Differences Between Lunesta & Ambien

Both Lunesta and Ambien are prescription medications used to help you relax and get a full night's sleep and are commonly used to treat insomnia. Despite this similarity, there are several differences between Lunesta and Ambien.

Efficacy

All sleep medications lose their effectiveness over time. In clinical trials published by the FDA, Lunesta continued to be effective for up to six months of usage, while Ambien lost effectiveness after 35 days.

Appearance

Depending on the dosage, Lunesta tablets are either dark blue, white or light blue and have the letter S followed by "193", "191" or "190" on the surface. Ambien tablets are pink or white and have the letters "AMB" followed by "5" or "10."

Types of Common Side Effects

While both Lunesta and Ambien can cause dizziness, other common side effects differ. For Lunesta these include headaches, indigestion and nausea, while the most common side effects of Ambien are excessive drowsiness, allergies and sinus infections.

Somnambulism

Ambien has the potential to cause somnambulatory behavior such as sleep-walking and even sleep-driving. The FDA does not report such side effects for Lunesta.

Reproduction

While both drugs are typically not prescribed during pregnancy, FDA trials revealed that use of Lunesta resulted in decreased fertility in both men and women. Ambien produced no such results.

References

• FDA Reporting: Lunesta
• FDA Reporting: Ambien