Zaleplon is the active ingredient used in the famous Sonata, a Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved sedative-hypnotic medicine used as a sleeping pill. However, the patent on the formula used to create Sonata expired in 2008, but what does that mean and how does it affect you, the consumer?

Zolpidem is sleeping pill used for treating insomnia as well as symptoms related to the condition. Zolpidem is also known by the brand name Ambien and has a near perfect success rate as an insomnia treatment.

This medication is highly effective at inducing sleep quickly due to its muscle relaxant and sedative-hypnotic properties. The tablet is also commonly used off-label to help combat symptoms of general anxiety and is well known by the brand name Imovane.