most commonly prescribed sedatives for insomnia are known as the “Z-drugs”: zolpidem (Ambien), eszopiclone (Lunesta), and zaleplon (Sonata). Z-drugs are distant cousins of benzodiazepines (like the antianxiety medications clonazepam or lorazepam). They bind to the same brain receptors as benzodiazepines, but they do so in a very different way. This is an important distinction, because benzodiazepines have a negative impact on sleep (and some other side effects too; see FAQ), while Z-drugs have a neutral or even positive effect on sleep quality in fibromyalgia. For example, eszopiclone
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