That’s why these medications come with a boxed warning for these behaviors, which is the FDA’s most serious warning. These can be dangerous and even lead to death. Behaviors like sleepwalking and driving while asleep are more common in people who take these medications. Other side effects of Sonata can include:Īlthough rare, Lunesta, Ambien, and Sonata come with a higher risk of sleep behaviors than other sleep medications. Compared to Lunesta and Ambien, Sonata seemed to wear off a bit sooner in one clinical trial. Sonata is usually taken orally as a 5 mg, 10 mg, or 20 mg dose, and it’s best taken right before bedtime. Other side effects of Ambien can include: However, the FDA has recommended using a 5 mg dose (6.25 mg dose for Ambien CR) as the starting dose because of the risk of drowsiness the next day after taking a dose. Ambien CR (zolpidem ER), the extended-release version of zolpidem, is taken at a dose of 6.25 mg or 12.5 mg daily just before bedtime. Other side effects of Lunesta can include:Ībnormal thinking, including hallucinationsĪmbien is usually taken orally as a 5 mg or 10 mg dose once a day, just before you go to bed.

While Lunesta seems to last longer than Ambien or Sonata, experts recommend that you should get at least 7 to 8 hours of sleep before taking any of these medications. This is because of the risk of being drowsy the next day with higher doses. The FDA has recommended starting at the lowest dose (1 mg) and only going up if needed. Lunesta is taken orally just before bedtime, and the usual dose is 1 mg, 2 mg, or 3 mg once daily. So exactly how safe are these sleep medications? Keep reading to learn what studies say about Lunesta, Ambien, and Sonata, including common doses and side effects to consider. But they were developed with the intention to have fewer side effects and less dependence potential than benzodiazepines. These medications are also controlled substances, meaning they can be habit-forming. These three medications are non-benzodiazepines, or “z-drugs,” that help with sleep by causing a hypnotic, calming effect. These are often a generic version of Lunesta (eszopiclone), Ambien (zolpidem), or Sonata (zaleplon). adults use a prescription medication to help them get to sleep and stay asleep.

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