What the Foundayo™ documents say about sleep
Foundayo™ is a daily tablet containing orforglipron, a GLP-1 receptor agonist that its label does not describe as a peptide [1]. Its label draws side effects from the two 72-week ATTAIN weight trials and does not mention insomnia, sleep quality or dreams [1]. It does note that 11% of people in those trials had obstructive sleep apnoea at the start [1], a reminder of how common sleep problems already are in this group.
| Document | Sleep entry | Related entries |
|---|---|---|
| US Prescribing Information [1] | None | Reflux disease 6% to 7%, burping 6% to 8%, abdominal pain 13% to 14% (Table 1) |
| US Medication Guide [2] | None | Heartburn and stomach pain among common side effects |
| European Medicines Agency [3] | No product information yet; positive opinion of 15 October 2026 | No EU frequency band |
| Health Canada [4] | No Foundayo™ or orforglipron entry | No monograph |
Sleep terms in the trial registries
The ATTAIN weight trials posted only events seen in at least 5% of a group, and insomnia did not reach that level in any group. Four smaller trials posted every event. They tested trial doses of orforglipron, mostly in type 2 diabetes, which the US label does not cover.
| Trial [source] | Comparison group | Orforglipron groups |
|---|---|---|
| ACHIEVE-1, 40 weeks, double blind [5] | Placebo: insomnia 4 of 138 | Insomnia 3 of 143, 3 of 137, 1 of 141 |
| ACHIEVE-5, 40 weeks, double blind [7] | Placebo: insomnia 0 of 140 | Insomnia 2 of 137, 0 of 132, 1 of 135 |
| ACHIEVE-2, 40 weeks, open label [6] | Dapagliflozin: insomnia 0, sleep disorder 1 of 240 | Insomnia 1 per group of about 240; sleep disorder 2 of 241 on 36 mg |
| ATTAIN-J, Japanese adults with obesity, 72 weeks [8] | Placebo: insomnia 1 of 60 | Insomnia 0 in each group; sleep disorder 1 of 57 |
What the comparison suggests
- Across the double-blind trials, insomnia was neither consistently higher nor lower on orforglipron. In the trial with the most cases, ACHIEVE-1, placebo had the highest share [5].
- The highest dose did not bring more insomnia; in ACHIEVE-1 it had the lowest rate [5].
- ACHIEVE-2 was open label, so participants knew whether they took orforglipron or dapagliflozin, which can affect what people report [6].
- With one to four cases per group, these trials cannot rule out a small effect, and they do not tell you how a particular night went.
Why sleep can still suffer on Foundayo™
From the label: reflux disease, burping, indigestion and abdominal pain are all more common on Foundayo™ than on placebo [1]. MedlinePlus names acid reflux and physical discomfort among health problems that disturb sleep [10]. Nausea, vomiting and diarrhoea are also more frequent during dose escalation and then decrease [1], so a rough patch of nights after a step-up has an obvious candidate cause.
From the label and MedlinePlus: Foundayo™ can lower blood sugar, especially with insulin or a sulfonylurea [1]. MedlinePlus lists trouble sleeping among symptoms of low blood sugar [11]. Night-time lows are not described in the label, but the Medication Guide asks every user to talk with their provider about recognising low blood sugar [2].
Not measured: whether hunger at night, a changed eating pattern or the timing of the daily tablet affects sleep has not been studied for orforglipron.
Causes unrelated to the tablet
MedlinePlus and Cleveland Clinic list many causes of insomnia [10][12]:
- Irregular bedtimes, daytime naps, a noisy or bright bedroom and screens in bed.
- Caffeine late in the day, alcohol, heavy smoking, some cold medicines and diet pills.
- Stress, anxiety, depression and bipolar disorder.
- Pain, an enlarged prostate causing night-time urination, allergies and thyroid problems.
- Sleep apnoea, shift work, jet lag, pregnancy and menopause.
- Age: sleep often becomes lighter and more broken over the years.
What general sources suggest
MedlinePlus says treatment usually starts by reviewing medicines and health problems that may be disturbing sleep, then looking at sleep habits, known as sleep hygiene [10]. Cleveland Clinic describes cognitive behavioural therapy for insomnia (CBT-I) as the first-line treatment, with strategies such as getting up at the same time each day, avoiding naps and avoiding caffeine and alcohol before bed [12].
Both sources caution about sleep aids. MedlinePlus notes that the body quickly gets used to the antihistamines in most over-the-counter sleeping pills [10], and Cleveland Clinic advises talking to a provider before trying herbs or supplements [12]. With Foundayo™ there is an extra reason to check with a pharmacist: the label says the tablet slows stomach emptying and can affect how other oral medicines are absorbed [1].
Points specific to the tablet
The label says Foundayo™ is taken once daily, with or without food, and does not tie the tablet to a time of day [1]. Its levels build up over about a week and its half-life is 29 to 49 hours [1], so moving the time of the tablet is unlikely to change how much drug is in your body at night; any timing change is a question for your prescriber.
Obstructive sleep apnoea is common in people with obesity, and Lilly is testing orforglipron for it in the ATTAIN-OSA trials, whose design was published in 2026 [9]. Until results appear, there is no evidence either way on whether the tablet helps sleep apnoea.
Foundayo™ is a trademark of Eli Lilly and Company. PepLabo is not affiliated with or endorsed by Eli Lilly and Company.
When to get help
| Sign | Who to contact | How fast | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Waking at night sweaty, shaky, confused or with a pounding heart, especially on insulin or a sulfonylurea | Treat low blood sugar as you were taught, then contact your provider | Today | Foundayo™ Medication Guide [2], MedlinePlus [11] |
| Sleepiness that makes driving unsafe | Stop driving and take a break; tell your provider | Today | MedlinePlus [10] |
| Heartburn or stomach pain that keeps you awake and will not settle | Your healthcare provider | At your next appointment | Foundayo™ Medication Guide [2] |
| Insomnia together with feeling sad, anxious or hopeless | Your healthcare provider | At your next appointment | MedlinePlus [10] |
| Sleep problems that persist or get worse despite changes, or side effects from sleep medicines | Your healthcare provider | At your next appointment | Cleveland Clinic [12] |
