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Zaleplon

Zaleplon Side Effects

Robert Chad Hakim, PharmD, BCCCPCydnee Ng, PharmD
Reviewed by Robert Chad Hakim, PharmD, BCCCP, Cydnee Ng, PharmD
Last reviewed on May 2, 2025

The following side effects may get better over time as your body gets used to the medication. Let your healthcare provider know immediately if you continue to experience these symptoms or if they worsen over time.

Common Side Effects

  • Headache (up to 42%)
  • Dizziness (up to 9%)
  • Nausea (up to 8%)
  • Weakness (up to 7%)
  • Sleepiness the next day (6%)
  • Stomach pain (up to 6%)

Less Common Side Effects

Zaleplon serious side effects

Contact your healthcare provider immediately if you experience any of the following.

  • Doing things while not fully awake (e.g., sleepwalking, cooking, eating, talking on the phone, having sex, driving)
  • Abnormal thoughts or behavior: being aggressive or irritated, acting strangely, hallucinations
  • Serious allergic reaction: swelling of the face, lips, tongue, neck, or throat; tightness in the throat; closing of the throat; trouble breathing; nausea; vomiting
When do Zaleplon possible side effects begin and end?
Time passed since treatment started:
M
H
D
W
M
Drowsiness
Dizziness or lightheadedness
Memory problems
Trouble with coordination

Source: DailyMed

The following Zaleplon side effects have also been reported

Along with its needed effects, a medicine may cause some unwanted effects. Although not all of these side effects may occur, if they do occur they may need medical attention.

Check with your doctor immediately if any of the following side effects occur:

Less common

Anxiety

blurred or double vision

chest pain

confusion about identity, place, and time

discouragement

false or unusual sense of well-being

fast, irregular, pounding, or racing heartbeat or pulse

feeling sad or empty

fever

general feeling of discomfort or illness

hives, skin rash

irritability

lack of appetite

lightheadedness

loss of interest or pleasure

not feeling like oneself

shakiness and unsteady walk

tightness in the chest

trouble concentrating

trouble sleeping

troubled breathing

unsteadiness, trembling, or other problems with muscle control or coordination

unusual weakness or tiredness

Rare

Anxiety

attack, assault, or force

black, tarry stools

bladder pain

bloody or cloudy urine

burning, crawling, itching, numbness, prickling, "pins and needles", or tingling feelings

change in walking and balance

chills

cold sweats

cough

crying

decreased awareness or responsiveness

deep or fast breathing with dizziness

delusions of persecution, mistrust, suspiciousness, or combativeness

difficult, burning, or painful urination

difficulty swallowing

dizziness

dizziness, faintness, or lightheadedness when getting up from lying or sitting position

dry mouth

fainting

false beliefs that cannot be changed by facts

feeling of unreality

fever

frequent urge to urinate

irregular heartbeat

irritability

itching skin

lack of feeling or emotion

light-colored stools

lower back or side pain

nausea

numbness of the feet, hands, and around the mouth

pale skin

poor insight and judgment

problems with memory or speech

puffiness or swelling of the eyelids or around the eyes, face, lips, or tongue

quick to react or overreact emotionally

rapidly changing moods

restlessness

seeing, hearing, or feeling things that are not there

sense of detachment from self or body

severe sleepiness

sore throat

sores, ulcers, or white spots on the lips or in the mouth

stomach pain

swollen glands

thoughts of killing oneself or changes in behavior

tightness in the chest

trouble recognizing objects

trouble thinking and planning

trouble walking

troubled breathing with exertion

uncaring

unusual bleeding or bruising

vomiting

yellow eyes or skin

unease or dissatisfaction with life

Get emergency help immediately if any of the following symptoms of overdose occur:

Symptoms of overdose

Confusion

clumsiness or unsteadiness, severe

dizziness or fainting

drowsiness, severe

weak muscle tone

troubled breathing

unusual dullness or feeling sluggish

Some side effects may occur that usually do not need medical attention. These side effects may go away during treatment as your body adjusts to the medicine. Also, your health care professional may be able to tell you about ways to prevent or reduce some of these side effects. Check with your health care professional if any of the following side effects continue or are bothersome or if you have any questions about them:

More common

Drowsiness

headache

muscle aches

sleepiness or unusual drowsiness

stuffy or runny nose

Less common

Back pain

being forgetful

belching

body aches or pain

congestion

diarrhea

difficulty having a bowel movement

difficulty with moving

double vision

feeling of constant movement of self or surroundings

heartburn

hoarseness

indigestion

longer or heavier menstrual periods

loss of memory

muscle pain or stiffness

pain or tenderness around the eyes and cheekbones

seeing double

sensation of spinning

stomach discomfort

tender, swollen glands in the neck

unusual drowsiness, dullness, tiredness, weakness, or feeling of sluggishness

voice changes

Rare

Bad, unusual, or unpleasant (after) taste

blemishes on the skin

blindness

blurred vision

breast pain

change in near or distance vision

change in taste

changes in patterns and rhythms of speech

decreased interest in sexual intercourse

difficulty in focusing the eyes

eye pain

feeling of warmth

frequent urge to defecate

inability to have or keep an erection

increased appetite

increased sensitivity of the skin to sunlight

increased sweating

itching of the vagina or genital area

lack or loss of strength

loss in sexual ability, desire, drive, or performance

pain during sexual intercourse

paleness of the skin

pimples

redness of the face, neck, arms, and occasionally, upper chest

redness or other discoloration of the skin

severe sunburn

slurred speech

stomach upset

straining while passing stool

tearing

thick, white vaginal discharge with no odor or with a mild odor

weight loss

Other side effects not listed may also occur in some patients. If you notice any other effects, check with your healthcare professional.

Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to the FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.

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