Tasimelteon for insomnia

Areas covered: The nature and prevalence of insomnia are described in this review, along with the current pharmacological treatments for the disorder. Summaries of the available pharmacological and clinical data for tasimelteon are also provided. A Medline search using the terms tasimelteon, melatonin and insomnia was undertaken to assess the current literature on these topics. Expert opinion: While the few clinical trials of the medication have been promising, much more extensive testing, along with more detailed reporting of the drug's pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics, is needed before tasimelteon can be considered a worthwhile addition to the available treatments for insomnia. In particular, testing of the drug's effectiveness in treating maintenance insomnia, as well as tests of its long-term effectiveness and safety, is much needed.