Sonata ratings & reviews

Zaleplon
Company: Pfizer
Brand: Sonata
Drug class: Central and Peripheral Nervous System
+3 more
Central and Peripheral Nervous System, Psycholeptics, Sedatives/Hypnotics, Non-Benzodiazepine, Benzodiazepine Receptor Agonists (NBRA)s

Sermo AI Overview

  • Sonata is effective for helping individuals with sleep onset insomnia, but may not be suitable for those with maintenance insomnia due to its shorter duration of action, lasting around four hours.
  • Although Sonata is generally safe and well-tolerated with limited hangover effects, there are concerns about the potential for dependency, and some experts recommend exploring alternative medications for better efficacy.
Based on insights from Sermo’s triple verified physicians

Description

Sonata contains the active ingredient zaleplon, a nonbenzodiazepine hypnotic from the pyrazolopyrimidine class. It is formulated as a capsule available in 5 mg or 10 mg strengths for oral use. Key inactive ingredients include colloidal silicon dioxide, lactose (anhydrous), and magnesium stearate. Sonata is designed to help with sleep by acting on the central nervous system.

Source: This information is sourced from FDA and powered by AI

Dosage & Administration

How should I use this medication?

Take this medication by mouth with water. Take it as directed on the label. Do not use it more often than directed. There may be unused or extra doses in the bottle after you finish your treatment. Talk to your care team if you have questions about your dose. A special MedGuide will be given to you by the pharmacist with each prescription and refill. Be sure to read this information carefully each time. Talk to your care team about the use of this medication in children. Special care may be needed.

Overdosage: If you think you have taken too much of this medicine contact a poison control center or emergency room at once. NOTE: This medicine is only for you. Do not share this medicine with others.

What if I miss a dose?

This does not apply. This medication should only be taken immediately before going to sleep. Do not take double or extra doses.

Where should I keep my medication?

Keep out of the reach of children and pets. This medication can be abused. Keep your medication in a safe place to protect it from theft. Do not share this medication with anyone. Selling or giving away this medication is dangerous and against the law. Store at room temperature between 20 and 25 degrees C (68 and 77 degrees F). Protect from light. This medication may cause accidental overdose and death if taken by other adults, children, or pets. Mix any unused medication with a substance like cat litter or coffee grounds. Then throw the medication away in a sealed container like a sealed bag or a coffee can with a lid. Do not use the medication after the expiration date.

NOTE: This sheet is a summary. It may not cover all possible information. If you have questions about this medicine, talk to your doctor, pharmacist, or health care provider.

Side Effects

What side effects may I notice from receiving this medication?

Side effects that you should report to your care team as soon as possible: -Allergic reactions—skin rash, itching, hives, swelling of the face, lips, tongue, or throat -Change in vision such as blurry vision, seeing halos around lights, vision loss -CNS depression—slow or shallow breathing, shortness of breath, feeling faint, dizziness, confusion, difficulty staying awake -Mood and behavior changes—anxiety, nervousness, confusion, hallucinations, irritability, hostility, thoughts of suicide or self-harm, worsening mood, feelings of depression -Unusual sleep behaviors or activities you do not remember such as driving, eating, or sexual activity Side effects that usually do not require medical attention (report to your care team if they continue or are bothersome): -Diarrhea -Dizziness -Drowsiness the day after use -Pain, tingling, or numbness in the hands or feet

This list may not describe all possible side effects. Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.

Warnings & Precautions

What should I tell my care team before I take this medication?

They need to know if you have any of these conditions: -Depression -Liver disease -Lung or breathing disease -Substance use disorder -Suicidal thoughts, plans, or attempt by you or a family member -Unusual sleep behaviors or activities you do not remember -An unusual or allergic reaction to zaleplon, other medications, foods, dyes, or preservatives -Pregnant or trying to get pregnant -Breastfeeding

What may interact with this medication?

-Barbiturate medications for inducing sleep or treating seizures -Carbamazepine -Certain medications for allergies, such as azatadine, clemastine, diphenhydramine -Certain medications for mental health conditions -Certain medications for pain -Cimetidine -Erythromycin -Medications for fungal infections, such as ketoconazole, fluconazole, or itraconazole -Other medications given for sleep -Phenytoin -Rifampin

This list may not describe all possible interactions. Give your health care provider a list of all the medicines, herbs, non-prescription drugs, or dietary supplements you use. Also tell them if you smoke, drink alcohol, or use illegal drugs. Some items may interact with your medicine.

What should I watch for while using this medication?

Visit your care team for regular checks on your progress. Keep a regular sleep schedule by going to bed at about the same time each night. Avoid caffeine-containing drinks in the evening hours. When sleep medications are used every night for more than a few weeks, they may stop working. Talk to your care team if you still have trouble sleeping. You may do unusual sleep behaviors or activities you do not remember the day after taking this medication. Activities include driving, making or eating food, talking on the phone, sexual activity, or sleep walking. Stop taking this medication and call your care team right away if you find out you have done activities like this. Plan to go to bed and stay in bed for a full night (7 to 8 hours) after you take this medication. You may still be drowsy the morning after taking this medication. This medication may affect your coordination, reaction time, or judgment. Do not drive or operate machinery until you know how this medication affects you. Sit up or stand slowly to reduce the risk of dizzy or fainting spells. If you or your family notice any changes in your behavior, such as new or worsening depression, thoughts of harming yourself, anxiety, other unusual or disturbing thoughts, or memory loss, call your care team right away. After you stop taking this medication, you may have trouble falling asleep. This is called rebound insomnia. This problem usually goes away on its own after 1 or 2 nights.

What are the most serious risks of this medication?

This medicine may cause you to do activities while you are not fully awake. You may not remember doing these activities the next morning. Activities such as driving a car, eating, talking on the phone, sexual activity, or sleep-walking can happen. Rarely, serious injuries or death have occurred. Stop taking the medicine and call your healthcare professional right away if you have any of these effects.

Source: This information is sourced from Elsevier Inc.

Disclaimer

The reviews, ratings, comments, and opinions expressed on this platform are solely those of the individual medical professionals who posted them and do not reflect the views or positions of Sermo, Inc. Sermo does not endorse, verify, or validate the content of individual reviews. The information provided is user-generated and reflects personal clinical experiences, which may not be complete, accurate, or applicable to your specific health needs. It is not intended as medical advice.

Prescription medications affect individuals differently, and what works for one person may not work for another. Always consult your doctor, pharmacist, or other qualified healthcare provider to ensure the information displayed applies to your personal circumstances. Only a licensed healthcare provider can advise you on what is safe and effective for you.

Keep all medications out of the reach of children, never share your medicine with others, and use each medication only as prescribed. Your reliance on any information provided on this platform is at your own risk.

Terms of use

  1. Sermo Drug Ratings, and all information provided on this website, may not be used in combination with any artificial intelligence tool (including to train an algorithm, test, process, analyze, generate output and/or develop any form of artificial intelligence tool). 

  2. Visitors to the online patient-facing website at Sermo.com (“Sermo Drug Ratings”) are Authorized Users of the website, which contains data owned by a third-party provider, Elsevier, Inc.  Accordingly, by visiting Sermo Drug Ratings, Authorized User acknowledges that the website includes Elsevier owned data that Sermo licenses pursuant to a separate usage and Data agreement (the “Agreements”).  Authorized User further acknowledges that Sermo is a third-party beneficiary of the Agreements and Authorized User’s use of the website hereby binds them to the terms of the Agreements; provided, however, that Elsevier shall have no obligations or liability to an Authorized User whatsoever pursuant to the terms of the Agreements.

Welcome to Sermo's Drug Ratings

Previously only for members, Sermo Drug Ratings are now openly available to all healthcare providers, patients, and industry professionals to support better healthcare decisions.

Clinical expertise
Insights based on real prescribing experience from triple-verified practicing physicians only
Detailed insights
Ratings on key attributes including efficacy, safety, tolerability, accessibility, and adherence
Unbiased reviews
Independent, physician-only reviews, free from pharmaceutical industry influence