Top Brands for Sleep Aids: A Restful Recommendation List

When it comes to getting a good night’s sleep, choosing the right sleeping pill can make all the difference. There are several trusted brands that consistently receive high marks from both consumers and healthcare professionals for their effectiveness and safety. Popular names like Ambien, Lunesta, and Sonata have become go-to options for those struggling with sleep disorders, offering varying formulations that cater to different needs and preferences. If you’re interested in exploring the best sleeping pill brands to find the one that might work for you, read on below to learn more about their unique benefits and considerations.

Illustration of sleeping pills

Best brands of sleeping pills in 2025

Ambien

Ambien, a brand of zolpidem tartrate, is a leading prescription sleep medicine for the short-term treatment of insomnia, particularly effective in reducing sleep latency. It is available in immediate-release and extended-release forms, with the extended-release version helping users both fall asleep and stay asleep. Despite a 31% decline in sleep medication use between 2013 and 2018, Ambien remains a popular choice due to its efficacy, with clinical trials showing its effectiveness for up to 35 days. The recommended doses are 5 mg for women and 5 or 10 mg for men, taken once per night before bedtime. Ambien is not a benzodiazepine but works similarly by enhancing the effects of the neurotransmitter GABA. For more details, visit the official Ambien website.

Lunesta

Lunesta, marketed under the brand name Lunivia in Europe and Japan, is a prominent sedative-hypnotic used to treat insomnia, affecting chemicals in the brain to promote sleep. Approved by the FDA in 2004, Lunesta has been shown to reduce the time it takes to fall asleep and increase total sleep time, with effects beginning within 30 minutes. It was the 232nd most commonly prescribed medication in the United States in 2020, with over 1 million prescriptions. Despite facing generic erosion, Lunesta remained a significant player, with US sales of approximately $567 million in the year following its approval. The drug's efficacy includes shortening the initial time to fall asleep by 15 minutes and increasing sleep duration by 37 minutes compared to placebo.

Sonata

Sonata, a brand under the umbrella of Lunesta, is a prominent player in the sleeping pills market, particularly known for its non-benzodiazepine sleep aid. This market is projected to grow at a CAGR of 5.5% from 2023 to 2032, reaching a value of USD 132.31 billion by 2032. Sonata is used to treat short-term insomnia, a condition affecting over 10% of American adults. The global prevalence of sleep disorders, including insomnia, sleep apnea, and restless leg syndrome, drives the demand for such medications. With North America dominating the market, brands like Sonata are crucial in addressing the sleep health needs of a significant population. For detailed insights on the sleep disorder treatment market, you can explore this comprehensive report.

Rozerem

Rozerem, produced by Takeda Pharmaceuticals, is a highly effective and safe sleeping pill, specifically designed to treat insomnia characterized by difficulty with sleep onset. Approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration in 2005, Rozerem is distinguished as the only prescription sleep aid not designated as a Schedule IV controlled substance. It has a low discontinuation rate of 5 percent compared to 2 percent for placebo and does not cause residual "hangover" effects or rebound insomnia. Despite its strong safety profile, Rozerem holds less than 3% of the US market, with sales increasing by 78% in the first quarter of 2007. The recommended dose is 8 mg taken 30 minutes before bed, with a monthly cost of approximately $82 for 30 tablets.

Belsomra

Belsomra, developed by Merck, is a leading brand in the insomnia treatment market, forecasted to generate $458 million in sales by 2023, making it the highest-selling insomnia drug in the seven major markets (US, France, Germany, Italy, Spain, UK, and Japan). It belongs to the class of dual orexin receptor antagonists (DORAs), working by blocking the action of orexin, a brain chemical that promotes wakefulness. Since its launch in November 2014, Belsomra has shown significant potential, with 30% of its new patients being continuous treaters looking for new alternatives. Despite initial concerns from the FDA regarding side effects, Belsomra has demonstrated long-term safety and effectiveness in clinical studies. For more details, you can read about Belsomra's clinical performance.

Restoril

Restoril, a brand of temazepam, is a highly effective prescription sleep medicine used for the short-term treatment of insomnia, typically for 7 to 10 days. It has been shown to improve sleep parameters, including total sleep time and sleep latency, with significant improvements observed in clinical studies at doses of 7.5 mg, 15 mg, and 30 mg. Restoril is well-tolerated, with residual medication effects ("hangover") being essentially absent, and it does not cause measurable effects on daytime alertness or performance. The drug is part of the broader benzodiazepine market, which was valued at USD 2.8 billion in 2023 and is expected to grow at a CAGR of 3.9% until 2032. Restoril's efficacy and safety profile make it a reliable choice for managing short-term insomnia.

Silenor

Silenor, developed by Somaxon Pharmaceuticals, is a highly differentiated sleeping pill that stands out in the insomnia treatment market. Approved by the FDA in March 2010, Silenor is specifically designed to treat insomnia characterized by difficulty with sleep maintenance, utilizing low doses of doxepin (3 mg and 6 mg) which minimize next-day residual effects and other undesirable side effects associated with higher doses of doxepin. Clinical trials demonstrated a favorable safety and tolerability profile, with Silenor achieving statistical significance in all four Phase 3 trials and showing no evidence of amnesia, complex sleep behaviors, or withdrawal effects. The drug was commercially launched in the U.S. in September 2010, supported by a robust sales force of 250 representatives and a comprehensive marketing strategy that included over 250,000 sample packs distributed to physicians. Silenor covers approximately 200 million lives in commercial plans, indicating strong market acceptance. For more detailed information about Silenor, you can visit the Silenor drug information page.

Halcion

Halcion, the brand name for triazolam, is a highly effective short-acting benzodiazepine hypnotic, widely prescribed for the short-term treatment of insomnia, particularly for sleep-onset insomnia. Developed by Upjohn and first marketed in 1983, Halcion quickly became a leading sleeping pill, with over 43 million prescriptions written in the United States within its first six years. It significantly decreases sleep latency, increases the duration of sleep, and reduces nocturnal awakenings, with a standard plasma half-life of 2.5 hours and peak blood levels achieved within 1 hour and 15 minutes of ingestion. For more detailed information, you can visit their website about Halcion.

Desyrel

Desyrel, a brand name for trazodone hydrochloride, is widely recognized for its effectiveness in treating insomnia, particularly in the USA. It is often prescribed off-label for sleep aid, with approximately 20% of Americans with insomnia using this medication, despite not being licensed specifically for this purpose. The dosage for insomnia typically ranges from 50 to 150 mg/day, which is lower than the doses used for depression. Desyrel has been one of the most prescribed sleep aids in the USA over the past decade, with around five million people receiving prescriptions in 2019 alone. However, its use for insomnia is not recommended by the American Academy of Sleep Medicine due to inadequate evidence and potential side effects.

Unisom

Unisom is a leading brand in the sleep aid market, renowned for its effective and non-habit-forming products. Unisom SleepTabs, containing 25 mg of doxylamine succinate, help users fall asleep up to 30 minutes faster and ensure a full night's sleep. Clinically tested and FDA-approved, Unisom SleepTabs are the #1 doctor-recommended OTC sleep-aid brand. The brand's products are safe when used as directed and do not contain animal-derived ingredients. With various packaging options, including 16-count, 32-count, and 48-count packs, Unisom caters to diverse user needs.