AMBIEN vs SONATA

Independent side-by-side comparison.

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

Possible drug interaction. AMBIEN and SONATA 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	SONATA
Rating	70/100	64/100
Pharmacy pays	~$1.04 /30	~$4.60 /30
Type	RX	RX
Active ingredient	ZOLPIDEM TARTRATE	ZALEPLON
Manufacturer	Cosette	Pfizer
Dosage forms	Tablet	Capsule
Drug class	Gamma-Aminobutyric Acid A Receptor Positive Modulator	Gamma-Aminobutyric Acid A Receptor Agonist
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 sonata

Rating

70/100

64/100

Pharmacy pays

~$1.04 /30

~$4.60 /30

Type

Active ingredient

ZOLPIDEM TARTRATE

ZALEPLON

Manufacturer

Cosette

Pfizer

Dosage forms

Tablet

Capsule

Drug class

Gamma-Aminobutyric Acid A Receptor Positive Modulator

Gamma-Aminobutyric Acid A Receptor Agonist

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 Sonata?

By our independent rating, Ambien scores higher — 3.5 vs 3.2 out of 5 for Sonata. Ratings are based on FDA regulatory (recall-safety) data.

Which is cheaper, Ambien or Sonata?

Ambien costs pharmacies less to acquire — about $1.04 vs $4.60 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 and Sonata?

Ambien contains Zolpidem Tartrate, while Sonata contains Zaleplon — 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.