**7.8 Non-benzodiazepine benzodiazepine receptor agonists**

The agents from this pharmacological class are active at the benzodiazepine GABA complex, particularly on receptors in the ventrolateral preoptic nucleus. Due to their proven efficacy, reduced side effects and less risk for addiction, non-benzodiazepine receptor agonists (non-BzRAs) became the most commonly prescribed hypnotic agents for onset and maintenance insomnia in the recent years [84]. Zolpidem, zaleplon, and eszopiclone belong to this newest class of FDAapproved hypnotics. They improve sleep latency with fewer side effects given their shorter half-lives and receptor binding profile. While Zolpidem is currently the most prescribed drug for insomnia with no evidence of tolerance or rebound effect [85], Eszopiclone seems to have a similar safety profile but higher antidepressant and anxiolytic effects in patients with comorbid insomnia [86]. Regarding safety, behavioral effects of zolpidem, and zaleplon are much similar to triazolam and include sleep eating, sleep walking, and sleep driving. As recent data from zolpidem showed some negative cognitive impact on women, FDA recommended to lower the dose in females.
