Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsUnderstanding BelsomraUnderstanding AmbienPreventing Side EffectsWho Should Avoid Belsomra and/or Ambien?Summary
Table of ContentsView All
View All
Table of Contents
Understanding Belsomra
Understanding Ambien
Preventing Side Effects
Who Should Avoid Belsomra and/or Ambien?
Summary
Belsomra (suvorexant) and Ambien (zolpidem) are both medications taken to treat insomnia or difficulty sleeping. These medications work differently, and one or the other may benefit certain people more or less.
A couple of key differences include how fast they work as well as their addiction or dependency risks. Ambien may be a better choice if falling asleep quickly is a priority.However, Belsomra may be better for helping you maintain sleep throughout the night.
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Belsomra is an orexin receptor antagonist. Orexin is aneurotransmitter, a chemical in the brain that attaches to the orexin receptor 1 (OX1R) or orexin receptor 2 (OX2R). These receptors regulate sleep and wakefulness, stress responses, and appetite.
Belsomra’s only approved use is for adults withinsomniaor difficulty falling asleep or staying asleep.
Benefits of Belsomra
Some benefits of Belsomra include:
Side Effects of Belsomra
Common side effects of Belsomra include:
Less common side effects of Belsomra include:
Ambien is a sedative-hypnotic medication generally taken in the short term to treat insomnia. It binds to the gamma-aminobutyric acid-A (GABA-A) receptor at the same site wherebenzodiazepine medicationsbind. This causes the receptor to attract more of the GABA neurotransmitter, which results in less neuron firing. The outward result is a sedative effect that helps induce and maintain sleep.
You may hear Ambien referred to as a “Z-drug.” This is a group of medications that includes Ambien (zolpidem),Lunesta (eszopiclone), Imovane (zopiclone), and Sonata (zaleplon). All of these have mechanisms of action that are similar to those of Ambien.
These are also all U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA)-scheduled drugs, which means they have some extra restrictions and regulations that prescribers and pharmacies must follow when dispensing them.
Benefits of Ambien
Benefits of Ambien include:
Side Effects of Ambien
More common side effects include:
Some potentially more serious side effects include:
Avoid combining Belsomra and Ambien with other medications that can causerespiratory depression, or trouble breathing, such as narcotics or benzodiazepine medications. These medications can cause drowsiness or sedation and taking them together is more likely to cause side effects.
Though sleep medications can be effective, it’s always best to try to address the root cause of sleep problems whenever possible to avoid side effects or even dependence on unnecessary medications.
Frequent contributors to sleep difficulties include:
Despite its effectiveness, some individuals should refrain from taking both Belsomra and Ambien. Some examples of these individuals or groups include:
Those who should avoid Belsomra include:
People for whom Ambien is not the best choice include:
Belsomra and Ambien can both contribute to better sleep, but they work differently and may have properties that are better suited for certain individuals and types of insomnia.
If your main problem is that it takes you a long time to fall asleep, taking Ambien may be a better choice for you. If your sleep problem is frequently waking up throughout the night, Belsomra may be worth trying first.
Ambien is a Schedule 4 controlled substance that comes with a higher risk of abuse potential and dependence, so if you have a history of either of these conditions, you may want to avoid Ambien altogether.
5 SourcesVerywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.U.S. Food and Drug Administration.Ambien prescribing information.U.S. Food and Drug Administration.Belsomra prescribing information.De Crescenzo F, D’Alò GL, Ostinelli EG, et al.Comparative effects of pharmacological interventions for the acute and long-term management of insomnia disorder in adults: a systematic review and network meta-analysis.Lancet. 2022 Jul 16;400(10347):170-184.Wisden W, Yu X, Franks NP.GABA receptors and the pharmacology of sleep.Handb Exp Pharmacol. 2019;253:279-304.Sateia MJ, Buysse DJ, Krystal AD, et al.Clinical practice guideline for the pharmacologic treatment of chronic insomnia in adults: an American Academy of Sleep Medicine clinical practice guideline.J Clin Sleep Med. 2017 Feb 15;13(2):307-349.
5 Sources
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.U.S. Food and Drug Administration.Ambien prescribing information.U.S. Food and Drug Administration.Belsomra prescribing information.De Crescenzo F, D’Alò GL, Ostinelli EG, et al.Comparative effects of pharmacological interventions for the acute and long-term management of insomnia disorder in adults: a systematic review and network meta-analysis.Lancet. 2022 Jul 16;400(10347):170-184.Wisden W, Yu X, Franks NP.GABA receptors and the pharmacology of sleep.Handb Exp Pharmacol. 2019;253:279-304.Sateia MJ, Buysse DJ, Krystal AD, et al.Clinical practice guideline for the pharmacologic treatment of chronic insomnia in adults: an American Academy of Sleep Medicine clinical practice guideline.J Clin Sleep Med. 2017 Feb 15;13(2):307-349.
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
U.S. Food and Drug Administration.Ambien prescribing information.U.S. Food and Drug Administration.Belsomra prescribing information.De Crescenzo F, D’Alò GL, Ostinelli EG, et al.Comparative effects of pharmacological interventions for the acute and long-term management of insomnia disorder in adults: a systematic review and network meta-analysis.Lancet. 2022 Jul 16;400(10347):170-184.Wisden W, Yu X, Franks NP.GABA receptors and the pharmacology of sleep.Handb Exp Pharmacol. 2019;253:279-304.Sateia MJ, Buysse DJ, Krystal AD, et al.Clinical practice guideline for the pharmacologic treatment of chronic insomnia in adults: an American Academy of Sleep Medicine clinical practice guideline.J Clin Sleep Med. 2017 Feb 15;13(2):307-349.
U.S. Food and Drug Administration.Ambien prescribing information.
U.S. Food and Drug Administration.Belsomra prescribing information.
De Crescenzo F, D’Alò GL, Ostinelli EG, et al.Comparative effects of pharmacological interventions for the acute and long-term management of insomnia disorder in adults: a systematic review and network meta-analysis.Lancet. 2022 Jul 16;400(10347):170-184.
Wisden W, Yu X, Franks NP.GABA receptors and the pharmacology of sleep.Handb Exp Pharmacol. 2019;253:279-304.
Sateia MJ, Buysse DJ, Krystal AD, et al.Clinical practice guideline for the pharmacologic treatment of chronic insomnia in adults: an American Academy of Sleep Medicine clinical practice guideline.J Clin Sleep Med. 2017 Feb 15;13(2):307-349.
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