AMBIEN vs PLACIDYL

Independent side-by-side comparison.

Rated against independent regulatory sources·Last updated August 21, 2026·How we rate

Possible drug interaction. AMBIEN and PLACIDYL 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	PLACIDYL
Rating	70/100	72/100
Pharmacy pays	~$1.04 /30	—
Type	RX	RX
Active ingredient	ZOLPIDEM TARTRATE	ETHCHLORVYNOL
Manufacturer	Cosette	Abbvie
Dosage forms	Tablet	Capsule
Drug class	Gamma-Aminobutyric Acid A Receptor Positive Modulator	—
Boxed warning	Boxed warning	None
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 placidyl

Rating

70/100

72/100

Pharmacy pays

~$1.04 /30

—

Type

Active ingredient

ZOLPIDEM TARTRATE

ETHCHLORVYNOL

Manufacturer

Cosette

Abbvie

Dosage forms

Tablet

Capsule

Drug class

Gamma-Aminobutyric Acid A Receptor Positive Modulator

—

Boxed warning

None

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 better-rated, Ambien or Placidyl?

By our independent rating, Placidyl scores higher — 3.6 vs 3.5 out of 5 for Ambien. Ratings are based on FDA regulatory (recall-safety) data.

What is the difference between Ambien and Placidyl?

Ambien contains Zolpidem Tartrate, while Placidyl contains Ethchlorvynol — 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.