Dayvigo vs. Quviviq: 6 Things to Know When Comparing These Insomnia Medications

If you have trouble falling or staying asleep, you’re not alone. Up to 40% of adults in the U.S. experience insomnia symptoms each year. Improving your sleep hygiene is a good first step to take to get that much-needed sleep. But in some cases, people also benefit from a prescription sleep medication.

Dayvigo (lemborexant) and Quviviq (daridorexant) are two examples of prescription-only sleep aids used to treat insomnia. There are many similarities between these medications, including how they work. But there are some differences to keep in mind, too.

Below, we review six things to consider when comparing Dayvigo versus Quviviq.

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• Beating insomnia: Real people share their experiences with insomnia and how they were able to get the sleep they needed.

1. Dayvigo and Quviviq work in the same way

Dayvigo and Quviviq are both orexin receptor antagonists. They work by blocking the chemical orexin from attaching to its receptors (binding sites) in the brain.

Think of orexin as a “wake-up” chemical. When it attaches to its receptors, it signals your brain to wake up. By blocking orexin receptors, Dayvigo and Quviviq help you go to sleep and stay asleep longer.

2. Dayvigo and Quviviq are FDA approved for the same use

Dayvigo and Quviviq are both FDA approved to treat insomnia. They can be helpful for people who have trouble falling asleep, staying asleep, or both. Neither is approved for use in children under age 18.

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3. Dayvigo and Quviviq are taken in a similar ways

Whether you’re taking Dayvigo or Quviviq, you’ll take your medication in a similar way.

The typical Dayvigo dosage is 5 mg to 10 mg by mouth once daily, immediately before bedtime. The maximum recommended dosage is 10 mg per day. The typical Quviviq dosage is 25 mg to 50 mg by mouth once daily, within 30 minutes of bedtime. The maximum dosage is 50 mg per day.

Don’t take more than one dose per day of either Dayvigo or Quviviq. You should also only take one of these medications if you can devote at least 7 hours to sleep. If you try to sleep less than that, side effects like next-day drowsiness may be more likely.

It’s best to take Dayvigo and Quviviq without food if possible. Food can delay how fast they start working.

4. Dayvigo and Quviviq have similar side effects

Dayvigo and Quviviq also share many side effects. This is because they work in the same way.

Some common side effects of both medications include:

• Headaches

• Drowsiness or fatigue

• Next-day drowsiness

• Dizziness

Dayvigo and Quviviq also have a few rare but serious side effects in common. These include:

• Excessive or severe drowsiness

• Suicidal thoughts or behaviors

• New or worsening depression

• Hallucinations

• Nightmares

• Abnormal sleep behaviors, such as sleepwalking and sleep paralysis

This is not a complete list of the possible side effects from Dayvigo and Quviviq. Please reach out to your healthcare team if you experience any side effects that are bothersome, even if they’re not listed here.

If you or someone you know is having thoughts of suicide, you’re not alone, and help is available. Call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 988, or text “HOME” to 741-741 to reach the Crisis Text Line.

5. Dayvigo and Quviviq are both controlled substances

Dayvigo and Quviviq are both considered controlled substances. This means they carry a risk of dependence and misuse. There are also restrictions when it comes to how pharmacies can fill prescriptions for them.

If you have a personal or family history of substance use disorder, make sure your prescriber knows about it before you start taking Dayvigo or Quviviq. They may suggest an alternative medication.

6. Dayvigo and Quviviq interact with different medications

Drug interactions are one of the main differences between Dayvigo and Quviviq. Your body uses different enzymes (proteins) to break the medications down. If you take Dayvigo or Quviviq with a medication that’s broken down by the same enzymes, an interaction can happen.

In some cases, interactions can affect how well Dayvigo and Quviviq work. In other instances, Dayvigo and Quviviq can change how other medications work. Certain interactions can be managed with dosage adjustments. Others require you to avoid combining medications altogether.

Below is a table listing notable medications and substances that interact with Dayvigo and Quviviq. But this isn’t a comprehensive list. Share an updated medication list with your prescriber and pharmacist before starting treatment. They can let you know if you can safely combine Dayvigo or Quviviq with your other medications or if an adjustment is needed.

Can you combine Dayvigo and Quviviq?

No, you shouldn’t combine Dayvigo and Quviviq. As noted above, they both interact with other sleep medications, including each other. Taking Dayvigo and Quviviq together can raise the risk of serious side effects, such as severe drowsiness.

If Dayvigo or Quviviq isn’t working well enough on its own to treat your insomnia, contact your prescriber. They may suggest switching to a different sleep medication.

How to save on Dayvigo

There are ways to save on Dayvigo, which is available as a brand-name medication. GoodRx can help you navigate between GoodRx coupons, copay savings cards, and patient assistance programs to save money on your prescription.

• Save with GoodRx: Anyone with a valid prescription, regardless of insurance status, can use GoodRx to purchase a 30-day supply of Dayvigo at an exclusive cash price of $135.

• Save with a copay savings card: If you have commercial insurance, you may be eligible to pay as little as $10 for Dayvigo using a savings card from the manufacturer.

• Save with patient assistance programs: If you’re uninsured or underinsured, you may be eligible for Dayvigo’s patient assistance program, which offers the medication free of charge.

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Written by:

Sarah Morin, RPh

Sarah Morin, RPh, has been a registered pharmacist for over 25 years. She started out as a hospital pharmacist, working at Rhode Island Hospital and then at the University of Connecticut Health Center.

Edited by:

Christina Aungst, PharmD

Christina Aungst, PharmD, is a pharmacy editor for GoodRx. She began writing for GoodRx Health in 2019, transitioning from freelance writer to editor in 2021.

Reviewed by:

Bailey E. Eason, PharmD, MS, BCPS

Bailey Eason has been licensed for 6 years and has held licenses in three states (North Carolina, Virginia, and Illinois). She has held positions as a health-system pharmacy administration resident, operating room pharmacy manager, pharmacy manager of clinical operations: surgery, neurology and controlled substances, and most recently as program director  of drug diversion for a large academic health system.

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