Drug Comparison
For educational purposes only — a decision-support tool, not a substitute for clinical judgment.
Side-by-side rubric across 96 psychiatric medications. Every rating traces to a verbatim primary-source quote — click any cell to see it.
How to read this tool ▾
Rating scale
– Favorable / lower than class baseline
± Minimal / equivocal
+ Low / uncommon
++ Moderate / common
+++ High / very common
++++ Very high / class-outlier
Frequency vs severity
F = frequency, S = severity. Each gets its own pill colored on the same traffic-light scale: green → blue → yellow → orange → red. Click any cell for incidence percentages and NNH.
Evidence tier
A Network meta-analysis / RCT / FDA label
B Cohort / registry / pooled label data
C Expert review / textbook / case series
Sourcing
Click any cell to see the verbatim source quote and citation. Missing data shows n/a.
Data depth
++ Graded — frequency + severity, primary-source traces
+ FDA label — §6 frequency only (dashed border). Click for sub-types.
Blank — not yet checked (not “absent”)
–±++++++++++ABCF = frequency · S = severity · Dashed border = FDA label only · Click cell for details
1 drug selected — Eszopiclone(click to collapse)
1/4 selected
Eszopiclone
Lunesta
Non-Benzodiazepine Hypnotic · C-IV
FDA-approved indications
- Insomnia — sleep latency and maintenance (adults)
Off-label uses
- Comorbid insomnia with depression (adjunct)
- Comorbid insomnia with GAD (adjunct)
Half-life6 hours
Decision GuideWhen to pick each / when to consider an alternative
Eszopiclone
Consider when
- Chronic insomnia requiring long-term pharmacotherapy — only Z-drug without FDA time limitation on use; 6-month trial data
- Sleep maintenance insomnia — demonstrated efficacy for both sleep onset and WASO; longer t½ than zolpidem
- Insomnia with comorbid depression on SSRI — studied as adjunct to escitalopram; improved both sleep and depression outcomes
- Elderly insomnia — 1 mg starting dose in elderly; FDA-approved without age restriction unlike some sleep agents
- +1 more
Consider an alternative when
- Taste sensitivity — dysgeusia (metallic/bitter taste) in 17–34%; unique and frequently bothersome; leading tolerability complaint
- Complex sleep behaviors — boxed warning shared with all Z-drugs; contraindicated after prior episode
- Substance use disorder — Z-drug class abuse potential; Schedule IV; dose escalation risk with chronic use
- Next-day impairment concern — FDA recommends starting at 1 mg; dose-dependent morning grogginess reported
- +1 more
| Axis | Eszopiclone z-drug |
|---|---|
| Boxed Warnings | |
Suicidality (boxed warning) | |
Respiratory depression (opioid / CNS depressant co-use) | |
Complex sleep behaviors | |
| CNS | |
Sedation / somnolence | |
Activation / insomnia | |
Cognitive dulling / anterograde amnesia | |
Other neurologic effects | |
| Hepatic | |
Liver enzymes / hepatotoxicity | |
| Discontinuation | |
Withdrawal / discontinuation | |
| Interactions | |
CYP interactions / DDI profile | |
| Safety | |
Overdose toxicity | |
| Pregnancy | |
Lactation / breastfeeding safety | |
| Drug-specific / distinctive axes | |
Next-morning impairment only in Eszopiclone | |