Ambien Vs Belsomra: Key Differences, & Which One Works Best for Insomnia?

Sleepless nights can drive a good man to madness. That feeling of not being able to fall or stay asleep even when you desperately want to can definitely take its toll on your mental and physical health. In scenarios like this your doctor may suggest you to take some sleeping pills. Though there are several sleeping pills to choose from – Ambien and Belsomra are two of the most-prescribed medicines for treating insomnia. The only logical question that comes to mind right now is why these two? And if they both treat insomnia then what exactly is the difference between Ambien and Belsomra? And if there is a difference then which is stronger Ambien or Belsomra? We will try to answer all your questions by comparing Ambien vs Belsomra in this article. 

What is Ambien & How does it work?

Ambien (zolpidem) is a sedative-hypnotic medication used to treat people with insomnia. It is mostly prescribed for a short term usage only. Ambien binds to the GABAA receptor and enhances GABA in your brain. GABA is the calming neuroreceptor in your brain and by enhancing it you feel the calming sensation. Ambien acts like a CNS depressant and slows down the brain’s activity. Making you all fall asleep quicker. It comes from the group of Z-drugs. On top of that it is a controlled substance that means it carries a risk of dependency which means taking Ambien every night can be risky.

What is Belsomra & How does it work?

Belsomra (suvorexant) is a prescription medication used to treat insomnia mostly in adults. It is a dual orexin receptor antagonist (DORA). It blocks the chemicals that make you wake up from your sleep called orexin. This allows you to get a natural and longer-lasting sleep. It is more suitable for long-term usage as its working mechanism is quite new and it is has a much lower risk of forming dependency. Mostly recommended for adults with chronic insomnia. It should only be taken if you can have 7 to 8 hours of sleep. Even though the dependency risk is low, it is still is a controlled substance due to the risk of misuse. 

Ambien Vs Belsomra: What’s the Difference?

Even though Ambien and Belsomra are both prescribed medications to treat insomnia but their working mechanism is different from one another. Other than that, there is much difference between Ambien and Belsomra when it comes to how fast they work and how long. Ambien typically works faster (15–30 mins) while Belsomra may take 30–60 minutes. Ambien addiction is at a higher risk. Belsomra generally has a lower risk of dependence but can cause side effects like headache or vivid dreams. Belsomra has a longer half-life (12 hours) than Ambien ( 2 – 3 hours). And if you are having trouble falling asleep then you may want to choose Ambien but if you are having problems staying asleep through the night then Belsomra might be the way to go. 

Here is an Ambien vs Belsomra table comparison to make you better understand the difference:

Features	Ambien	Belsomra
Drug Class	Sedative-hypnotic (Z-drug)	Orexin receptor antagonist
Working Mechanism	Enhances GABA	Blocks wakefulness chemicals
Primery Use	Falling Asleep	Staying Asleep
Onset Of Action	15-30 mins	30-60 mins
Half Life	2-3 hours	12 hours
Dependence Risk	High	Low
Generic Availability	Yes (Zolpidem)	No (Brand only)

Potential risks 

As Ambien and Belsomra’s effects are quite similar, so are their side effects. They do carry some similar side effects but not all of them are the same. Some common side effects that both of them carry are:

• Headaches
• Dizziness
• Drowsines
• Diarrhea
• Fatiuge

Now for the different side effects of Ambien and Belsomra

Ambien:

• Nausea
• lightheaded
• Muscle pain
• Grogginess
• Memory loss
• Dependency 

Belsomra:

• Nightmares
• Respiratory track infection 
• Dry mouth
• Cough 
• Temporary muscle weakness
• Sleep paralysis 

Both of them are controlled substances. That means both of them can cause dependency and addiction and if you try to quit them all of a sudden then they are accompanied by some withdrawal effects. 

Withdrawal effects 

Ambien and Belsomra both have the potential to cause withdrawal effects if tried to stop abruptly. Symptoms like anxiety, restless feeling and rebound insomnia are the most common. Ambien withdrawal is riskier than Belsomra. Ambien withdrawal can sometimes cause seizures while Belsomra withdrawal is much less common.

So which is better Ambien or Belsomra? If you want to fall asleep quicker then Ambien is better for you. If the need is to stay asleep through the night without disruption then Belsomra is the obvious choice. So basically which of them is better for you completely depends on what your needs are and what your doctor wants you to take. 

Can You Take Ambien And Belsomra Together?

Absolutely NOT! You should not take Ambien and Belsomra together unless and until your doctor has ordered you to do so. Both of them are CNS depressants and they work in different ways but taking them both together increases the risk of you going into a completely sedated state. We are talking about sleepwalking, extreme drowsiness or even worse – sleep driving. Both of these medicines can slow down your breathing and taking them together can be very dangerous in that sense. Now if you have already taken them together, go see your doctor as soon as possible.

When To Visit The Doctor?

If you have stopped taking these medicines and are now facing withdrawal effects  or if you are addicted to any of the substances and are just tired of facing the same side effects again and again then you should visit your doctor. If you feel any sleep abnormality like sleepwalking or sleep-talking, then it’s definitely a sign that there has been an overdose. Or even if you are just simply trying to quit and are facing some challenges in doing so. It is okay to see your doctor at the very first sign of discomfort. Quitting an addiction like this may be hard but with strong willpower and a little assistance from prescription drug addiction treatment and Ambien addiction treatment, it can be made easier. 

FAQs

Conslusion

Is Belsomra similar to Ambien? No but they both are used to treat the same condition. And is Belsomra better than Ambien for sleep? The answer to that might be subjective and dependent on personal needs.  Both drugs can be excellent treatments for conditions like insomnia if they are taken carefully according to prescription. Altering and experimenting with these medicines can be harmful. So, what to choose -Ambien or Belsomra? Let your doctor be the one who decides that.