Melatonin, benzodiazepines vs. new sleeping pills, which one is better for your sleep problems?
1. Why is it so difficult to choose among the many types of sleep aids?
In modern society, more and more people are troubled by insomnia. According to the World Health Organization ( WHO ), about 35% of adults worldwide have sleep disorders, of which 10% suffer from chronic insomnia ( Morin et al., 2020 ). Faced with sleep problems, people often hesitate between melatonin, benzodiazepine sleeping pills, and new sleep aids .
The key to choosing the right sleep aid is to distinguish different sleep problems . Is it difficulty falling asleep , or waking up easily at night ? Is it light sleep that causes morning fatigue , or is it a disordered sleep rhythm ? Different types of sleep disorders require different solutions.
2. Characteristics and application of three common sleep aids
|
category |
Mechanism of action |
Applicable situations |
advantage |
shortcoming |
|
Melatonin |
Regulate circadian rhythm and promote natural sleep |
Jet lag adjustment, biological clock disturbance |
Non-addictive, can assist sleep |
The effect is relatively mild and has limited effect on severe insomnia |
|
Benzodiazepines (eg, diazepam, alprazolam) |
Acts on GABA receptors to calm the central nervous system |
Anxiety-related insomnia, short-term sleep problems |
Fast onset, strong sedative effect |
Easy to become addictive, long-term use affects memory |
|
New sleeping pills (such as Xestrazoxane) |
Regulates orexin receptors, reduces wakefulness signals, and helps you fall asleep naturally |
Difficulty falling asleep, waking up easily at night, shallow sleep |
No dependence, no effect on memory, no effect on daytime status |
Some people need an adaptation period |
As can be seen from the table, melatonin is suitable for short-term adjustment of the biological clock, benzodiazepines are suitable for short-term sedation, and new sleeping aids are suitable for long-term improvement of sleep quality .
3. Limitations of traditional sleep aids
Melatonin: Good for regulating your biological clock, but not for treating insomnia
Melatonin is a hormone produced by the human body that regulates circadian rhythms. Short-term use can help adjust jet lag and help shift workers recover ( Chang et al., 2015 ), but its effects are relatively mild and have limited help for long-term insomnia or nighttime awakenings .
📌 Research shows:
• Taking melatonin can shorten the time to fall asleep by an average of 15-20 minutes, but has little effect on sleep structure ( Cajochen et al., 2003 ).
• Excessive use may cause daytime sleepiness, dizziness, and hormone disorders , affecting the safety of long-term use.
Benzodiazepines: short-term effectiveness, high risk of long-term addiction
Benzodiazepines (such as diazepam and alprazolam) are one of the earliest drugs used to treat insomnia . They can quickly calm the nervous system and allow patients to fall asleep quickly. However, their side effects are also obvious. Long-term use will cause dependence and tolerance, and affect cognitive function ( Lader, 2011 ).
📌 Research shows:
• Among patients who take benzodiazepines long-term, 40% develop tolerance and 25% experience withdrawal symptoms ( Lader, 2011 ).
• Long-term use of this type of drug increases the risk of Alzheimer's disease by 50% ( Billioti de Gage et al., 2014 ).
Therefore, benzodiazepines are suitable for short-term insomnia but not for long-term use .
4. Mechanism of action and safety of the new sleeping aid , Zesida
Xestrazol is an orexin receptor antagonist ( ORA ) , and its mechanism of action is different from that of traditional sleeping pills. It does not directly calm the nervous system, but reduces wakefulness signals and allows the brain to naturally enter a sleep state .
The core advantages of Zestar
• Reduces nighttime awakenings and helps maintain a restful sleep throughout the night
• Increase the proportion of deep sleep to allow the body to recover more fully
• Does not affect memory or cause morning drowsiness
• It is non-addictive and can be used for a long time, and there will be no withdrawal reaction after stopping the drug ( Sun et al., 2021 )
📌 Research Support:
• After taking Cisda for 12 months, the patient's sleep quality did not decline significantly after stopping the medication, and there were no withdrawal symptoms ( Sun et al., 2021 ).
• Studies have shown that Zestar can improve sleep structure, reduce the number of nighttime awakenings, and increase daytime energy ( Ueno et al., 2022 ).
5. Choose the sleep aid that best suits you
If your sleep problem is short-term jet lag or shift work , you can try melatonin ; if your anxiety causes short-term sleep problems , benzodiazepines may help, but be careful to avoid long-term use . But if you suffer from long-term insomnia, wake up easily at night, and want to improve your sleep quality , then new sleep aids such as Xest may be a better choice .
📌 Recommended use:
💊 Recommended dosage of Xestada : The starting dose is 5 mg , adjusted to 10 mg if necessary, taken 30 minutes before bedtime.
💡 Note : Ensure at least 7 hours of sleep after use and avoid taking alcohol or other sedatives to maintain the best effect.
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