Comparative Pharmacology
Head-to-head clinical analysis: AMBIEN CR versus SONATA.
Peer-Reviewed Evidence
Head-to-head clinical analysis: AMBIEN CR versus SONATA.
AMBIEN CR vs SONATA
Comparing the clinical profiles, pharmacokinetic behaviors, and safety indices of these two therapeutic agents.
AMBIEN CR's active ingredient is zolpidem, a non-benzodiazepine hypnotic that binds selectively to the benzodiazepine-1 (BZ1) receptor subtype on the GABA-A receptor complex, potentiating GABAergic inhibition and promoting sleep.
Zaleplon is a non-benzodiazepine hypnotic that selectively binds to the benzodiazepine type 1 (BZ1) receptor subtype on the gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) A receptor complex, potentiating GABA-mediated chloride ion influx and neuronal inhibition.
12.5 mg orally once daily immediately before bedtime; lower dose of 6.25 mg may be considered. Not to exceed 12.5 mg per day.
10 mg orally at bedtime; range 5-20 mg; maximum 20 mg per day.
None Documented
None Documented
Zolpidem immediate-release: ~2.5 h (range 1.4–3.8 h); modified-release (Ambien CR): ~2.8 h (range 1.6–4.5 h). Clinical note: Half-life increased in hepatic impairment and elderly.
Terminal elimination half-life is approximately 1 hour (range 0.7–1.7 h) in healthy adults; elderly patients and those with hepatic impairment may have prolonged half-life (up to 2–3 h).
Primarily renal (80% as metabolites, <5% unchanged), minor fecal (<10%)
Approximately 83% of administered radioactivity is excreted in urine (with less than 1% as unchanged drug) and 17% in feces.
Category C
Category C
Sedative-Hypnotic
Sedative-Hypnotic