]
- Cost: quviviq is brand-only and costs several hundred dollars a month without insurance; many plans require trying generics first.
Traveling: keep the medicine in its original pharmacy container and carry a copy of the prescription. Check the rules of the destination country before travel, because many countries restrict controlled medicines or require a permit.
Can you order Quviviq (daridorexant) online legally?
Yes, but only with a valid prescription and only from a pharmacy licensed in your state. Many licensed pharmacies, including mail-order pharmacies run by insurers, fill daridorexant prescriptions online and ship them. Buying daridorexant from a website that does not require a prescription is illegal, and the product is often fake.[5][7]
- See a licensed clinicianA clinician evaluates you in person or by telemedicine and decides whether daridorexant is appropriate.
- The prescription goes to a pharmacyPrescriptions are usually sent electronically, straight from the prescriber to the pharmacy you choose.
- The pharmacy checks and fills itA pharmacist verifies the prescription and your identity, then dispenses the medicine in person or by mail.
Signs that an online seller is illegal:
- It sells daridorexant with no prescription, or after only a short online questionnaire.
- It takes orders through social media, messaging apps, or email.
- It asks for payment in cryptocurrency, gift cards, or money transfers.
- It has no US street address, no state pharmacy license, and no pharmacist to speak to.
- Its prices are far below those of ordinary pharmacies, or it ships from another country.
The FDA's BeSafeRx tool links to each state's license lookup, and the National Association of Boards of Pharmacy lists verified online pharmacies.[5][6]
Quviviq price: how much does Quviviq (daridorexant) cost without insurance?
Quviviq is brand-only and costs several hundred dollars a month without insurance; many plans require trying generics first.
What you pay depends on the strength, the number of doses, your insurance plan, and the pharmacy. Cash prices for the same prescription can differ several times over between pharmacies in the same town, so check current prices before you fill it.
Ways to pay less, legally:
- Ask the prescriber whether a generic daridorexant is available. FDA-approved generics work the same way as the brand and usually cost much less.
- Compare cash prices between pharmacies before you fill the prescription.
- Use a free prescription discount card, such as GoodRx or SingleCare, when you pay cash. These cards cannot be combined with insurance on the same fill.
- For brand-name medicines, check the manufacturer's savings program or patient assistance program.
- Ask about a 90-day supply or your insurer's mail-order pharmacy, which often lowers the cost per dose when your prescriber agrees it is appropriate.
Warning: A price far below what licensed pharmacies charge, especially with no prescription required, is a strong sign of an illegal seller and counterfeit medicine.[5]
Is Quviviq legal? Daridorexant legal status in other countries
| Country | Status |
|---|---|
| European Union | Approved in 2022; prescription only |
| International | Not under UN control |
Laws change and differ in detail. Check current rules before carrying any controlled medicine across a border.[8]
Common questions about Quviviq (daridorexant)
How is Quviviq different from Ambien?
It blocks orexin, the wakefulness signal, rather than enhancing GABA, and has lower dependence risk.
Is Quviviq (daridorexant) addictive?
It is Schedule IV because high doses can cause pleasant effects in some people, but dependence risk is low.
How long does Quviviq (daridorexant) take to work?
About 30 minutes; taking it with a heavy meal can delay its effect.
Can you drive the next morning?
Wait until fully alert; next-day impairment is possible, especially after less than 7 hours of sleep.
Who should not take Quviviq?
People with narcolepsy, and people taking strong CYP3A4 inhibitors.
Can you buy Quviviq (daridorexant) without a prescription?
No. Quviviq (daridorexant) is a Schedule IV controlled substance in the US, so it is illegal to buy or possess it without a valid prescription. Websites and social media sellers that offer it without one are not legal pharmacies, and the DEA warns that pills sold this way are often counterfeit and can contain fentanyl. The legal route is a visit with a licensed clinician, in person or by telehealth, and a prescription filled at a state-licensed pharmacy. The FDA's BeSafeRx tool and the NABP's safe pharmacy list help confirm an online pharmacy is real.
Sources
- Quviviq (daridorexant) prescription information. DailyMed, US National Library of Medicine.
- Controlled Substance Schedules. DEA Diversion Control Division.
- 21 CFR 1306.22, Refilling of prescriptions (Schedules III and IV). Electronic Code of Federal Regulations.
- Prescribing controlled substances via telehealth. US Department of Health and Human Services.
- BeSafeRx: Your Source for Online Pharmacy Information. US Food and Drug Administration.
- Safe Pharmacy. National Association of Boards of Pharmacy.
- One Pill Can Kill. US Drug Enforcement Administration.
- International drug control conventions. United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime.
