AMBIEN CR vs LUNESTA

Independent side-by-side comparison.

Rated against independent regulatory sources·Last updated August 20, 2026·How we rate

Possible drug interaction. AMBIEN CR and LUNESTA are different prescription medicines. Combining or switching between them can cause interactions — talk to a pharmacist or prescriber before making changes. This page is not medical advice.

Attribute	AMBIEN CR	LUNESTA
Rating	70/100	New
Pharmacy pays	~$1.04 /30	~$2.69 /30
Type	RX	RX
Active ingredient	ZOLPIDEM TARTRATE	ESZOPICLONE
Manufacturer	Cosette	Waylis Therap
Dosage forms	Tablet	Tablet
Drug class	Gamma-Aminobutyric Acid A Receptor Positive Modulator	—
Boxed warning	Boxed warning	Boxed warning
Half-life	about 2.5 hours (mean 2.5-2.6 hours; range roughly 1.4 to 4.5 hours) in healthy adults	—
Treats	Sleep Initiation and Maintenance Disorders	Sleep Initiation and Maintenance Disorders

ambien cr lunesta

Rating

70/100

New

Pharmacy pays

~$1.04 /30

~$2.69 /30

Type

Active ingredient

ZOLPIDEM TARTRATE

ESZOPICLONE

Manufacturer

Cosette

Waylis Therap

Dosage forms

Tablet

Drug class

Gamma-Aminobutyric Acid A Receptor Positive Modulator

—

Boxed warning

Half-life

about 2.5 hours (mean 2.5-2.6 hours; range roughly 1.4 to 4.5 hours) in healthy adults

—

Treats

Sleep Initiation and Maintenance Disorders

Frequently asked questions

Which is cheaper, Ambien CR or Lunesta?

Ambien CR costs pharmacies less to acquire — about $1.04 vs $2.69 for a 30-count supply, per the CMS NADAC survey. That gap is in the pharmacy's cost of goods, not necessarily in what you pay: your price is set afterwards by your insurer and the pharmacy.

What is the difference between Ambien CR and Lunesta?

Ambien CR contains Zolpidem Tartrate, while Lunesta contains Eszopiclone — they have different active ingredients.

Ratings are based on FDA regulatory (recall-safety) data. This comparison is for general reference only — not medical advice. Always consult a licensed professional before choosing or switching a medication.