Another sedative that is not a Z-drug is now on the market in the United States, and it works in a very different way to induce sleep. Suvorexant (Belsomra) blocks the actions of orexin, one of the wakeful chemicals in the brain. By blocking orexin, it changes the brain from wake to sleep mode. So far, in my limited experience, it seems to work well and have few side effects, but as a newer medication it is very expensive.
