Zaleplon Drug Details
Therapeutic Class:
Non-benzodiazepine sedative-hypnotics (Z drugs)
Forms:
Capsule
Administration:
By mouth
Therapeutic Uses:
Insomnia (trouble falling asleep)
Controlled Status:
Schedule IV controlled substance
Zaleplon Drug Class
Zaleplon (zah-lep-lohn) is a non-benzodiazepine hypnotic agent, also called Z drugs.
Zaleplon Age Range
Zaleplon is approved for use in adults. The safety and efficacy of this medication in pediatric patients under 18 years of age have not been established.
Zaleplon Uses
Zaleplon Uses
Zaleplon is used to treat insomnia (difficulty falling asleep). It helps with sleep induction (helps in falling asleep faster) but does not increase sleep duration or reduce the number of nighttime awakenings. Zaleplon is not for chronic insomnia. It is for short-term use only (typically 7-10 days).
There may be other uses of zaleplon—your doctor or health system pharmacists can give you further zaleplon drug information.
Zaleplon Mechanism of Action
Zaleplon induces sleep by binding to GABA receptors in the central nervous system. Gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) is an inhibitory neurotransmitter (a natural chemical in the brain that slows brain activity).
Zaleplon Doses
Zaleplon comes as a 5 mg and 10 mg capsule to take by mouth once daily immediately before bedtime or after going to bed and experiencing trouble falling asleep. The usual dose of zaleplon is 10 mg just before bedtime. People with a low body weight, elderly patients, and those with hepatic impairment (liver disease) should take a lower dose (5 mg) of zaleplon. Rarely, some patients need to take 20 mg.
Zaleplon Directions
How To Use Zaleplon
Zaleplon comes in the form of a capsule to be taken by mouth once daily before bedtime or after going to bed and being unable to fall asleep. You should know that taking zaleplon with a heavy, high-fat meal can reduce its absorption and make it less effective.
Before taking a dose of zaleplon, make sure you can get a full night’s sleep (meaning, you have at least 7-8 hours of sleep time before you need to get out of bed). This medicine helps with sleep onset (it helps you sleep faster). You will start feeling sleepy within 15 minutes of taking a dose of zaleplon. Getting up too soon after taking zaleplon can cause severe drowsiness, dizziness, memory problems, coordination problems, and hallucinations.
Read the prescription label and patient information carefully and take zaleplon exactly as prescribed. Do not increase the dose, dosing frequency, or treatment duration without your doctor’s approval.
Zaleplon is used to treat insomnia on a short-term basis, typically 7-10 days. You may have more difficulty falling asleep for the first few nights of zaleplon treatment, but this will get better. Tell your doctor if you continue to have trouble sleeping or if your insomnia symptoms are getting worse after starting zaleplon.
Do not stop zaleplon therapy suddenly. Doing so can cause unpleasant withdrawal symptoms like feeling sick, upset stomach, vomiting, sweating, shakiness, muscle cramps, and rarely, seizures.
Zaleplon is a Schedule IV controlled substance due to the risk of misuse, drug abuse, and addiction. In other words, this medicine is habit-forming. Do not take zaleplon for longer than prescribed without your doctor’s approval.
Missed dose: Zaleplon is taken as needed. If you are taking it on schedule and miss a dose, take it as soon as you remember. Remember to only take zaleplon if you can remain in bed for 7-8 hours. If it is too late to take zaleplon, skip the missed dose and take the next dose the next night. Never take a double dose or extra medicine to make up for a missed dose.
Storage: Store zaleplon at room temperature (between 15-30° C or 59-86° F) away from moisture, heat, and direct light in its original container, tightly closed. Do not store medications in the bathroom where they can be exposed to moisture and heat. Keep all medications safely out of reach of children and pets.
Unused medicine: Unused zaleplon should be disposed of in a way that other people, children, and pets cannot get to them. Do not throw zaleplon in the trash or flush it down the toilet. The best way to dispose of expired or unneeded zaleplon is through a drug take-back program or your local waste disposal company. Learn more about proper medication disposal.
NOTE: This medication guide is a summary and may not contain all possible drug information on zaleplon. The information contained here may not be up-to-date. This sheet is for information purposes only. If you have questions about zaleplon, talk to your doctor for medical advice
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Zaleplon Side Effects
Zaleplon Side Effects
Common side effects of zaleplon are listed below. Call your doctor if these adverse effects are severe or persist after a few days.
- Drowsiness
- Lightheadedness or dizziness
- Poor coordination
- Headache
- Burning, numbness, or tingling in the hands or feet
- Vision changes (blurry vision, double vision)
- Eye pain
- Loss of appetite
- Noise sensitivity
- Changes in smell
- Pain during menstrual periods
Some of the adverse effects of zaleplon are more serious. Call your doctor right away or seek emergency medical attention if you develop the following severe symptoms:
- An unusual or allergic reaction (skin rash, hives, itching)
- Swelling of the eyes, face, lips, tongue, or throat
- Hoarseness
- Difficulty breathing or swallowing
The above list may not include all the adverse reactions reported with zaleplon use. Contact your healthcare provider if the adverse reactions are unusual or severe or if they do not get better over time. You can also report unusual or severe adverse effects to the Food and Drug Administration at 1-800-FDA-1088.
Zaleplon Overdose: In case of an overdose of zaleplon, call your doctor immediately. You can also call your local poison control center or the national poison control center at 1-800-222-1222. Call 911 if someone has collapsed, stopped breathing, had a seizure, or is unresponsive. Overdose symptoms of zaleplon may include extreme sleepiness, confusion, loss of muscle tone, lack of coordination, respiratory depression (slowed or shallow breathing), or loss of consciousness (coma).
Source: FDA
Zaleplon Warnings
Zaleplon Risks, Warnings, and Complications
Zaleplon can cause or worsen health problems in some people. Talk to your doctor or pharmacist about other medications for insomnia if you are at an increased risk of adverse reactions from this drug. Some of the risks of taking zaleplon include:
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Precautions Before Starting Zaleplon
Tell your doctor if you have ever had an allergic reaction to zaleplon, any of the active or inactive ingredients in zaleplon capsules, other sleep medications, tartrazine yellow dye, or any other drugs. Your pharmacy can give you a list of ingredients.
Give your doctor and pharmacist a complete list of your medications, including prescription and nonprescription medicines, vitamins, nutritional supplements, and herbal products. This can help avoid possible interactions between zaleplon and your other medicines.
Give your doctor a complete medical history. Zaleplon may not be safe for people with certain medical conditions such as alcohol, prescription drugs, street drug abuse, mental illness or suicidal thinking or behaviors, seizure disorders, lung disease, severe renal impairment (kidney disease), and liver disease.
Talk with your health care provider about the benefits versus risks of taking zaleplon if you are 65 years of age or older. There may be other safer sleep medications available for older adults.
Tell your doctor if you are pregnant, could be pregnant, plan to get pregnant, or are breast-feeding.
Precautions During Use of Zaleplon
Keep all your medical and lab appointments while on zaleplon. Call your doctor if you do not notice an improvement in your insomnia after 7-10 days of treatment with zaleplon. You should know that zaleplon can reduce sleep latency (time taken to fall asleep), but it does not affect sleep duration or the number of nighttime awakenings.
Avoid heavy meals before taking zaleplon. Eating food that is fatty or greasy can affect the absorption of zaleplon and make it less effective.
Zaleplon can cause drowsiness, dizziness, reduced mental alertness, slowed reaction time, coordination problems, and vision changes the next day, which can increase the risk of falls and injuries. Be careful if you get out of bed during the night. Do not drive or do other hazardous activities until you know how zaleplon affects psychomotor performance.
Do not drink alcohol while on zaleplon. Alcohol has CNS-depressant effects and can make the side effects of zaleplon worse.
Tell your doctor right away if you or members of your household report any mental health changes or unexpected behaviors such as unusual aggressiveness, personality changes like being more outgoing, hallucinations, out-of-body sensations, new or worsening depression, memory problems, suicidal thoughts or behaviors, or other mood changes. Also, promptly report any complex sleep behaviors, such as sleepwalking, to your physician. Your family members should know when and how to seek care if you cannot do so yourself.
Tell your doctor if you become pregnant while on zaleplon.
Tell all your healthcare providers you are on zaleplon before any surgery, including dental procedures.
Zaleplon Drug Interactions
Concomitant use of certain medicines with zaleplon can affect how the medicines work and increase the risk of severe adverse effects. Some of the medications that can interact with zaleplon include:
- Tricyclic antidepressants such as imipramine
- Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) such as paroxetine
- Selective serotonin-norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors (SNRIs) such as venlafaxine
- Antihistamines such as promethazine and diphenhydramine
- Antipsychotic drugs such as thioridazine
- Antitubercular drugs such as rifampin
- Antiepileptic drugs such as carbamazepine, phenobarbital, and phenytoin
- Certain antibiotics, such as erythromycin
- Antifungal agents like ketoconazole
- H2 blockers such as cimetidine
- Anticoagulants or blood thinners such as warfarin
- Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs such as ibuprofen
The above list may not include all the potential drug interactions of zaleplon. Give your doctor or pharmacist a complete list of your medications, including prescription drugs, over-the-counter medicines, nutritional supplements, and herbal remedies. Also, tell your healthcare professional if you smoke, drink alcohol, or use illegal drugs because some of these substances can cause serious health complications when used with prescription medications.
Zaleplon Pros & Cons
Zaleplon Pros and Cons
- Zaleplon can help with sleep induction if you have insomnia (problems falling asleep).
- It has a relatively shorter elimination half life (does not stay in the system as long as some other sleeping pills) and is therefore less likely to cause severe drowsiness the next day.
- There is a lower-cost generic available.
- This sleep medicine does not affect sleep duration or the number of nighttime awakenings.
- Zaleplon is for short-term treatment of insomnia only. You should not take this medicine for more than 7-10 days without your doctor’s approval.
- This medication is habit-forming and carries a risk of tolerance, dependence, and withdrawal effects.
- It can cause serious adverse events like complex sleep behaviors.
Zaleplon Pharmacist Tips
Zaleplon Tips from Pharmacists
Take zaleplon only as needed for the shortest time possible.
You should know that taking zaleplon with a heavy or fatty meal can make it less effective.
Sleep onset is in 15-20 minutes after taking a zaleplon dose. Therefore, you should take the medicine immediately before bedtime.
Do not take zaleplon in the middle of the night. This medicine can have adverse effects such as drowsiness, dizziness, lack of coordination, and memory problems the next day if you don’t sleep for 7-8 hours after taking it.
Avoid drinking alcohol while on zaleplon. Alcohol has CNS depressant effects and can increase your risk of serious adverse events.
Call your doctor immediately if your family members report complex sleep behaviors like sleepwalking, sleep driving, making phone calls, etc., while not fully awake.
Tell your doctor immediately if you develop any bizarre behaviors, suicidal thinking, or worsening depression and anxiety.
Zaleplon can cause dizziness, drowsiness, and reduced alertness. Do not drive or operate heavy machinery until you know how this medicine affects you.
Zaleplon Rx Savings Tips
Zaleplon Rx Savings Tips
Zaleplon is a generic medication and it is available at significantly lower prices than the brand name. Brand name Sonata (discontinued) and generic zaleplon contain the same medicine and are equally effective and safe. Like with most medications, the generic version offers better value. A BuzzRx zaleplon coupon can result in big savings on the generic form of the drug. With a BuzzRx discount card, savings card, or discount coupons, the medication could cost you a fraction of retail prices. Zaleplon may be under $13.00 for 30 capsules of the 10 mg dose at Walmart, Walgreens, Rite Aid, CVS Pharmacy, and other participating pharmacies with a BuzzRx discount card or free coupon. For the biggest discounts on zaleplon, give the checkout clerk your BuzzRx zaleplon discount coupon when you drop off your prescriptions.
Lowest Price for Zaleplon | |
| Brand N/A | Generic $12.50 |
VIEW DISCOUNTS Pricing based on most commonly-filled versions. Select the strength and quantity of your medication for the most accurate pricing. | |
Zaleplon Common Questions
Common Questions about Zaleplon
Is zaleplon a benzodiazepine?No, zaleplon is not a benzodiazepine. It is a non-benzodiazepine hypnotic agent. These sleep medications are commonly called Z drugs. |
Is zaleplon a good sleeping pill?Zaleplon is a good sleeping pill for people who have difficulty falling asleep. However, it does not affect sleep duration (how many hours you stay asleep) or reduce the number of times you get up at night. There may be other better options if you have trouble staying asleep or get up too early in the morning. |
Can I take zaleplon every night?You can take zaleplon every night for up to 7-10 days at the prescribed dose. This medication is not for chronic insomnia (long-term sleep difficulties). Talk to your doctor if your sleep difficulties do not improve after taking zaleplon for a week or 10 days. This medication carries a risk of serious adverse effects and is habit-forming. |
What is the fastest acting sleeping pill?Some of the fastest-acting sleeping pills are non-benzodiazepine sedative-hypnotics (Z drugs) such as zaleplon (previously sold as Sonata) and zolpidem (Ambien). These are short acting medications that reduce sleep latency (time taken for sleep induction). |
Can I take zaleplon in the middle of the night?Do not take zaleplon in the middle of the night. You should take this medicine only if you can get a full night’s sleep after taking a dose. Taking it too late can result in serious adverse events like extreme drowsiness, dizziness, reduced mental alertness, slowed reaction time, and poor coordination the next day. This can put you at risk of falls, accidents, and injuries. |
What is the price of zaleplon without insurance?Without insurance, zaleplon can be as high as $111.91, but with a free BuzzRx prescription discount coupon, you could pay as low as $12.50 for the most common version of this medication. Use the BuzzRx drug price look-up tool to find the lowest discounted price, and be sure to enter the correct dosage, form, and quantity for the most accurate pricing. While generics tend to have the best savings, you can also use your BuzzRx card and coupons to purchase brand-name versions. It never hurts to ask your pharmacist to try BuzzRx when filling or refilling any of your prescription drugs—whether you have insurance or not. |
What is the price of zaleplon with insurance?Ask your pharmacist or insurance provider for your copay price on zaleplon—Copay amounts vary depending on the type of insurance plan you have and if there is a deductible to reach before prescription drug coverage begins. You could save up to 80% on your prescription medication with a free BuzzRx discount coupon for zaleplon. When using the BuzzRx lookup tool to find the price of your medicine, be sure to enter the correct dosage, form, and quantity to receive the most accurate discounted pricing. It never hurts to ask your pharmacist to try BuzzRx when filling or refilling any of your prescriptions—whether you have insurance or not. |
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