Ambien vs Lunesta: Which Is Stronger For Insomnia? Is It Safe Take Them Together

2 am in the night, struggling to sleep while others are happily sleeping. Then you’re going through insomnia. A common problem faced by many people worldwide. There are many medicines available for it. But Ambien and Lunesta are the best and most commonly prescribed for it. As they are kind of similar and come under the same drug class. So people started comparing them to find out which works better, Ambien or Lunesta? Well, in this blog, we will do a brief comparison of Ambien vs Lunesta to determine which works out to be the best for insomnia.

Know Briefly About Ambien And Lunesta

Feeling uneasy during sleep time or not being able to sleep, this is insomnia, a sleeping disorder. For that, there are chances you might be prescribed Ambien or Lunesta by your health expert. Both work for insomnia and are commonly prescribed. They both belong to sedative-hypnotics. Also, Ambien is a brand name of zolpidem, and Lunesta is a brand name of eszopiclone.

What Is Lunesta?

A fast acting sedative-hypnotics, prescribed to people who are aged above 18. This is a scheduled IV controlled substance and has a risk of addiction, which is why it is mainly prescribed for short-term use only. It works inside the brain and the CNS, improving the performance of a chemical inside the brain called GABA (Gamma-aminobutyric acid). Which releases tension from the body and gives a peaceful sleep. This got approved by the FDA in December 2004.

What Is Ambien?

Ambien has two different forms; one comes with a first layer, which will just make you fall asleep. The second form is Ambien CR, which has two layers that make you fall asleep and stay asleep throughout the night. Your health expert will prescribe according to your condition. It works inside the CNS and binds with GABA, increasing its performance, which releases tension from your body. This gives a relaxing sensation to the body and makes your sleep better. Ambien got approved by the FDA in 1992 and was classified as a Schedule IV controlled substance.

What Is The Difference Between Ambien And Lunesta

Belonging to the same group and working on the same disease doesn’t mean they are totally the same. Ambien and Lunesta differ in some aspects. Let’s understand the differences easily with the help of the table given below.

Factors	Ambien	Lunesta
Forms	Available in two different forms	Available is a single form
Generic name	Zolpidem	eszopiclone
Half-life	2 to 3 hours	5 to 6 hours
Dosage	Initial dosage is about 6.25mg	The initial dosage is about 1 to 3mg
Peak effect	Reaches its peak effect around 1 to 3 hours	Reaches its peak effect around 1 hour

They can also be differentiated in terms of effectiveness. Lunesta’s effect is faster and lasts longer in the body, whereas Ambien is not that long-lasting; that’s why health experts designed better and longer-lasting effects of Ambien are shown in its second form, Ambien CR.

Side Effects

It’s normal to have side effects with potent medications. Not all people with these medications notice side effects. It depends on your body and the dosage amount. Let’s see what other side effects Ambien and Lunesta come with.

Ambien Side Effects

• Diarrhea
• Dizziness
• Changes in sleep behaviour
• Short-term memory problem
• Skin Allergy
• Blurred vision
• Anxiety
• Lack of appetite
• Chest pain
• Dry mouth

Lunesta Side Effects

• Headache
• Cough
• Joint pain
• Fever
• Nausea
• Nerve pain
• Sore throat
• Shivering
• Muscle pain
• Discouragement

Which Is Better, Ambien Or Lunesta?

Its Difficult to find better among them. This mainly depends on the patient’s conditions. For some people Ambien works better, and for some, Lunesta. The effect of Lunesta is faster and lasts longer than that of Ambien. But the second form of Ambien, called Ambien CR, is as effective and long-lasting as Lunesta. Both work better for insomnia and are capable of treating it from normal to severe, but are prescribed to people according to their suitability and condition.

Addiction And Withdrawal Risks Of Ambien And Lunesta

As Ambien is a Schedule IV controlled substance and has a high risk of addiction. If you are facing any addiction symptoms, then go for an addiction treatment for Ambien by consulting your doctor. Similarly, Lunesta is also a Schedule IV controlled Substance and has a risk of addiction. If you are under addiction, then go for treatment for Lunesta addiction by consulting your health expert.

Both are prescribed for short-term use only. But while using the medication, it gives a feeling of dependence to the body, which makes had to discontinue it. Facing withdrawal symptoms is normal for a few days after discontinuing, if facing symptoms for a long time, then consult your health expert for treatment. Some of the basic withdrawal symptoms you might notice are listed below.

• Rebound Insomnia
• Anxiety
• Panic attacks
• Fatigue
• Cramps
• Seizures
• Tremor
• Agitation

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Which is stronger, Ambien or Lunesta?

Both are strong and equally effective. But doesn’t work the same for all people. For some, Ambien works well, and for some, Lunesta. Always use these according to your suitability to see better results.

Are Ambien and Lunesta similar?

Yes, in some aspects they can be similar, but no 100%. As both work for the same disease, belong to the same medication group, and both are also CNS depressants and come under the schedule IV controlled substance.

Can you take Ambien and Lunesta together?

No, as both are CNS depressants, it can overload your CNS and the brain with its effects. Which can lately cause a malfunction. Also, increase the chances of unusual, harmful side effects.

Conclusion

In conclusion, after comparing two sedative-hypnotics, Ambien and Lunesta. We found both are equally better and effective, but can only work better depending on body suitability. These are used for short-term only, as both have chances of addiction. They belong to the same group of medication but also differ in some aspects. As they come with many side effects, use them carefully according to the prescription. If you face anything unusual, then consult your health expert.