eszopiclone vs melatonin
Side-by-side comparison of eszopiclone and melatonin Data from FDA drug databases (Orange Book, NDC Directory, recalls, shortages) covering 20,000+ approved drugs, plus CMS pricing; see our methodology.
Lunesta
Melatonin
Eszopiclone (Lunesta) is a medicine that helps you fall asleep and stay asleep. It is used to treat insomnia.
Melatonin is a hormone supplement that can help with sleep. You should take it 15 minutes before eating.
Eszopiclone is used to treat insomnia, which means you have trouble falling asleep or staying asleep. It can help you fall asleep faster and stay asleep longer. Studies have shown it works for up to 6 months.
This medicine is used to help with sleep problems. It can help you fall asleep and stay asleep. Talk to your doctor if your sleep problems continue.
Eszopiclone works by slowing down activity in your brain. This helps you relax and fall asleep. It affects certain chemicals in your brain that regulate sleep.
Melatonin is a hormone that your brain makes. It helps control your sleep and wake cycles. Taking this medicine adds more melatonin to your body.
- • Unpleasant taste
- • Headache
- • Feeling sleepy
- • Respiratory infection
- • Dizziness
- • Tiredness
- • Nausea
- • Diarrhea
- • Headache
- • Dizziness
- The medicine is not working 4,824
- Trouble sleeping 3,890
- Bad taste in mouth 3,853
- Feeling sick to your stomach 1,383
- Waking up in the middle of the night 1,213
- Tiredness 4,195
- Feeling sick to your stomach 3,592
- Using the medicine for something it is not approved for 3,225
- The medicine is not working 3,031
- Loose stools 2,865
Eszopiclone can cause complex sleep behaviors like sleepwalking, sleep driving, and doing other activities while not fully awake. Some of these can lead to serious injuries or even death. Stop taking eszopiclone right away if this happens.
There are no boxed warnings for this medication.
It is not known if eszopiclone can harm your unborn baby. Talk to your doctor if you are pregnant, plan to become pregnant, or are breastfeeding.
It is not known if this medicine is safe to take during pregnancy or while breastfeeding. Talk to your doctor before taking it if you are pregnant or breastfeeding.
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How to Read This eszopiclone vs melatonin Comparison
eszopiclone is classified in the Non-Benzodiazepine Hypnotic (Z-Drug) drug class, while melatonin sits within the Hormone Supplement (Sleep Aid) class. Drugs from different classes work through distinct mechanisms, so a head-to-head comparison illustrates trade-offs rather than equivalence. Both drugs are split between OTC and prescription status, which affects access and supervision.
Adverse event totals above are pulled from the FDA's Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS). For these top-ranked reactions alone, eszopiclone has 15,163 submissions while melatonin has 16,908. Those figures reflect cumulative reporting volume — not per-patient risk — so older, widely dispensed drugs typically look worse on count alone. No direct interaction between these two drugs is listed in our FDA-derived dataset, though co-prescription still warrants pharmacist review. Serious warnings, pregnancy guidance, and contraindications can differ even when indications overlap.
A table cannot substitute for clinical judgment. Effectiveness, tolerability, drug-drug interactions with your other medications, kidney and liver function, pregnancy status, insurance formulary, and price all feed into a decision that only a licensed prescriber can make responsibly. Data here is sourced from FDA Structured Product Labels (SPL) and FAERS, both of which update as manufacturers and clinicians submit new information. This page is for educational purposes only, is not medical advice, and should not be used to self-switch between eszopiclone and melatonin — always consult your physician or pharmacist first.
Important: This comparison is for informational purposes only. Drug effects vary between individuals. Always consult your doctor or pharmacist for personalized medical advice.