New Sleep Drug: Rozerem

Rozerem is chemically related to melatonin. From the Takeda Pharmaceuticals North America Website:

ROZEREM is the first and only prescription sleep medication that has shown no evidence of abuse and dependence and, as a result, has not been designated as a controlled substance by the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA). With the exception of ROZEREM, all other prescription medications indicated for insomnia are classified as Schedule IV controlled substances by the DEA. Additionally, ROZEREM is the first prescription insomnia medication with a new therapeutic mechanism of action in 35 years, and will be available for patients by late September...

ROZEREM (ramelteon) has a unique therapeutic mechanism of action that selectively targets two receptors located in the brain’s suprachiasmatic nucleus (SCN). The SCN is known as the body’s “master clock” because it regulates 24-hour, or circadian, rhythms including the sleep-wake cycle...

Technorati Tags: Rozerem, Ramelteon, Melatonin, FDA, Sleep, Insomnia, Takeda