Key takeaways
Dayvigo (lemborexant) and zaleplon (Sonata) are both medications used to treat insomnia, but they work in different ways and have some key differences. Dayvigo is an orexin receptor antagonist that helps you fall asleep and stay asleep by blocking a chemical in your brain that promotes wakefulness. Zaleplon, on the other hand, is a sedative-hypnotic that works on GABA receptors to make you drowsy and help you fall asleep quickly, but it doesn't help you stay asleep. Dayvigo is only available as a brand-name medication, which can make it more expensive, while zaleplon is available as a lower-cost generic. Dayvigo is taken right before bed and requires at least 7 hours of sleep, whereas zaleplon works in about 20 to 30 minutes and is also best taken right before bed. Both medications can cause next-day drowsiness and have risks of dependence and unusual sleep behaviors, but zaleplon is typically used for short-term treatment and may cause withdrawal symptoms if stopped suddenly.
