eszopiclone vs suvorexant
Side-by-side comparison of eszopiclone and suvorexant Data from FDA drug databases (Orange Book, NDC Directory, recalls, shortages) covering 20,000+ approved drugs, plus CMS pricing; see our methodology.
Lunesta
Belsomra
Eszopiclone (Lunesta) is a medicine that helps you fall asleep and stay asleep. It is used to treat insomnia.
Belsomra is a prescription medicine used to treat insomnia. It helps you fall asleep and stay asleep.
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.
Belsomra is used to treat insomnia in adults. Insomnia means you have trouble falling asleep, staying asleep, or both. This medicine can help you sleep better.
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.
Belsomra works by blocking orexin, a chemical in your brain that keeps you awake. By blocking orexin, Belsomra helps to reduce wakefulness and allows you to fall asleep.
- • Unpleasant taste
- • Headache
- • Feeling sleepy
- • Respiratory infection
- • Dizziness
- • Sleepiness
- 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
- The medicine did not work 2,994
- Nightmare 736
- Sleepiness 726
- Trouble sleeping 674
- Strange dreams 599
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.
Belsomra can cause you to feel sleepy during the day and can impair your ability to drive. Do not drive or do other activities that require you to be fully alert, especially if you take the 20 mg dose. Belsomra may also worsen depression or cause suicidal thoughts. Tell your doctor right away if you have any new or worsening mood changes. Complex sleep behaviors like sleepwalking have also been reported. Stop taking Belsomra and tell your doctor if this happens.
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 Belsomra can harm your unborn baby. Talk to your doctor if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant. It is also not known if Belsomra passes into breast milk. Talk to your doctor about the best way to feed your baby if you take Belsomra.
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How to Read This eszopiclone vs suvorexant Comparison
eszopiclone is classified in the Non-Benzodiazepine Hypnotic (Z-Drug) drug class, while suvorexant sits within the Orexin Receptor Antagonist class. Drugs from different classes work through distinct mechanisms, so a head-to-head comparison illustrates trade-offs rather than equivalence. Both drugs are prescription-only, so a licensed provider must authorize use.
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 suvorexant has 5,729. 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 suvorexant — 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.